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It seemed obvious coming out of the 2016 season that Michigan was going to have a bevy of NFL Draft picks. 11 selections later, the Wolverines led all teams with players coming out of Ann Arbor headed to the pro ranks.
It’s been slim pickings since then, with just a handful of former Michigan players going each year, but the 2020 NFL Draft looks like it could certainly have a maize and blue flair.
At least according to Bleacher Report.
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NFL Draft prognosticator Matt Miller put together his post-Super Bowl seven-round mock draft this week, and an astonishing eight Wolverines made the class of 256 players selected overall, including one surprise going in the first-round.
Miller explained why he has former Michigan center Cesar Ruiz, who left a year of eligibility on the table, picked 31st overall by the NFL runner-up San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers clearly have a defense talented enough to win the big games and have promising young players on offense, led by Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Up next to improve is the interior offensive line.
Cesar Ruiz is the draft’s best center and has shown the ability to handle power and speed on the inside. He’s smart, athletic and versatile enough to handle the 49ers’ zone-blocking scheme at any inside spot.
Here’s all of the Michigan picks as predicted by Miller:
- 31, (1): OC Cesar Ruiz, San Francisco 49ers
- 44, (2): WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Indianapolis Colts
- 70, (3): EDGE Josh Uche, Miami Dolphins
- 100, (3): OL Ben Bredeson, Seattle Seahawks
- 171, (5): LB Khaleke Hudson, Baltimore Ravens
- 207. (6): TE Sean McKeon, Jacksonville Jaguars
- 216, (7): S Josh Metellus, Cincinnati Bengals
- 228, (7): CB Lavert Hill, Indianapolis Colts
There are two notable omissions here, of course. Miller has QB Shea Patterson and OL Michael Onwenu both as undrafted in his seven-round mock — though it’s likely that one or both could be late-round picks by an NFL franchise.
Of course, we’ll have a better idea later this month when the NFL Scouting Combine kicks off, putting much more of the upcoming draft in perspective.