Michigan Football Defender Projected As First-Round NFL Talent

A major reason that the Wolverines went 15-0 and won the national title in 2023-24 was their elite defense, led by ex-captain and superstar Michigan football defender Kris Jenkins, a defensive tackle. While no one is sure whether Michigan will have a first-round pick in April’s NFL Draft, the NFL Network projects Jenkins as one of the top talents in the country.

Michigan football defender Kris Jenkins projected as a first-round pick in NFL Draft

Michigan football defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is one of the best players on the field and one of the friendliest faces off of it. While Jenkins has long been a fan favorite in Ann Arbor, leading the Wolverines to a trio of Big Ten titles and a National Championship, his time to head to the next level has come, and he is currently pinned as a first-round NFL Draft talent.

Per the NFL Network’s latest 2024 mock draft, Kris Jenkins is the first — and only — Michigan football player taken in the first round of the coming draft. Per these projections, Jenkins goes at No. 29 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that is already keen to taking talent out of Ann Arbor.

Another Wolverine that people are looking to be taken in the first round of the coming NFL Draft is JJ McCarthy, Michigan’s standout quarterback who boasts a 27-1 overall record as the team’s starting QB. While CBS Sports projects him as a first-rounder, going to Seattle with the 16th pick, this latest mock NFL Draft doesn’t have him listed among the first 32 picks.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at [email protected]. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!