Next year’s NFL draft is expected to see two Jim Harbaugh recruits land in the top 10. Both defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson have resided high in mocks for a while now, and both have now dispensed with any drama regarding their 2025 statuses
Graham is entering the draft, per ESPN.com, having hired Drew Rosenhaus as an agent. Not long after the D-tackle’s declaration, ESPN’s Jordan Reid notes Johnson will follow suit. Graham’s representation expects him to land in the top five of next year’s draft, while Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest ESPN.com big board places the Michigan standouts at second (Johnson) and fifth (Graham) overall.
A four-star recruit in 2022, Graham did not redshirt and played three seasons for the Wolverines, who benefited from the ascending prospect’s work during their 2023 national championship run. Graham, 21, combined to total 6.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. Graham collected first-team All-Big Ten honors last season.
Also a four-star prospect back in 2022, Johnson notched a Michigan-record three pick-sixes during his time in Ann Arbor. He intercepted nine passes in his three seasons with the Big Ten program, notching two of his three pick-sixes this season despite only playing in six games.
Johnson earned first-team All-Big Ten acclaim as a sophomore in 2023 and second-team all-conference honors in 2022. He then earned a defensive MVP nod in last season’s CFP championship game. A foot issue sidelined Johnson this season, and it would surprise if the 6-foot-2 corner played in the school’s upcoming bowl game.
Harbaugh successor Sherrone Moore said he expects some of his players to pass on that non-playoff outing to prepare for the draft. Seeing as these two are Michigan’s top prospects, it should be expected neither suit up again for the university following the declarations. Johnson and Graham going in the top five would follow Aidan Hutchinson as the second of Harbaugh’s Wolverines recruits to be drafted that high.