Happy draft day Michigan fans! And what a day we are looking to have, with 2025 shaping up to be another thrilling chapter. There are four Michigan football players projected to go in the first round. Headlined by Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, who I wrote about earlier this week, we also have Will Johnson and Colston Loveland likely to hear their name called by the end of the night.
It may be just me personally, but I've always loved the NFL draft. The excitment of where college football stars will play in the NFL, the twists, the turns, the trades. It's easily one of my favorite holidays of the year. It's not quite up there with Christmas, but definetly ahead of clean out your computer day (which apparently is a real thing as I found out researching for this article).
There's a lot of uncertainty and a lot of options on where these four could go tonight, but I feel that Will Johnson and Colston Loveland aren't getting enough respect from the NFL draft community. These two Michigan stars are two of the best players in the 2025 NFL draft and are ready to make a big impact immediately for whichever team drafts them. So here is why Will Johnson and Colston Loveland aren't getting enough hype and why one of them could end up reuniting with Jim Harbaugh on the Los Angeles Chargers by the end of the night.
Will Johnson: Why the NFL isn't paying enough attention
Coming into this past season Will Johnson was pretty unanimously regarded as the best cornerback in college football. And in the first few games of the season he lived up to the hype. He intercepted passes against Fresno State and USC, making a big impact in both games.
Through the first few games of the season, he looked like a No.1 corner and potentially the first overall pick in this year's NFL draft. But then a Toe Turf injury kept him out of the second half of the season, and with Travis Hunter garnering so much attention, Will Johnson became largely overlooked.
Throw in Will Johnson hasn't really participated in many pre draft off field workouts such as the NFL Scouting Combine or the Michigan pro day and it's easy to see why other players are generating more hype right now. But as someone who watched him play at Michigan the last three years, this guy is elite and should not be overlooked.
Will Johnson Scouting Report
Will Johnson is big, athletic, and plays with great instinct. He is also fluid and an underrated athlete. At 6'2 the former five star recruit is exactly what NFL teams want in a starting corner. He had great production at Michigan and was a staple and leader of one of the best college defenses of all time.
The criticism of him (aside from the injury this year) is a lack of elite top end speed. I think this is over blown. He didn't participate in running the 40 yard dash this draft season, but he is likely a 4.6 guy. Not fast, but not slow enough to hurt him if he can continue to play with instinct. There are also questions of if he can play in a press man style system. I think he is at his best when he plays in an off ball zone style system like he played at Michigan. Luckily this is the trend in the NFL right now and I think if he ends up with a team running this style (Miami, Seattle, LA Chargers) he is an immediate stud and your number 1 cornerback.
Potential Landing Spots: Miami Dolphins (no. 13); Seattle Seahawks (no. 18); LA Chargers (no. 22); Baltimore Ravens (no. 27)
Colston Loveland NFL Draft Report
The other Michigan player deserving of more love is Colston Loveland. Like Johnson, he came into the season as the country's top tight end. However, he also got hurt and missed the second half of the season. Like Travis Hunter, Tyler Warren is shooting up draft boards, outshining Loveland, and he went on to become the consensus No. 2 tight end in the 2025 NFL draft.
Loveland suffered a severe AC joint dislocation, but had successful surgery and should be cleared to play next year. While this isn't an insignificant injury, I don't think it's something that will limit him in the NFL and shouldn't scare of NFL teams.
Colston Loveland Scouting Report
Loveland is the best pass catcher at tight end in this class by far. He is a natural athlete and has incredible speed, acceleration, and catching ability at the tight end position. He can run after the catch, attack all levels of a defense, and contribute in run blocking.
He does still need to add some weight and strength as well as improve his run blocking (although it improved dramatically during his time at Michigan). I also think that he is being overlooked due to his lack of production at the college level, but I think that was firmly due to Michigan's style of play and the struggles at the QB position this past year. But in the right system and with some time, Loveland could absolutely be one of the best tight ends in the NFL and I'd have no hesitation taking him as the first tight end off the board tonight.
Potential Landing Spots: Indianapolis Colts (no. 14); LA Chargers (no. 22)
Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers
I don't think there is any chance we see both of these players still on the board by the time the Chargers turn in their pick tonight. First of all, there are too many teams that need cornerbacks in the first round I'd be surprised if Will Johnson even lasted to the LA pick. But if by some miracle he does I think Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter will be eternally grateful to the oversight of the rest of the NFL and be running to turn the pick in.
The other side of this is Colston Loveland. Harbaugh knows how special this kid is. What's even more compelling is that this is a huge need for the Chargers. That offense with Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, and last year's first-round pick, Joe Alt, could use another pass-catching weapon for their star quarterback.
Factor in that there aren't a ton of elite wide receivers projected in that area of the draft and that Jim Harbaugh will live and die by running the football, picking a tight end that he's familiar with in Colston Loveland just makes too much sense.
We'll see how it all plays out tonight, but I for one can't wait for all the twists and turns, the excitments, the thrills, and the image of Kevin Costner maverickly throwing away the Cleveland Browns future due to lack of proper due diligence only for Browns fans to wish that their franchise was only that bad. Happy watching to all who celebrate best of luck to all the players hoping to hear their name called!