Whether it be someone on your favorite team or your least favorite, it is always intriguing to see how former Michigan Wolverines grow after their time in Ann Arbor. As the NFL approaches and rosters fill with dozens of former Wolverines, let’s take a look at some guys to watch for this season.
DE Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
“Hutch” did not take long to become a fan favorite among Detroiters, and even after a season-ending injury in 2024, he came back last fall with an outrageous 14.5-sack performance. Last season, he was a Pro
Bowler, second-team All-Pro, fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and the runner-up for Comeback Player of the Year.
We all know the ferocity and effort with which Hutchinson played at Michigan, and he is the same monster in the pros. Even if you detest the Lions, you have to appreciate watching this guy play.
TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
A slight surprise choice at No. 10 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Loveland started his rookie year a bit slowly before emerging as one of Caleb Williams’ more trusted options. He ended his first year in the NFL with 58 receptions on 82 targets for 713 yards and six touchdowns.
Gone is top wideout DJ Moore, and Loveland — along with receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III — are expected to carry the pass-catching responsibilities for the Bears in 2026. Loveland is still only 22 years old and has all the makings to be one of the league’s premier tight ends, potentially joining superstars such as Brock Bowers and Trey McBride sooner rather than later.
Edge Rashan Gary, Dallas Cowboys
The talented Gary had a solid run with the Green Bay Packers, spending his first seven years in the NFL there and recording 46.5 sacks in 106 games. The Cowboys traded a 2027 fourth-round pick for Gary this offseason.
Dallas had an abysmal defense in 2025, and additions like Gary are expected to make them more serviceable. But how much can Gary truly impact this group? Will the Cowboys get the first-half-of-2025 Gary, who had 7.5 sacks before Halloween, or the one that mostly went missing in the bigger games?
Gary has always been highly touted dating back to his high school days and has been a productive player at every stop. Can he take his game and Dallas’ defense to the next level?
WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans
When Collins is on the field, he is one of the NFL’s better wide receivers. Over the last three seasons, he has averaged 73 catches for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns. But injuries have capped his ceiling, limiting him to just 66 games since debuting in 2021.
Now that Jayden Higgins is out for the year and the Texans’ offense already came into the season with questions, Collins’ health is more imperative than ever for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Michigan has struggled to generate top-tier NFL wide receivers, and Collins staying healthy and being productive this year would do well in solidifing himself in that second tier of WR1s.
S Josh Metellus, Minnesota Vikings
Staying in the NFC North, Metellus represents one of the vital pieces of defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ often complicated puzzle. This unit will crowd the line of scrimmage with eight, sometimes nine defenders and still drop into a Tampa 2 look. A big reason for that is Metellus’ versatility and smarts, giving opposing quarterbacks all sorts of tricky pre-snap reads.
Metellus started 14 games in 2025, notching 86 tackles, two interceptions, six pass deflections, a combined sack and two quarterback hits. Metellus also earned an overall PFF grade of 55.4, a couple of tiers below his 69.2 in 2023 and 67.5 in 2024. Despite a December shoulder surgery, expect a bounce-back in his seventh NFL season.
Honorable Mentions
QB J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
Has McCarthy’s time in Minnesota already ended? Kyler Murray is the new QB1 in town, leaving McCarthy’s future with the franchise in limbo.
RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
Corum seems to become more and more important to Sean McVay’s offense over time, and while Kyren Williams is still the clear lead back, Corum is among the more valuable RB2s in the league.
