Michigan's Top Pro Prospects

Most non-starters and any first-year players are not included on this list, and there are definitely no freshmen. There simply isn't enough information on those guys like that yet to make an honest evaluation, and most of them are not even eligible to enter the draft anyway. Also, not all these guys will be declaring for the draft this year, so expect some guys come back to attempt raising their draft stock.

Jabrill Peppers #5

1. LB/DB Jabrill Peppers (RSo) - There is no better athlete and football player on the team right now, and there are very few in the country in his class. And although he did say he wasn't "leaving Ann Arbor without a degree", it would be hard to hold it against him if he does decide to come out after this year. He looks like a sure-fire first rounder who will blow scouts away in workouts. He is a natural defender with the strength to consistently play up in the box and the speed and quickness to make plays in deep space. He will probably be more of a safety in the pros, but playing linebacker, cornerback, or running back aren't out of the realm of possibilities either. He can return kicks too, having lead the nation in punt return yards. Projection: Top 15

Jourdan Lewis #6

2. CB Jourdan Lewis (Sr) - You won't find a better guy in coverage than Lewis, and he can stick a tackle on most ballcarriers. His size has been somewhat of a concern for pro scouts and it might keep him out of the first round. At worst he looks like a second rounder. Personally, I believe he has been the best player on the Michigan roster since his sophomore year. He will perform well at the combine too, mark my words, and some team picking late on day one will be willing to add him to thier roster. Projection: First Round

Taco Charlton #33

3. DE Taco Charlton (Sr) - Another guy that could go early, Charlton has all the size (6'6"/276lbs) and ability that the scouts are looking for in an end prospect. He has played second fiddle as a backup throughout his career - with only four starts to his resume before 2016, but he has always made the most of his opportunities. To top it all off, he just put up a big senior campaign that saw him nab nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss. He had his biggest game against rival Ohio State, in which he posted 2.5 sacks and three TFL's. That will get not get lost on NFL coaches and scouts. Projection: First Round 

Chris Wormley #43

4.  DL Chris Wormley (5th) - Has been an active defender as a strong-side end and tackle for the Wolverines over the last three years and he had a big senior campaign, posting 5.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for a loss, and two blocked kicks. He has the size (6'5"/300lbs), athleticism, and versatility that gets pro scouts excited. If all goes well for him between now and April he could go somewhere in the middle to late first round. He looks like a safe bet to at least go early in the second and I would consider him a steal in the third. If he shows off some natural strength and athleticism at the combine he could soar high on draft boards. Projection: Second Round

Jake Butt #88

5. TE Jake Butt (Sr) - No other tight end in the conference ran better routes or made plays on jump balls better than Butt over the last three years. He is sneaky fast with just enough speed to create space downfield and he adjusts very well to the ball. Most of his work comes in the short and intermediate range against linebackers and safeties but he possesses enough athleticism to make plays on the perimeter against good college corners. A selection in the late first round or early second seems probable, but a sub-par workout at the combine could drop him into the third. Projection: Jake Butt's draft projection is up in the air at this point due to the fact that he injured his knee in the Orange Bowl. It was rather a cheap low shot by an FSU player that was later ejected for targeting in the second half. Good thing Butt took out a $4 million insurance policy before the game. He will start collecting on some of it if he slides past the second round. 

5.  DT Maurice Hurst Jr. (RJr) - Not the biggest guy at 6'2"/285lbs, but he has a lot of quickness and a seemingly non-stop motor. He hasn't gotten as much of an opportunity to showcase his skills this year due to the abundance of talent along the line, but he still made a case for himself to enter the draft this winter. Like Cole, Hurst is another guy that would benefit from coming back for his final year of eligibility to prove that he can be a team leader and winner in his own right. If all goes well his stock could soar in 2018, thus earning him millions more than he would as a third or fourth round pick. Projection: Hurst is coming back for his final season of eligibility. With another good showing he could push himself into being a first round pick in 2018.

6. OC Mason Cole (Jr) - The Wolverines' best lineman has started every game at either left tackle and center since stepping foot on campus three years ago. Cole is a technician who understands the game and rarely makes the same mistake twice. He could be a first-round selection if he stays another year and keeps improving, but he has a shot at getting drafted early right now. Projection: Cole has opted to stay for another season. That is huge for a team that is looking quite thin on the line at the moment. He too could sniff the first round with a stellar senior campaign.

8. NT Ryan Glasgow (5th) - Isn't necessarily an imposing nose tackle at 6'3"/295lbs, but Glasgow is a lunchpail guy who possesses all the hustle, strength, and technique to be a disruptive on a any level of play. If he stays healthy and continues on his current trajectory he should go in the third round. Like his brother Graham, he has gone from a walk-on at Michigan to one of the best overall players at his position in the Big Ten. That should say a lot to most people about his work ethic, especially when you consider how loaded the Wolverines have been at defesnsive tackle over the last few years. Projection: Fourth Round

9. WR Amara Darboh (5th) - Got overshadowed by Chesson late last season but still led the team in receptions (58), including two 100-yard games. He capped off his career at Michigan with a great final year under Harbaugh, leading the team in all major receiving categories. He was fourth in the conference with 826 yards and seven TD's. He possesses very good size (6'2"/215lbs) and just enough speed to compete downfield. He is also considered a leader on and off the field. If he tests out well enough and runs a sub 4.5 forty then he could go as high as the second round. I am willing to bet he doesn't make it past the fourth. Projection: Fourth Round

10. LB Ben Gedeon (Sr) - The team leader in tackles for his final year, Gedeon is another player that hasn't been a fulltime starter throughout most of his career at Michigan. He has always made the most of his opportunities though, and has garnered playing time since he arrived in Ann Arbor. A big-time combine performance could really elevate his stock. At the moment he seems destined for mid-to-late round consideration and he will initially make a roster based on very good special teams play. Projection: Sixth Round 

11. WR Jehu Chesson (5th) - There were high expectations on Chesson having a big senior year. Unfortunately, he struggled while recovering from an injury sustained back in January and never seemed to get into a groove. If he runs a sub 4.4 forty at the combine - he is reportedly Michigan's fastest player - and jumps out of the gym in all of his pre-draft workouts, he could go as high as the third round, but his lack of consistency is a little bit concerning for NFL scouts. The most overlooked part of his game is his ability and willingness to block on the perimeter. That will help his stock. Projection: Sixth Round 

12. Channing Stribling (Sr) - With good size (6'2"/183lbs), Stribling plays well in zone coverages and can also play man well enough to not be a liability. He doesn't really jump off the screen at you and has been prone to some miscues and injuries, but he has all the raw ingredients to become a mid to late round steal. Harbaugh himself said he could see Stribling playing 10 years in the NFL. Projection: Seventh Round

13. FB/TE Kahlid Hill (RJr) - Hill appears to be able to do it all and he will get his fair share of opportunities blocking, receiving, and rushing the ball. He currently is the team leader in rushing TD's (8) and Harbaugh has already given him endorsement as an NFL-quality player. Some day soon he will take that to the bank, but with another year of eligibility left there is a good chance it won't be this winter. Projection: Hill is coming back to help lead the team for his final season.
14. RB De'Veon Smith (Sr) - Though his stats do not jump off the page at you, Smith has been a steady player since his freshman year and has led the team in rushing three years in a row. His ten touchdowns in 2016 coupled with some dominant perfomances against Florida, Penn State, and Indiana in the last year will help his stock. He lacks the elite athleticism and speed to be a top prospect at the position, but he possesses a lot of natural strength and balance. He has always displayed good hands too, rarely fumbling and catching 32 passes (one receiving TD) over the last two years. Somebody will give him a chance to prove he can carry the ball for them. Projection: Seventh Round

15. OT Erik Magnusson (5th) - A solid veteran player with decent size (6'6"/305lbs), mobility, and versatility to play inside or out. Don't expect him to be able to handle starting left tackle duties against the NFL's elite pass-rushers or move 350lbs nose tackles off the line of scrimmage, but he could be a backup swingman or find a home as a starting right tackle in the right system. He could also play guard and possibly even center. He doesn't do anything extremely well but he doesn't really make a lot of mistakes either. If he can clean up some technique issues he could tourn out to be a late round steal. Projection: Seventh Round 

Rookie Free Agents:

• CB Jeremy Clark
• RB Ty Isaac
• LB Mike McCray II - Coming back
• DT Bryan Mone (RSo) - Coming back
• OG Kyle Kalis (5th)
• OG Ben Braden (5th)
• S Delano Hill (5th)
• S Dymonte Thomas (Sr)