GBMWolverine
Fansided

Michigan beats out Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten in the NFL Draft

The Wolverines have been the biggest pipeline to the NFL out of the Big Ten in the last five years, beating out even bitter rival Ohio State.
ByEricka Brockish|
Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) lifts the Big Ten Championship Trophy after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) lifts the Big Ten Championship Trophy after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Here we are talking about yet another thing that Michigan beats out Ohio State in, well, along with the entire Big Ten Conference. With the NFL Draft just one day away, teams are looking back at some of their biggest picks and biggest years in the draft. Last year, Michigan had a program record 13 players selected after winning the National Championship; however, since 2020, Michigan has dominated in the draft.

Since the 2020 NFL Draft, Michigan has had 45 players selected, nine more than the next team in the Big Ten, which is bitter rival Ohio State. The Buckeyes may think they have a hold on NFL Draft picks, but Michigan clearly beats them out, just like they always do in football.

Michigan's pipeline to the NFL is a strong as ever and simply getting stronger

Michigan's number of picks in the 2024 NFL Draft only shows the type of talent that the Wolverines bring in and continue to bring in. From that 2023 National Championship team, the four players slated to go into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft would mean that 18 National Champions are NFL-bound.

Even though Michigan had a bit of a down year in the season after their National Championship, the Wolverines are still bringing in top recruits out of high school. The Wolverines' landing of 5-star quarterback Bryce Underwood is a testament to the type of program that Michigan is building.

Recruits want to come to Michigan in hopes of having their best opportunity of making it to the NFL one day, and Michigan has 45 players selected over the last five years, proving that their chances are good.

The Wolverines have had nine more players selected than Ohio State in the last five years, 12 more than Penn State, and 21 more than Oregon, the four biggest programs in the Big Ten now. They have had six players selected in the first round over the last five years, including a No. 2 overall pick when Aiden Hutchinson was selected by the Detroit Lions in 2022.

In this year's draft, Michigan has a chance to add at least five, maybe more, to that number with four players predicted to be taken in the first round, the most since 1995 when they had three selected.

Home/Michigan Football

Schedule

Schedule