Mock draft simulation 3.0: Where Michigan players stand before the NFL Combine

We are at a bit of a lull in the process leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft with front offices and evaluators taking the top between the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine to watch film and circles guys they want to know more about. Later this month, the Michigan Wolverines heading to the pros and the rest of the collegiate ranks will descend upon Indianapolis to showcase their abilities in front of teams and meet one-on-one at the combine.

With that in mind, we simulated all 7-rounds via The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Simulator to see where the board currently has Michigan prospects set to go. It is worth noting that they are constantly updating their boards to reflect trends in the pre-draft process, their own scouting and more leading up to April.

You can read the first edition of our simulations to compare here. Below is the most recent sim that was run on Wednesday afternoon.

Indianapolis Colts (Round 2, Pick 44 overall): Cesar Ruiz, IOL

Ruiz continues to trend upward as the Michigan prospect that could be off the board the highest of his teammates. His rise up draft boards reminds me a bit of Frank Ragnow a few years back. He was sort of waiting in the weeds as a day two prospect until late in the process when the Detroit Lions clearly fell in love with him and took him off the board with the No. 20 overall pick in 2018. Ruiz is rock solid and some are starting to give him that same potential first round buzz. He would be great here playing next to Quenton Nelson.

Houston Texans (Round 2, Pick 57 overall): Joshua Uche, EDGE

When it is all said and done, I would not be surprised to see Uche as the highest-drafted Michigan player in this class. He can do it all, including dropping into coverage, and those who followed Senior Bowl practices saw it too. He’s a three-down player in the NFL.

Baltimore Ravens (Round 2, Pick 60 overall): Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR

There seems to be a Wolverine that winds up in the hands of John Harbaugh one way or another every NFL offseason. Lamar Jackson won the NFL MVP last season, but his longevity in the league may still wind up depending on how he develops as a passer when defenses eventually are able to limit what he can do on the ground. DPJ and Marquise Brown would be a heck of a young duo there moving forward.

New Orleans Saints (Round 4, Pick 120 overall): Ben Bredeson, IOL

There fourth round is where teams can start landing players with good value and Bredeson certainly fits the bill here. I think he’s an eventual NFL starter and a guy that can stick around for awhile and he would find himself in a good situation here.

Kansas City Chiefs (Round 5, Pick 128 overall): Michael Onwenu, IOL

I get excited for players that feel like they have more to unlock in their skill-sets landing with winning organizations that develop talent. Onwenu was very good at Michigan, though never quite dominant. Like Bredeson, I think this is good value in the first half of the third day of the draft.

Chicago Bears (Round 7, Pick 203 overall): Sean McKeon, TE

There’s three-down ability to his game and he does a lot of things well, including his willingness to block. He has soft hands and drops were never an issue at Michigan, but his athleticism will be questioned by NFL scouts.

Indianapolis Colts (Round 7, Pick 204 overall): Lavert Hill, CB

Hill is going to have a shot to make a roster, but is not quite as highly regarded a prospect as Jourdan Lewis and David Long before him were. He has some work to do to boost his stock once again.

Not Drafted: OT Jon Runyan Jr., QB Shea Patterson, S/LB Khaleke Hudson, S Josh Metellus, DE Mike Danna

The most surprising of this bunch is Runyan, who has been mocked in the later rounds and has NFL bloodlines. Patterson had an up-and-down week at the Senior Bowl with the feedback skewing slightly more positive than negative. Some question whether he should be drafted, but he brings more to the table from a tools perspective than Jake Rudock did and he was drafted. All it takes is one team for any of these guys, but do see them all on NFL rosters come the preseason.

Other Big Ten Picks

3. Detroit Lions — Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
4. New York Giants — Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
11. New York Jets — A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
16. Atlanta Falcons — Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
25. Minnesota Vikings — Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
28. Baltimore Ravens — Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin
32. Kansas City Chiefs — Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
34. Indianapolis Colts — KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
42. Jacksonville Jaguars — Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State
66. Washington Redskins — J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
73. Jacksonville Jaguars — Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota
75. Indianapolis Colts — Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
79. New York Jets — Tyler Biadasz, IOL, Wisconsin
88. New Orleans Saints — KJ Hill, WR, Ohio State
95. Denver Broncos — Jonah Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
107. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
108. Denver Broncos — Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue
118. Buffalo Bills — Anthony McFarland, RB, Maryland
121. Houston Texans — Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa
130. Washington Redskins — Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State
131. Detroit Lions — Davon Hamilton, IDL, Ohio State
135. Miami Dolphins — Jordan Fuller, S, Ohio State
141. Las Vegas Raiders — Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
143. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota
154. Detroit Lions — Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
160. Cincinnati Bengals — Joe Bachie, LB, Michigan State
180. Chicago Bears — Brian Lewerke, QB, Michigan State
184. New England Patriots — Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska
189. Green Bay Packers — Robert Landers, IDL, Ohio State
191. Indianapolis Colts — Mohamed Barry, LB, Nebraska
193. Washington Redskins — Lamar Jackson, CB, Nebraska
199. Arizona Cardinals — Geno Stone, S, Iowa
211. Los Angeles Rams — Raequan Williams, IDL, Michigan State
214. Denver Broncos — Mike Panasiuk, IDL, Michigan State
217. Houston Texans — Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
233. Miami Dolphins — Binjimen Victor, WR, Ohio State