Michigan football ties program record with three first-round NFL draft picks
Michigan football ties program record with three first-round NFL draft picks
Michigan football expected to have four players hear their name called on Thursday, the first-round of the 2025 NFL draft — which would have set a program record. However, the Wolverines had to settle for tying the record.
The maize and blue saw defensive tackle Mason Graham selected at No. 5 overall by the Cleveland Browns, tight end Colston Loveland picked at No. 10 overall by the Chicago Bears, and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant selected by the Miami Dolphins at No. 13 overall. However, due to a knee injury, cornerback Will Johnson slid out of the first round altogether, after being long expected as a top 10 pick.
Michigan football released some notes and tidbits on the first round of the draft on Friday morning. Here are some interesting factoids.
Full release
The University of Michigan football team had a program-record-tying three players chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft, held Thursday (April 24) evening at Lambeau Field and the adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, Wis. Michigan was the only program with multiple top 10 picks as defensive tackle Mason Graham led the group with his selection by the Cleveland Browns with the fifth overall pick and tight end Colston Loveland was chosen by the Chicago Bears with the 10th overall selection.
The three Wolverines drafted in the first round of this year's draft tied a school record. The program also had three first round selections in 1995 (Tyrone Wheatley, Ty Law and Trezelle Jenkins) and 2001 (David Terrell, Steve Hutchinson and Jeff Backus).
Graham became the first Wolverine player off the board with his selection by the Browns. Graham earned unanimous first-team All-American honors in 2024 after collecting second-team accolades in 2023 as a starter on Michigan's National Championship Team. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, he was a finalist for the Outland Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Award in 2024 and was a semifinalist for both the Lott IMPACT Trophy and Bednarik Award. Graham appeared in 39 games with 27 starts at defensive tackle in his three seasons, contributing 108 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks and one fumble recovery. He has been the consensus No. 1 defensive tackle in the draft after leading Michigan's defensive line with a career-best 45 tackles, including 7.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and one blocked field goal attempt in 2024.
Five picks after the selection of Graham, the Chicago Bears made Loveland the 10th pick of the draft. Loveland was the Wolverines' top receiving threat in 2024, setting a tight end record with 56 catches for 582 yards (10.4 avg.) and five touchdowns. He was a second-team All-American and a finalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end last season. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Loveland earned first-team honors during the 2023 national championship season and second-team accolades in 2024. He appeared in 39 career games at tight end over his three seasons with 24 starting assignments. Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and scored 11 TDs during his career and hauled in a reception in 31 straight games played. He is the 28th Wolverine to eclipse 100 career receptions (third TE) and 33rd player in school history (fifth TE) to reach double digits in receiving TDs. Loveland was also a two-time recipient of Michigan's top Offensive Skill Player of the Year award (2023-24).
The third Wolverine to come off the board, defensive tackle Kenneth Grant was chosen by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th overall pick. Grant is Michigan's record holder among linemen with 11 career passes defended – 10 PBUs and one interception. He contributed 69 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries to go along with the record-setting 11 passes defended. Grant appeared in 41 career games and made 17 starts at defensive tackle. He was selected as a third-team All-American by the Associated Press in 2024 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In addition, Grant was a two-time recipient of the Woodley-Graham Award as Michigan's top defensive lineman or edge defender (2023-24).
The second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft will be held Friday evening (April 25) starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Notes:
• With the three selections in the first round, a Michigan player has been selected in 87 consecutive NFL Drafts (1938 to present), continuing the program's NCAA record streak among its peers.
• Michigan has had 64 players selected in the first round of the draft (AAFC, AFL and NFL).
• This is the seventh straight draft in which a Michigan player has been chosen in the first round, setting a new school record; surpassed the six straight with at least one first-rounder during the 1991-96 drafts.
• With Graham and Loveland being selected in the top 10, Michigan has had 23 players taken within the first 10 picks of the draft (AAFC, AFL and NFL drafts).
• Three Michigan players have been selected in the first 10 picks of the last two drafts: JJ McCarthy (10th, Minnesota Vikings, 2024), Mason Graham (5th, Cleveland Browns, 2025) and Colston Loveland (10th, Chicago Bears, 2025).
• It is the 11th time that Michigan has had multiple first-round NFL Draft picks.
• With his selection at fifth overall, Graham became the highest drafted defensive tackle in school history.
• Graham is the 13th player chosen in the first five picks of the draft (AAFC, AFL and NFL drafts).
• Graham is the program's third-highest drafted defensive player since the AFL-NFL merger: Aidan Hutchinson (2nd, Detroit Lions, 2022), Charles Woodson (4th, Oakland Raiders, 1998) and Graham (5th, Cleveland Browns, 2025).
• Loveland is the program's first offensive skill player selected in the first round since Braylon Edwards was the third pick of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
• Loveland is just the second Wolverine tight end chosen in the first round; joining Ron Kramer who was the fourth pick of the 1957 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.
• Graham and Grant became the first pair of Michigan defensive tackles selected in the first round of the same draft.
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