Three Michigan football players have made a significant mark by featuring in ESPN’s early 2025 NFL Mock Draft top 15, showcasing the university’s outstanding talent development. This recognition highlights their potential future in the NFL, drawing attention from scouts and fans alike.
The bulk of mock draft season happens in the 100 or so days between the end of a college football season in mid-January and the NFL Draft in late April. But that has never stopped early speculation before. With the college football season fast approaching, it’s never too early to take a look at what the next crop of prospects will look like.
The good news for Michigan football is ESPN’s Matt Miller released his first mock draft ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft (which will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin) earlier this week, and the Wolverines were well represented, with three picks mocked in the first half of the first round.
Will Johnson
The first U-M star off the board? Cornerback Will Johnson at No. 3 to the Denver Broncos, which comes as no surprise. After his freshman season, Johnson appeared in the top 10 of some mocks that were drafting the best athletes available, not just those who were draft-eligible.
In the meantime, Johnson has developed into one of the most NFL-ready cornerback prospects of the past decade and could be a clear fit for Denver, which Miller said could well be in “best player available” territory.
Johnson, a former five-star product from Grosse Pointe South, was named an All-American as a sophomore and was a consensus All-Big Ten first-teamer. With 25 games played (16 starts), Johnson was named defensive MVP of the January’s College Football Playoff title game, finishing his second year with 27 tackles (including one for loss), four interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown).
If this holds, it would make Johnson the highest-drafted Wolverine since Aidan Hutchinson went No. 2 to the Lions in the 2022 draft and the highest-drafted U-M cornerback since Charles Woodson came off his Heisman Trophy campaign during the 1997 national championship season and was selected No. 4 overall (Oakland Raiders) in 1998.
Mason Graham
According to Miller, U-M won’t have to wait all that long to hear its next name called. Mason Graham, the star defensive tackle who former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh called “a gift from the football gods” upon his arrival in Ann Arbor, was pegged to go No. 7 and reunite with J.J. McCarthy on the Minnesota Vikings.
At 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds, the Anaheim, California, product was named a second-team All-American last season after he appeared in 13 games (13 starts) and recorded 36 tackles, which included 7½ for loss, and three sacks to go with three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Colston Loveland
The final U-M prospect mocked in the first round was not Graham’s running mate in Kenneth Grant, nor was it running back Donovan Edwards or safety Rod Moore, who was pegged as a late first-rounder before he suffered a knee injury in the spring. Instead, it was Colston Loveland, perhaps Michigan’s top offensive weapon this season. Miller had him going No. 14 overall to the Indianapolis Colts.
Loveland is widely regarded as the nation’s top tight end as he comes off a monster sophomore season that saw him catch 45 passes for 649 yards (14.4 yards per reception) and four touchdowns. Loveland had 10 games with at least three receptions and seven games with at least 55 receiving yards, despite playing in a run-first offense that had the most decorated running back the program has ever seen, as well as two receivers who were taken in the NFL Draft.
Though it’s a stretch, given he will be working with a new quarterback, Loveland is now just 763 yards away from passing Jake Butt’s Michigan record (1,646 yards) for career receiving yards by a tight end.
Michigan’s Draft Legacy
Although the Wolverines set a program record this past spring with 13 NFL draft picks — second-most by one program in a single draft — it came with just one first-round pick, in McCarthy. Baring something unforeseen, Michigan can expect to have at least a trio of first-rounders next spring — and possibly more.
For those interested in sports betting, Michigan sportsbook promos provide exciting opportunities to place early bets on these players’ draft prospects, enhancing the anticipation and engagement for fans tracking their journey from college football stars to potential NFL greats.
Final Thoughts
The inclusion of Will Johnson, Mason Graham, and Colston Loveland in ESPN’s early 2025 NFL Mock Draft top 15 underscores the exceptional talent emerging from Michigan football. With their impressive performances and potential for further growth, these players are set to make significant impacts in the NFL.
As the draft approaches, Michigan fans can look forward to celebrating these standout athletes’ journeys from college stars to professional football prospects, further cementing the Wolverines’ reputation for producing top-tier NFL talent.
