There’s something happening in Michigan right now and it feels kind of like … optimism?

You could see the energy pulsing through the Motor City as the Detroit Lions stole everyone’s hearts in this year’s playoffs (and then broke them, but we don’t talk about that). And since Thursday, there’s been a sea of Honolulu Blue in the streets for the NFL draft, with the city shattering the all-time attendance record.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (who had once aspired to be a sports reporter) appeared to be having the time of her life, talking up Michigan to the media, posting earnest and slightly goofy videos and even donning buffs.

It’s a made-for-TV comeback story for a city that went through the largest municipal bankruptcy a little more than a decade ago. And as we all know, as Detroit goes, so goes Michigan.

But I don’t think it’s just hype — or the fact that everyone loves football (except Donald Trump, as the Biden campaign claims in a snarky ad coinciding with the draft in a key swing state).

When I moved to Michigan 20 years ago in the middle of the decade-long recession (because my timing is impeccable), I got the usual racist warnings not to go to Detroit. There was no sugarcoating that the entire state was hurting — we were bleeding auto industry jobs and beloved institutions like the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit were shuttered.

In one of my first columns, I compared the dismal state of public transit there to that of my hometown of Chicago — which has its own shortcomings, to be sure. But I recall an editor asking me to cut some of my copy lauding the Windy City because Michiganders would be “jealous.”

Over the years, I’ve also seen a lot of knee-jerk boosterism of Detroit, like a parade of economic development projects and the 2006 Super Bowl that were supposed to save the city … until they didn’t.

It goes without saying that things aren’t perfect today. The Renaissance Center faces an uncertain future with GM set to move out, residents want more attention focused on rebuilding neighborhoods and little progress has been made to link transit in Southeast Michigan. Detroit is still losing population and Michigan is treading water (hence Whitmer appointing a commission last year to tackle the issue).

But the bottom line is that a lot more people want to be in Detroit now. The city has always had world-class museums, like the Detroit Institute of Arts and the best bookstore in America, John K. King Books, where you can easily spend an entire day wandering about (and you definitely should). But there’s a new crop of local businesses, restaurants and venues that draw in people even when the NFL draft isn’t in town.

And it’s not just our largest city. Michigan’s economy is thriving, like the nation’s, having defied all expectations since it was ravaged by sky-high unemployment at the start of the COVID pandemic. The state unemployment rate is below 4% and economists say we’re on track for continued economic growth without a recession.

Gone are the days of big budget deficits, followed by rounds of cuts to schools, state parks and local governments. When Michigan’s surplus hit an unheard-of $9.2 billion last year, I tried to explain to some newer reporters how jaw-dropping that was after covering two partial government shutdowns in 2007 and 2009. (I probably just sounded like their great-grandma spinning a yarn about the Great Depression).

Much has been made about the “vibecession,” where it just “feels” like the economy is doing far worse than it is. And I’m sure that for Republicans, it feels pretty depressing to have Democrats in charge of every branch of state government.

Indeed, under former Chair Kristina Karamo, the Michigan Republican Party website used to greet visitors with this cheery message: “On this current path, Michigan will become the global headquarters for communist influence and power, and drive Michigan into a deeper depression.”

But facts, as they say, don’t care about your feelings. And it sure is interesting that Michigan’s economy is doing better with Whitmer than it did under her predecessor, Republican Rick Snyder, a former CEO who dubbed himself “One Tough Nerd” and was supposed to turn the state around.

But it is an election year and Republicans are itching to take back the Michigan House so they can have some veto power over Whitmer’s agenda (the state Senate and executive offices aren’t on the ballot until 2026). Most of the GOP messaging has just been mirroring Trump’s diatribes on immigration, but a couple weeks ago, leaders did release an economic plan.

So what was in it? Republicans want to bring back Right to Work, roll back regulations and slightly cut the income tax. In other words, it’s just a return to Snyder-era policies which were meh at best.

Look, unless you’re the type of person who convulses with rage every time a leather-jacket-clad Whitmer posts on Tiktok, it’s hard to deny that Michigan feels a little bit brighter and lighter these days. Why would we want to go backward?

The 2024 NFL draft is over and only one Michigan State player’s name was called in Detroit.

Fifth-year senior center Nick Samac was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the eighth pick of the seventh round, No. 228 overall, on Saturday.

Samac was the lone Spartan invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and unable to participate in on-field drills while still recovering from a broken fibula sustained in a Nov. 18 win at Indiana.

The injury didn’t prevent Samac’s name being called on Saturday and meant Michigan State didn’t get shut out in the draft for the second time in three years. The Spartans’ streak of 80 straight drafts with at least one player selected ended in 2021 before they had seven players picked over the previous two drafts combined.

Samac was the only Spartan drafted this year but there were nine others from last season’s roster who participated in the program’s pro day in March in offensive lineman J.D. Duplain, linebackers Aaron Brule and Jacoby Windmon, tight end Jaylan Franklin, running back Harold Joiner, defensive back Chester Kimbrough, wide receiver Tre Mosley, defensive tackle Jalen Sami and defensive end Brandon Wright.

They’ll be looking to sign as undrafted free agents and here’s a roundup of Michigan State players with a shot in the NFL:

Jacoby Windmon, LB

Team: Steelers

Windmon’s final season of college was cut even shorter than Samac’s. The linebacker who spent three seasons at UNLV and the last two at Michigan State suffered a pectoral injury in Week 3 that sidelined him for the rest of the fall. It was the second straight season that ended abruptly for Windmon, who was suspended for the final four games the year before due to his involvement in the tunnel incident at Michigan.

After being a highly-productive player at UNLV, Windmon, 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, made an early splash at Michigan State. He became the first player in program history named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times in one year. Even though Windmon played only eight games in 2022, he led the nation with six forced fumbles and topped the Spartans with 10.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks.

By appearing in only three games last year, Windmon had an additional season of eligibility remaining. He entered the portal in December and declared for the draft less than a month later.

Tre Mosley, WR

Team: Bengals

As a Pontiac native, Mosley would have been thrilled to hear his name called on stage in Detroit but had to settle for the next-best route. He’s another productive veteran whose final season of college was cut short as he missed the final four games last year because of shoulder injuries.

Mosley, 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, made 28 starts in 43 career games over five seasons for the Spartans. He finished with 126 catches for 1,464 yards and 10 touchdowns.

A former standout from West Bloomfield High School, Mosley cracked the lineup as a true freshman and was a reliable pass catcher who excelled while lining up alongside future NFL draft picks at receiver. The Spartans didn’t have one last year and he struggled with injuries in an ugly season all around for the team.

Michigan football’s top pass rusher from the 2023 championship squad is off to the NFL.

Former Wolverine pass rusher Jaylen Harrell was drafted by the Tennessee Titans at No. 252 overall in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit.

Harrell is the latest Michigan player drafted as the Wolverines continue to send players from the stacked 2023 roster to the NFL.

He was a prolific pass rusher for the Wolverines after emerging as a full-time starter in his final two seasons in Ann Arbor. As a senior in 2023, Harrell received his second All-Big Ten honorable mention honor after finishing nine tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks (both are team-highs), with two forced fumbles and 31 tackles.

Harrell became a full-time starter at defensive end in 2022 after spending his first two seasons as a rotational player on the defensive line and special teams. Harrell finished with 11 career sacks and 20 career tackles for loss and can stop the run along with rushing the passer off the edge.

He received an 8.42 RAS (relative athletic score) based on his testing at the NFL combine in March, where he measured at 6 feet 4 and 250 pounds, running a 5.68 40-yard dash with a 37-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot, 1-inch broad jump.

Harrell, a native of Tampa, Florida, detailed his journey from college to the pros in a series of journals for the Free Press. He explained the workouts, from the Senior Bowl to individual ones with teams like the Detroit Lions, the combine and pro day, as well as his emotions going from a national championship to becoming a professional.