Who Will Be The First Wolverine Taken In The 2023 NFL Draft?

It's possible that Michigan could have up to 10 players drafted, but there's two Wolverines that seem to stand head and shoulders above the rest.

With the 2023 NFL Draft set to take place later this month, analysts are revealing their annual mock draft predictions. ESPN's Todd McShay recently unveiled his latest NFL mock via ESPN.com, and it includes two Wolverines with the potential to sneak into the first-round. 

It begins with Mazi Smith, a 6-3, 323 pound defensive tackle who was the center piece of Michigan's defense last season. According to McShay, Smith will be the first Wolverine taken off the board - becoming the first pick in the second round (No. 32 overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

“Pittsburgh is typically strong up the middle, and it already has Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi in place,” McShay said. “But considering the electrifying rushing attacks that the Steelers face in their division, securing depth at defensive tackle isn’t a bad call.

“At 6-foot-3 and 323 pounds, Smith’s game is all about power, and he’s a plug-and-play nose tackle in the NFL.”

The next Wolverine that is making some noise leading up to the draft is cornerback DJ Turner. It began during this year's NFL combine, where Turner clocked in at 4.26 in the 40-yard dash - the fastest of any player at the combine. Not only was his 40-yard dash time good for No. 5 in combine history, it also caught the attention of scouts who value speed in the secondary. 

According to McShay, Turner could hear his named called in the second round when the New England Patriots make their pick at No. 46.

"Turner has a great combination of speed and fluidity. He ran a scorching 4.26 in the 40-yard dash (fastest at the combine this year), and he can mirror receivers' every move. Jonathan Jones re-signed in New England, but there's a need for more playmakers in the secondary. Turner had three interceptions and 18 pass breakups over the past two seasons."

While both Smith and Turner are currently projected as second-round picks, a number of analysts (including Todd McShay and Mel Kiper) have acknowledged that they wouldn't be surprised to see either of them taken in the first-round.