As the Michigan Wolverines’ regular season comes to an end and they prepare for the Citrus Bowl against the Texas Longhorns, we should expect to start hearing player’s intentions for that game, and thus, the NFL Draft in the near future.
Michigan has quite a few eligible players for April’s draft that have had buzz in the past or are maybe getting some now that the season has concluded. With the roster for next season taking shape, here are the guys we are predicting to stay in Ann Arbor and depart
for the draft.
Staying
- S T.J. Metcalf
- CB Zeke Berry
- S Jaden Mangham
- DE Cameron Brandt
- DT Trey Pierce
- S Brandyn Hillman
- CB Jyaire Hill
- QB Mikey Keene (with medical redshirt)
I don’t think anyone on this list is too much of a surprise, but the key takeaway should be Michigan’s secondary could be its anchor in 2026.
Last offseason, Jyaire Hill was considered by some as a potential first-round pick. Hill disappointed this season comparatively, but there is a lot to like from him as a prospect. He has great size for the position and makes some impressive plays because of it. However, he was picked on too many times for a team in the draft to take a shot at him so soon.
Then there is Zeke Berry, who performed better than Hill and made some key plays down the stretch. His versatility to line up on the inside is also appealing, but I think he needs one more year to really get his role defined and take the next step.
Brandyn Hillman is the biggest catalyst of the three safeties on this list, as he’s an aggressive heavy-hitter coming down the field fast. But that aggression causes too many mistakes, mental lapses, and poor tackling technique at times. Being a part of this 2026 secondary could be exactly what he needs to stand out in draft circles.
The last guy I’ll highlight here is Mikey Keene. Sherrone Moore opened the door for a potential return for Keene if he gets a medical redshirt. I think that would be a wise decision, especially as the Wolverines seek to find a quarterback coach to work more closely with Bryce Underwood. He’ll easily be Underwood’s backup and even have the chance to play in some games if the Wolverines can blowout some of their weaker opponents.
Leaving
- RB Justice Haynes
- DB Rod Moore (with or without medical redshirt)
- LB Jimmy Rolder
- TE Marlin Klein
There are two here I think make a lot of sense and two that might need a little more explanation on this list.
To start, Justice Haynes should go to the draft. Michigan seems to be hopeful for a return, but his draft stock is already too high in my opinion. This is a much weaker running back class compared to 2025’s, and Mel Kiper has Haynes as his No. 4 running back despite him missing almost half of the season.
Next season, the Wolverines expect to have Jordan Marshall, who performed excellently in Haynes’ stead, and incoming five-star Savion Hiter. That’s with Bryson Kuzdzal and Jasper Parker returning as well. A return for Haynes would be great, but there are a lot of mouths to feed there and it feels like he has done more than enough with his opportunity to be a Day 2 or early Day 3 selection, if healthy at draft time.
Rod Moore is another guy who just seems ready to be at the next level. If it weren’t for injuries, he may have been one of the top defensive backs off the board this season. Still, PFF has him as the No. 50 prospect in the 2026 draft while Kiper has him just outside of his top-10 safeties. The discrepancy is there, given his injury history, but there is a lot of returning talent in the secondary in the section above.
Jimmy Rolder fits into a similar bucket in some respects. Michigan’s linebacker room is deep. Cole Sullivan looked like the best linebacker at times in 2025, while Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng started seeing more snaps towards the end of the season. Rolder has to strike while the iron is hot as well. He had a great 2025, being named an All-Big Ten second-teamer, and Kiper has him as the No. 10 linebacker off the board.
Last but not least is a bit of a stunner because of his injuries, but Marlin Klein has a spot available at the next level, in my opinion. He was the No. 1 ranked PFF tight end after his Week 1 performance against New Mexico and is a staggering 6-foot-6, 250 pounds. He’s always been an excellent blocker, which is why NFL scouts are going to love him, and his receiving showed a jump in 2025 despite limited action.
I think there is enough there that would garner attention from the next level while Michigan has some intriguing pieces remaining. Zack Marshall and Deakon Tonielli made some steps with Underwood towards the end of the season, and Hogan Hansen is back as well. All three could play meaningful snaps in 2026. Both Kiper and PFF having Klein as a draftable player should be appetizing enough for him to give it a go.
