As requested - Wolverines in the NFL Part 1

I tend to follow former Wolverines in the NFL quite closely during the season and I'm bored at work so I'll do my best.  I'm sure I missed some so feel free to add them or if you're a fan of one of these teams and know more than me (won't take much) go ahead and correct me.  I semi-tried to go by conference and divison.

San Francisco 49ers

Ronnie Bell – Bell played quite a bit for a rookie in one of the best WR rooms in the NFL.  He was probably WR 4 5 or 6 for San Fran depending on the week.  He caught only 6 balls for 68 yards but had 3 TDs.  IIRC, they had him return some punts as well.  Year 2 is kinda looking like the same for Bell since the rumored trades of Aiyuk and Samuel didn’t happen.  Best case is he fights for WR3 this year in a stacked offense.

Jake Moody – The Michigan GOAT kicker had an up and down rookie season.  His overall numbers look ok.  He made 21-25 which is middle of the pack in the NFL but the low attempts on the year show the coaches didn’t have the most confidence in him.  The low point was him missing a chip shot game winner against my Browns and of course missing an extra point in Super Bowl which may or may not have been game changing.  It seemed things could have gone off the rails for him several times during the season but he would always bounce back.  Year 2 I would expect to be better as he used to the pressure in the NFL and the scrutiny of being a kicker drafted in the 3rd round.

Ambry Thomas – I’d put Ambry as CB3 for the Niners this past season.  He played in almost every game and started a few as well.  He’s a solid player as he enters his contract year for San Fran.

LA Rams

Blake Corum – Corum should be the only wolverine on the Rams this season.  It seems likely he’ll slide into a 2 back system with Kyren Williams for the 2024 season

LA Chargers

Chris Hinton – From what I remember, Hinton made the team out of fall camp but played very little.  I have no idea on his contract situation but these end of the roster types are always a crapshoot to predict.  He does have Jim and Minter in his corner now so that can’t hurt.

Junior Colson – Most of what I’ve read is he expected to be a starter for the Chargers in the upcoming season but he is a rookie so time will tell.

Cornelius Johnson – The good news is CJ has a real good shot to stick in the NFL on the chargers as they were forced to unload a couple from the roster.  The bad news is they drafted 2 WR ahead of him including 2nd round pick Ladd McConkey to go along with the 2 they drafted the prior year.

Karsen Barnhart – UDFA with a decent shot to make the team coming out of all camp.  Mainly cause Jim is his coach.

Seattle Seahawks

Mike Morris – Mike played exactly 1 game last year (game 1) and got hurt and never played again so its hard to say what next season will be like for him.  I think he’s safe to make the team provided he’s 100% healthy but this will be a very important year for MM.

Olu Oluwatimi – My understanding is that Olu fell in the draft because he doesn’t possess the interior OL versatility to play multiple positions someone like Graham Glasgow or Cesar Ruiz do.  It was also my understanding that he was drafted to be the center in waiting so 2024 might be his year to take over starting duty.

Houston Texans

Nico Collins – Collins had a breakout year to the surprise of exactly zero Michigan fans (sigh).  His main issue up until this point has been shit tier QB play and injuries.  Well, he got a great QB and was able to stay (mostly) healthy.  He was top 10 in receptions, TDs, and ypc.  Another year like this, Nico will be getting PAID as this is his contract year.

Ladarius Henderson – 7th round pick so who knows.  Probably a practice squad guy.

Indianapolis Colts

Kwity Paye – Paye battled some injuries last season but was able to rack up 8.5 sacks and was rewarded with his 5th year option being picked up.  Basically that means the team loves him because there is always a massive pay jump for the 5th year.  He’ll go from making a few mill to over 10 in year 5.  If he can build on this past season, he could be staring down a long extension worth a lot of money.

Cameron McGrone – Cam was able to stick on the Colts this past season playing mostly special teams and mop up LB duty.  Not sure about his contract status but he’s still very young and one of the guys that probably could have used another year at Michigan.

Tennessee Titans

Hassan Haskins – I’m not really sure at all what’s going on with Hassan.  As well all know he had his DV situation which kept him off the field entirely.  As far as I know he still is on the team but other than that I can’t say

Jaylen Harrell – Rookie, 7th rounder.  Going to be a tough climb to make the team.  Probably practice squad for his first year. 

Kansas City Chiefs

Mike Danna – I've watched a ton of chiefs games as my BIL is a huge chiefs fan and Danna has been a solid player for them all 4 years since he was drafted.  Not a flashy player but plays his role very well.  He did have an uptick in stats last year netting 6.5 sacks and re-signed with the Chiefs for 3 years and a cool 24 mill. 

New Orleans Saints

Cesar Ruiz -  I’ve read some accounts from Saints fans on Ruiz and its been up and down.  He’s started 56 games for them over the past 4 years at OG and C but was declined his 5th year option.  That’s usually a bad sign but then not long after he signed a 4 year 44 mill deal to remain on the saints.  He’ll enter his 5th year in the NFL as the starter at RG for New Orleans.

Khaleke Hudson - Signed a 1 year deal in New Orleans.  I kinda thought he was going to end up in Washington for a longer team deal.  He’s mostly been a reserve LB so far in his career.

Carolina Panthers

Michael Barrett – To me he was the most surprising drop in the draft falling all the way down to the 7th round.  The Panthers are a mess so he’ll definitely get his shot to make the team this fall.

Baltimore Ravens

David Ojabo – One of the sadder entries on this list.  Sure fire first rounder get hurts at his pro day, falls in the draft, and just hasn’t been able to get back to where he was prior to the injury.  He has only played in I think 3 games in his career so far.  The hope is the Achilles injury is still causing some psychological issues that he’ll be able to overcome this season and stick in the league long term.  I’ll admit it is getting late for him but it would be awesome to see a comeback.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Roman Wilson – I’m very excited to watch Wilson in this Steelers offense.  He legit has the chance to be WR2 for them as they offloaded Dionte Johnson to the Panthers leaving only George Pickens ahead of him.

Cleveland Browns

Mo Hurst – As a Browns fan, it was awesome to see Mo come in and play like the player us Michigan fans know he is.  Up until this past year Mo could not catch a freaking break.  From being diagnosed with a heart condition prior to being drafted which tanked his stock, to having multiple season ending injuries in San Fran, it has been a brutal career for IMO the best defensive player I’ve seen at Michigan.  Unfortunately he had another injury late in the year for the browns.  The good news is the Browns re-signed for the upcoming season and he’ll be a key piece on a very good Browns DL.

Zak Zinter – I loved this pick for the browns.  If you don’t know, the Browns have basically the best OG tandem in the league in Bitonio and Teller.  Both of those guys are getting up there in age and pay where the Browns are not going to be able to keep and pay them forever (don’t get me started on why, I know).  If all goes to plan, Zinter will be a depth piece early in his career and then is slotted to take over for one the departing OGs.

Cincinnati Bengals

Dax Hill – It’s been a disappointing start for Dax in Cinci.  He has basically started since day 1 but at least in my opinion, has not adjusted well to safety in the NFL.  The Cinci coaches agree at least somewhat as it was announced last week that Hill would be switching to the position he excelled the most at Michigan, nickel.  He is a supremely physically talented football player and hopefully this position switch will be a better fit for him.

Brad Robbins – Oh man was it a disaster rookie year for Robbins in the NFL.  He was basically last in the NFL in average yardage and I would see Cinci fans say he was drafted for his hangtime, not distance.  I don’t know.  It seems like BS to me.  I’m of the opinion that non called roughing he took against Nebraska somehow ruined him.  He was the GOAT Michigan punter before that and was very inconsistent after and that has translated in the NFL.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets beat in fall camp but he’ll have his shot to retain his spot.

DJ “JuanDrago” Turner - Overall I’d say it was a pretty good rookie year for DJ.  The speed he showed at the combine was on display but some of the same problems that he had at Michigan showed up in the pros.  He would just get bodied by much bigger receivers but he started 12 games for the bengals and IMO has a bright future in the league

Kris Jenkins - Will make the team but I don’t really have a good idea how much Kris will play his rookie year.  The Bengals kinda seem like a mess with multiple marquee players requesting trades recently.

Chris Evans - Chris has somehow managed to hang on to his roster spot despite never really rising past RB3 for the Bengals.  Unfortunately he seems like a likely fall camp cut as I believe there are at least 2 younger RBs ahead of him on the depth chart.

Minnesota Vikings

Josh Mettelus - One of the better stories for Michigan players in the NFL in recent memory.  Was a 6th rounder and played mostly special teams his first couple years playing and finally was able to break into the defensive lineup his 3rd year playing behind one of the better safeties in this era in Harrison Smith.  That year by the end of the season he was named team captain and last season he was awesome. I would encourage every Michigan fan to watch a vikings game (probably don’t need to say that anymore).  Josh plays like a man on fire out there and it is awesome to watch.  I think he has a long career in Minny and they will look to re-sign him long term after Smith retires which may be as soon as after this season.

JJ McCarthy - Don’t need to say much here.  I’ll be watching every viking game this year.  It’ll be interesting to see when he actually gets on the field with Sam Darnold there as the presumed starter.  IMO they should wait as long as possible

Green Bay Packers

Rashan Gary - Gary has generally been very good for the packers and one of the premier pass rushers in the league when it comes to pressure rates and hurries, not necessarily sacks.  What I thought was a disaster when he tore his ACL in his contract year turned out ok as he re-signed with the packers for a boatload of money.  Last season was kind of slow bounce back year coming off the ACL.  I would expect him to have a career year this season.

Trente Jones - Definitely a guy that could have used another year at michigan to feature himself at RT but Green Bay is a good landing spot as they ALWAYS seem to have a good OL and are generally thought of as one of the best developers of OL in the league.  All in all he’s probably a practice squad guy.