Gridiron Greats: Michigan’s First-Round NFL Legends
Michigan leads the Big Ten with 422 all-time NFL draft selections, ranking fourth in college football history. This retrospective catalogs every Wolverines first-round pick from 1941 onward. Icons like Tom Harmon (1941), Ron Kramer (1957), Desmond Howard (1992), Charles Woodson (1998), Jim Harbaugh (1987), and more recent stars—including Jake Long (2008), Aidan Hutchinson (2022), and Mason Graham (2025)—have donned the maize and blue before heading to NFL franchises. The list also highlights tight ends, defensive tackles, wide receivers, and linemen selected by teams ranging from the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers to the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins.
Ah, yes—nothing says “Wolverine greatness” quite like a glorified roll call of draft picks. It’s like collecting stamps, if stamps were made of future salary-cap casualties and “remember his rookie year?” spotlights. We’re dazzled by decades of first-rounders as if each one was a personal gift to the fanbase, when really it’s just a conveyor belt of helmet-to-helmet highlights and contract negotiations. But hey, charting every pick since Bob Westfall was yanked off the gridiron in ’42 practically makes you an NFL archivist—and you can almost feel the collective groan whenever that “no first-rounder” drought hits.
Wolverines Eye More NFL Draftees in 2026
With the 2026 NFL Draft looming in Pittsburgh, Michigan expects another wave of selections—likely none in Round 1 for the first time since 2018, but plenty during Days 2 and 3. The Wolverines boast eight Combine invites, featuring edge rushers Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham as top prospects. Linebacker Jimmy Rolder, interior lineman Rayshaun Benny, and versatile players like tight end Marlin Klein, receiver Donaven McCulley, fullback Max Bredeson, and kicker Dominic Zvada are all in the mix. Since 2000, Michigan has seen 135 players selected, seventh-most among collegiate programs, and set a record with 13 picks in 2024.
Behold the quarterback-less juggernaut, Michigan’s proud “pipeline” that somehow functions like an assembly line for defensive talent—then casually tosses you a kicker for good measure. Nothing says “elite program” like an eight-player Buy-One-Get-One deal at the Combine. Meanwhile, the fanbase brims with optimism that Pittsburgh crowds will hear “Wolverines!” just enough times to drown out the realization that the first salvo won’t land until Day 2. But hey, if you can’t make the opening act, at least bring the house down during the fireworks.
Bayou to Big House: Jalen Reed’s Fresh Start
Michigan secures LSU transfer Jalen Reed, a 6’10”, 245-pound forward with two healthy seasons separated by an ACL tear and an Achilles injury. After four years in Baton Rouge and only 14 career games due to his setbacks, Reed enters the portal with two years of eligibility and a four-star ranking. His sophomore year showcased 7.9 PPG and 4.1 RPG on 40% three-point shooting, while his junior campaign hinted at a breakout—11.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 50% from deep—before the ACL rupture halted momentum. The Wolverines hope this high-ceiling big man can fill a bench role akin to past contributors in 2026–27.
Behold the miracle of modern college sports: watch a guy blow out every ligament in his legs, then waltz into a new program like nothing happened. It’s like promised sequel after sequel, except you’re never sure if it’s a box-office hit or straight-to-video disaster. Michigan fans get to cheer for rebound percentages and dream of the next big stretch-five, while secretly praying Reed can navigate a gym without crashing through the hardwood. But hey, injury stories make for touching underdog sagas—until you check your bracket and realize you needed health, too.
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