Michigan's Marlin Klein a surprise NFL draft pick

The expectation of those former Michigan football players in the NFL draft was that either of the edge rushers -- Derrick Moore or Jaishawn Barham -- would go first, likely in the second round. Such was the case for Moore, having been selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 44 overall pick, after trading up with the New York Jets. But one player who was thought to be, almost certainly, a day three pick was tight end Marlin Klein, who departed Ann Arbor with a year of eligibility remaining.

Funny thing, that -- Klein ended up also going in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft.

In perhaps something of a surprise, the Houston Texans selected Klein with the No. 59 overall pick, making him the second Wolverine to come off the board. The last time a Michigan tight end was picked in the second round, it was Luke Schoonmaker in the 2023 NFL draft, selected by the Dallas Cowboys.

Klein will join former Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins in Houston and will play in the same stadium where he won the national championship in 2023.

He follows his former teammate Colston Loveland, who was selected last year in the first round of the NFL draft, as being yet another high-end tight end draft pick to come out of Ann Arbor and go to the professional ranks. Klein is also the third tight end taken off the board, having gone five picks behind Vanderbilt TE and three picks behind Texas A&M TE .