NFL Draft will be here before we know it and there are a few Michigan football players who have a shot to become first-round draft selections. Most not

With the college football season officially over, Mel Kiper Jr. released his first 2025 NFL mock draft. Here is where Penn State's Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren landed.

The original draft analyst is back in action with his first mock draft of the season. The great Mel Kiper of ESPN is on the board after his first set of first-round projections dropped Wednesday. He gives the Lions much-needed pass-rush help with the 28th pick of the first round.

Mel Kiper Jr. has the Patriots selecting former Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter with the No. 4 overall pick. Read more on Boston.com.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 31: Colston Loveland #18 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a second half touchdown with Tyler Morris #8 while playing the Fresno State Bulldogs at Michigan Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

This year has the added bonus of having two players coached by Deion Sanders, including his son, with the talent and potential to belong in any conversation about who belongs at No. 1. Mel Kiper Jr. has hit the white smoke and broke the seal on his mock drafts and his first attempt to figure out which name will be called first by Roger Goodell has him landing on a somewhat surprising answer.

In the latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea — a top-five mini-mock — he had the Browns taking Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. But in Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock of the year for ESPN, he had Sanders’ teammate Travis Hunter going to Cleveland and Sanders going to the New York Giants at No. 3.

In his initial 2025 first-round NFL mock draft, esteemed ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. projects San Francisco to address the offensive side of the football. Kiper’s initial projection sees the 49ers scooping up talented Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 11 pick.

Mel Kiper, draft expert for ESPN, has the Cleveland Browns passing on a quarterback for arguably the best player in the draft.

Michigan football set a program record with 13 NFL draft picks last season and this year could lead all NCAA teams in first round selections.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his first mock draft of the 2025 cycle Wednesday, taking a different approach than most with the Cowboys’ 12th overall pick. Over the last few weeks, various draft pundits have tabbed Ashton Jeanty as Dallas’ pick in the first round.