Michigan football's streak of first-round NFL Draft picks in jeopardy

“Half the teams like Moore, half the teams like Barham,” Jeremiah said. “Different guys, but both play really hard. Moore is a little more accomplished, a little more of a game plan as a rusher, whereas Barham, because he's a little more new to it, there's more upside. The more confident defensive line coaches you talk to want Barham, because they feel like they can get it out of him, and they can coach him and develop him.”

Following Moore and Barham, Jeremiah thinks tight end Marlin Klein will be the next Michigan player selected. He ranks Klein as his No. 5 tight end, while Kiper has him ranked No. 9.

“He's got a very good chance of going on Day 2, and he's got a chance of going in the third round,” Jeremiah said. “I wouldn't be stunned if he got into the bottom of the second round, just because teams are looking for these hand-in-the-ground, wide tight ends that have size, that can block, but also have some speed and some ability to make plays down the field, which he does. He had to wait his turn behind Loveland. I think if he was the featured tight end at Michigan for three years, we'd be talking about him as a guaranteed second-round pick.”

Defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny is Kiper’s No. 14th player at the position, and he ranks linebacker Jimmy Rolder No. 132 overall. Jeremiah projects Benny and Rolder as fourth-round picks.

Max Bredeson, a two-time captain and the younger brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Ben Bredeson, is ranked the No. 9 fullback by Kiper. Jeremiah sees him as a potential sixth-round pick.

“(He’s got) the ability to do a lot of different things,” Jeremiah said. “He's kind of a roster saver, because you can use him as a tight end, you can use him as a fullback, you move him all over the place. Special teams will be his deal. Got to prove that he can be a little bit more involved in the passing game. I have him kind of more in that sixth-round range, give or take a round.”

During the 2024 draft, on the heels of Michigan’s national championship, the Wolverines set a program record with 13 players selected. The previous best was 11 in 2017. This class doesn’t have the numbers as the record-setting year, but Jeremiah said it’s still solid.

“Even in a down year for Michigan,” Jeremiah said, "it's quite a few dudes.”

achengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan football's streak of first-round NFL Draft picks in jeopardy