NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Outlets Project 9 Wolverines To Come Off The Board
We have rounded up several of the latest NFL mock drafts (all of which have been written since March 21) around the internet, and have singled out where each of them are projecting former Michigan Wolverines football players to go.
We have also included three different seven-round projections below, with two of the three predicting nine Maize and Blue players to come off the board (which would be tied for the fourth best draft class in school history).
• Cesar Ruiz — Second Round (No. 35 overall) to the Detroit Lions
"The Lions lost [Denver Broncos offensive lineman] Graham Glasgow in free agency, and they could find a replacement early on Day 2. Ruiz is my top-ranked center, and the Lions were middle of the pack in 2019 in both rushing offense and pass protection."
• Josh Uche — Second Round (No. 51 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys
"[Free agent defensive end] Robert Quinn's absence leaves a hole opposite [Dallas defensive end] DeMarcus Lawrence. Uche had 8.5 sacks last season at Michigan."
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Four-Round 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Six Trades Shake up Round 1 (March 26)
• Cesar Ruiz — Second Round (No. 39 overall) to the New York Giants
• Josh Uche — Second Round (No. 55 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens
• Ben Bredeson — Third Round (No. 92 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens
• Cesar Ruiz — First Round (No. 26 overall) to the Miami Dolphins
"Let’s keep with the 'protect [former Alabama quarterback] Tua [Tagovailoa] at all costs' mentality here. Yes, it would be tempting to take the top running back off the board here, but the depth of this year’s class should give Miami better value on Day 2.
"Instead, they grab this year’s best interior blocker in Ruiz, who is just 20 years old and already as athletic and physical as they come."
• Donovan Peoples-Jones — Third Round (No. 85 overall) to the Detroit Lions
• Josh Uche — Third Round (No. 92 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens
• Ben Bredeson — Third Round (No. 101 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks
• Khaleke Hudson — Fourth Round (No. 137 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Lavert Hill — Fourth Round (No. 140 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Jon Runyan — Fourth Round (No. 145 overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Miller's Post-Free-Agency Predictions (April 1)
• Cesar Ruiz — First Round (No. 31 overall) to the San Francisco 49ers
"You’d love to see a cornerback here for the 49ers, but a small run on them has left the pick a reach at this position. A trade back would also be fitting, but in a mock with no trades, the 49ers instead grab a plug-and-play starter at center who could also be a high-caliber guard.
"With the injury to [San Francisco center] Weston Richburg potentially costing him the 2020 season and center so vital in [49ers head coach Kyle] Shanahan’s offense, Cesar Ruiz becomes a need and a value.
"He’s a mean but agile centerpiece in the middle of the offensive line, and he has the moves to get upfield and lock out in the zone-blocking scheme. Again, a cornerback here wouldn’t surprise, but the fit would have to be phenomenal to pass on Ruiz."
• Josh Uche — Third Round (No. 68 overall) to the New York Jets
• Donovan Peoples-Jones — Third Round (No. 82 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys
• Ben Bredeson — Fourth Round (No. 129 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens
• Lavert Hill — Fifth Round (No. 172 overall) to the New England Patriots
• Josh Metellus — Fifth Round (No. 178 overall) to the Denver Broncos
• Jon Runyan — Sixth Round (No. 196 overall) to the Chicago Bears
• Sean McKeon — Seventh Round (No. 227 overall) to the Miami Dolphins
• Mike Onwenu — Seventh Round (No. 234 overall) to the Los Angeles Rams
Drafttek.com: 2020 NFL Mock Draft Rev. 15 (March 31)
• Cesar Ruiz — First Round (No. 31 overall) to the San Francisco 49ers
"Cesar Ruiz has ideal size and athleticism and though he mostly played center at Michigan, should slide nicely into the RG spot in San Francisco. With [offensive tackle] Tom Compton playing the role of veteran competition, Ruiz will have to earn the starter spot from a player familiar with Shanahan's offense."
• Ben Bredeson — Third Round (No. 74 overall) to the Cleveland Browns
• Josh Uche — Third Round (No. 85 overall) to the Detroit Lions
• Donovan Peoples-Jones — Third Round (No. 89 overall) to the Minnesota Vikings
• Jon Runyan — Fourth Round (No. 139 overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Lavert Hill — Fourth Round (No. 142 overall) to the Washington Redskins
• Khaleke Hudson — Fifth Round (No. 151 overall) to the Los Angeles Chargers
• Mike Onwenu — Seventh Round (No. 224 overall) to the Tennessee Titans
• Cesar Ruiz — Second Round (No. 43 overall) to the Chicago Bears
• Donovan Peoples-Jones — Second Round (No. 59 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks
• Josh Uche — Third Round (No. 67 overall) to the Detroit Lions
• Ben Bredeson — Fourth Round (No. 133 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks
• Mike Onwenu — Fifth Round (No. 148 overall) to the Washington Redskins
• Jon Runyan — Sixth Round (No. 203 overall) to the New Orleans Saints
• Mike Danna — Seventh Round (No. 222 overall) to the Arizona Cardinals
• Lavert Hill — Seventh Round (No. 230 overall) to the Cleveland Browns
• Sean McKeon — Seventh Round (No. 231 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys
"[Dallas'] Blake Jarwin is going to be the starting tight end, and Dalton Schultz will likely be the blocking tight end. McKeon can be that third tight end, though, and serve a nice depth role.
"He did a little bit of everything at Michigan, which helps him provide value as a backup to either Schultz or Jarwin. And with a seventh round pick, you’re mostly looking for guys who can provide solid depth, which McKeon does."
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