Tag: University of Michigan

2025 mock draft: 49ers land major 1st-round steal

This seems unlikely, but the 49ers would take it…

There are a handful of scenarios where the San Francisco 49ers could come away from Day 1 of the 2025 NFL draft with a game-changing player.

One of those plays out in a 2025 mock draft from For the Win where the 49ers land perhaps the steal of the draft without needing to make a trade up.

FTW’s Christian D’Andrea has standout Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham careening all the way down to the 49ers at the No. 11 overall pick.

Graham was a two-time First-Team All-Big 10 selection for the Wolverines after putting up 62 pressures and nine sacks over the last two seasons. He’s a big-time athlete who would have to change positions with San Francisco, but D’Andrea doesn’t foresee an issue for Graham making that switch.

Via FTW:

One of the tenets of Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers teams is a commitment to a deep and athletic defensive line. Graham isn’t a perfect fit moving from Michigan’s 3-4 to San Francisco’s 4-3, but he’s talented enough to make this a moot point.

The Wolverines star would get to thrive next to a healthy Javon Hargrave to give the Niners a pair of inside-out gap-shooters who can flush quarterbacks out to Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd’s orbits. At 320 pounds, he’s big enough to be immobile against the run. He’s also quick and explosive enough to blast through gaps as a 3-technique lineman between the guard and tackle.

There’s still plenty of time in the NFL draft process for player rankings to move around, but Graham is ESPN’s No. 3 overall player as the NFL enters the final week of the 2024 regular season.

He went No. 3 overall in a mock draft from the Draft Wire. He went No. 5 overall in a mock draft from Athlon Sports where the 49ers take Graham’s teammate, Kenneth Grant.

Graham is a certified game-wrecker who would instantly make the 49ers’ defensive line better on all three downs. If he falls to 11th overall, either something went terribly wrong for him in the pre-draft process, or the 49ers are walking away with the biggest steal of the 2025 draft.

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49ers get versatile Michigan DL in 1st round of 2025 NFL mock draft

D-line help could be on the way in this year’s draft for the 49ers.

Any list of needs for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2025 NFL draft will have defensive line at or near the top.

They could use help on the offensive line as well, but given the organization’s philosophy and history in the NFL draft with head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch running the show, it’s safe to assume they’d prioritize the defensive front.

That’s exactly what they do in a first-round mock draft from Athlon’s Luke Easterling where Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant falls to them at No. 11 overall.

While there may be some trepidation from the 49ers after the Javon Kinlaw selection in the 2020 draft went sideways, Grant appears to have all the tools to be a disruptive player who can be on the field for all three downs. He can flat out move at 6-3, 339 pounds, and earned his way onto Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’ at the Athletic.

Grant should be able to step in and offer an improvement for the 49ers on Day 1.

Via Easterling:

I wouldn’t count out an offensive tackle here, but if the board falls this way, the 49ers could opt for trench help on the other side of the ball. Landing a massive mauler like Grant would be a huge win for a San Francisco defense that desperately needs that kind of disruptive presence on the inside against both the run and pass.

Finding a run-stopping defensive tackle is a must this offseason for San Francisco, but there’s not enough value in a run stuffer to justify taking one with the 11th pick. Any DT that goes this high will have to rush the passer as well, and Grant did that effectively during his time with the Wolverines.

Grant over the last two seasons posted 49 pressures and eight sacks according to Pro Football Focus. He also had 10 pass breakups in that span.

If the 49ers believe Grant can be an effective run stopper who can also push the pocket as a pass rusher, it’s hard to imagine they’d pass on him at No. 11 overall.

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Could analytics lead the Commanders to choose Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy?

In what world would the Commanders choose J.J. McCarthy at No. 2?

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris has never shied away from the importance of analytics to his sports organizations. He proved that with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils. In October, Harris made his first big hire with the Commanders, hiring Eugene Shen to serve as Washington’s senior vice president of football strategy.

Shen quickly made his impact felt, consulting on the trades of defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young for 2024 NFL draft compensation. The trades gave Washington a total of nine picks in the draft.

New general manager Adam Peters’ first big personnel move — no offense to free agency — is who he will select at quarterback?

Peters, himself a strong proponent of analytics, will likely decide between Jayden Daniels (LSU), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) on Thursday night.

Most people believe the Commanders will choose Daniels — the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner. Others think the pick is Maye, who most think has the highest long-term ceiling.

What about McCarthy?

The national championship quarterback may have less buzz than Maye and Daniels for No. 2 overall, but some who know Peters believe he’s firmly in the mix.

And, according to a report from Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post, if Washington allows analytics to help make the decision on the No. 2 overall pick, two other NFL GMs think McCarthy may be the pick.

Two general managers told me they believe that if the Washington Commanders let the analytics guide them, McCarthy is their guess for the No. 2 pick. If the team’s coaches hold significant sway and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s voice resonates, then Daniels would be the selection. Both general managers also believe Daniels would love to be a Raider.

Two things here: How much of an impact will analytics play in the decision for the No. 2 pick? Secondly, how much sway will Kingsbury have?

One note on Kingsbury: does anyone know if Kingsbury would prefer Daniels over Maye?

The 2024 NFL draft begins on Thursday.

Chargers hire 4 to sports performance staff

The Chargers are close to having their entire staff built out after adding four more on Thursday.

The Chargers are close to having their entire staff built out after adding four more on Thursday.

Los Angeles announced the hirings of executive director of player performance Ben Herbert, head strength and conditioning coach Devin Woodhouse, director of performance analytics and performance analyst Lincoln DeWolf.

Head strength & conditioning coach Jonathan Brooks will continue in his role on the staff.

Herbert spent the last six seasons at the University of Michigan as their strength and conditioning coach.

Woodhouse recently spent the 2023 season at Michigan as their assistant strength and conditioning coach. He served in the same role for the University of Wisconsin the two seasons prior (2021-22).

Rabe worked the past four seasons (2020-23) on the strength and conditioning staff as an assistant at Michigan.

DeWolf recently worked as the associate director of performance analytics at Michigan.

Report: Commanders interested in Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh

The Michigan coach has won everywhere he’s been.

The Washington Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera on Monday morning, and owner Josh Harris announced an advisory committee, consisting of minority owners Magic Johnson, David Blitzer and Mitchell Rales, along with former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers and Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman.

It didn’t take long for Myers to get to work.

According to a report from Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Myers has already reached out to Jim Harbaugh’s agent, Don Yee, to express interest in the current University of Michigan head coach.

Michigan plays Washington in the NCAA championship on Monday, but reports have indicated he’s ready for a return to the NFL, with multiple teams interested, such as the Raiders and Chargers.

Harbaugh was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 1986 NFL draft, where he played quarterback for seven seasons. Harbaugh would enjoy a 15-year playing career, also playing for the Colts, Ravens, Chargers, Lions and Panthers.

He quickly jumped into coaching, beginning that phase of his career with the Oakland Raiders in 2002. He spent two years in that role before accepting the head coaching position at the University of San Diego. He was head coach there for three seasons before being named head coach at Stanford in 2007. He coached the Cardinal for four seasons before returning to the NFL as head coach of the 49ers in 2011.

Harbaugh immediately turned around San Francisco, enjoying a 44-19-1 record in four years, leading the Niners to the playoffs in three seasons, including losing in Super Bowl XLVII to the Baltimore Ravens and his brother John. Harbaugh played a critical role in turning around the career of quarterback Alex Smith.

In his nine seasons at Michigan, Harbaugh has a record of 88-25.

Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda initially reported Washington’s interest in Harbaugh.

WATCH: Chiefs players predict College Football Playoff National Championship

#Chiefs players weighed in on which team they think will win the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 8.

The Kansas City Chiefs are one week away from the NFL playoffs, but in a short video that hit social media platforms this morning, the team’s players gave their take on another postseason event: the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Stars like Travis Kelce, Drue Tranquill, and Jawaan Taylor all weighed in on the upcoming matchup between the University of Michigan and the University of Washington.

Only two players on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster attended the universities competing for college football supremacy on Monday, January 8. Veteran defensive lineman Mike Danna was a University of Michigan Wolverine, and defensive back Trent McDuffie was a Husky at the University of Washington.

McDuffie’s running mate in Kansas City’s defensive backfield, practice squad member Keith Taylor, also attended the University of Washington.

While the highly anticipated matchup between college football’s top football programs is sure to be the topic of endless discussion in the team’s locker room over the next few days, the Chiefs are set to lock in and finish their regular season strong against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18.

Report: Jim Harbaugh should be considered ‘real candidate’ for Panthers’ HC job

After a fruitless phone call last year, will Jim Harbaugh become a serious contender for the Panthers’ HC job a second time around?

Signs—reported ones, not stolen ones—could be trending towards what was once an unlikely union in Charlotte.

After firing Frank Reich this past Monday, the Carolina Panthers and owner David Tepper will be embarking on their second head-coaching search in as many years. And a name that briefly popped up in the first hunt may actually stick around this time.

CBS Sports senior NFL insider Jonathan Jones wrote the following on Saturday:

One name that wasn’t a consideration for Carolina last year but may be after these 11 games is Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Multiple sources who spoke with CBS Sports said Harbaugh should be considered a real candidate for the job.

CBS Sports reported last January that Harbaugh or his representation called Tepper with regularity as Carolina searched for a new head coach. Tepper took a call with Harbaugh, sources said, but it was never a job interview.

Before ultimately landing on Reich, Tepper reportedly received some interest from Harbaugh himself. But after dismissing a CEO-type in Matt Rhule just months earlier, Tepper didn’t seem inclined to hand over too much power to the next man—something Harbaugh would very likely command.

Will Tepper’s mindset, however, change with a lack of culture and continuity in the building?

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Michigan regent offers great insights on NCAA failures, travel problems and more

A #Michigan regent named Jordan Acker won widespread and deserved praise for a viral thread on the broken state of college sports.

Jordan Acker is someone you very likely had never heard of before this weekend, unless you live in Ann Arbor or the state of Michigan.

Acker, a member of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, has been taking in the news along with the rest of us about the new West Coast schools joining the Big Ten Conference.

There also is speculation the Atlantic Coast Conference might invite two schools from the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford and Cal-Berkeley. Arizona State and Arizona have just joined the Big 12 and will make road trips to Morgantown, West Virginia, and Ames, Iowa.

Travel for athletes is accepted as part of the big-money world of college sports, but whereas it’s part of the price for football and men’s basketball players, the Olympic sport athletes plainly did not sign up for professional-level travel in sports where their income-producing opportunities are limited.

Acker’s thread is timely, detailed and informative. It’s worth reading. Wolverines Wire knows this, but we’re going to make sure you get to read the full thread as well.

Here it is, in full:

WATCH: Best Ronnie Bell highlights from Michigan

Ronnie Bell balled out for Michigan last season, becoming an enticing target for the #49ers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft

Ronnie Bell will have a chance to make a difference for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 if he can show some promise in training camp and the preseason. As a seventh-round pick, he won’t necessarily be a lock to make the final roster in August but should get a shot at playing time with backups so the team can get a sense of what he brings to the table.

Whether he makes the team or not, Bell put together an entertaining highlight reel at Michigan that warranted his selection in the seventh round. Check out his best plays below to get a better idea of how he might fit in the 49ers offense:

Instant analysis of Dolphins selecting OT Ryan Hayes with pick No. 238

Making sense of the last pick.

The Miami Dolphins have concluded their 2023 draft process by selecting Michigan offensive tackle Ryan Hayes with pick No. 238.

Hayes played left tackle for the Wolverines and was a second-team All-Big Ten player for two consecutive seasons. He was part of a unit that won two straight Joe Moore Awards for the best offensive line in college football. He was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Honoree. He even was a 2022 graduate student last season.

The knock on his ability to play tackle in the pros is due to reports of limited arm length, but he has great size for the interior. He’s powerful and has football smarts, but he does need work in overall fundamentals, including footwork. He could do well in a system like Miami has with their RPO and play actions.

Hayes is a technically sound blocker, with fine size for the pros at 6-foot-6 and 298 pounds. He could be a quality left-guard candidate to compete with Liam Eichenberg, if he moves to the interior as some predict. In a pinch, he could be a quality competitor in camp at multiple areas of the line, while providing backup depth for veteran Terron Armstead.

The pass protection could use some fine-tuning, but Hayes is clearly very coachable and has a good combination of size and strength. He has a solid overall athletic background, playing baseball and basketball as well in high school. He also has a pedigree in athletics, with both of his parents being athletes and his brother, too, playing for the University of Pittsburgh.

Hayes makes for a very quality capper of a pick, in a draft process that checked off a number of needs for the Dolphins, especially taking into account the fact their missing picks, this year, are Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey.

The Dolphins have had a productive offseason thus far, with more free agents on the market, and a post-June 1 scrap heap of potential cuts on the way. Not to mention the $13.6 million in cap space that is returning to the Dolphins with the official release of cornerback Byron Jones.

As the 2023 NFL draft comes to a close, Miami will certainly have a long list of undrafted free agents that’ll be added to this year’s rookie class of cornerback Cam Smith, running back Devon Achane, tight end Elijah Higgins and offensive lineman Ryan Hayes.

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