Projecting 2024 NFL Draft Stock of CFB Title Game's Biggest Stars
The 2023 College Football National Championship game between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington will kick off Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
As the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit looms, a number of names you'll hear about on Monday night will be called on that stage come April 25-27.
Let's run through the title game's biggest draft-eligible stars and project where they might land.
For this, we'll use Bleacher Report's latest mock draft, as well as mocks from CBS Sports and 247Sports. We'll also use rankings and analysis from Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Network and other outlets for each player's respective stock.
Michigan WR Roman Wilson, LB Junior Colson
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Michigan's leading receiver Roman Wilson is having the best season of his Ann Arbor career in 2023 with 45 receptions for 735 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Still, the 22-year-old not cracking more than 500 receiving yards in a season until this year, means he's flying largely under-the-radar on draft boards.
Wilson is not a projected first-rounder, and he checks in at No. 76 overall with Pro Football Network, and 85th overall with PFF.
However, Fox Sports NFL draft analyst Rob Rang noted in November how Wilson can grab the attention of scouts during the winter draft lead-up activities:
"Wilson's elite straight-line speed will earn him plenty of attention at this winter's NFL Scouting Combine. Unlike most vertical threats, however, Wilson is asked to run a variety of pro-style routes, and he possesses the body control, toughness and sticky hands that also distinguish him from other classic speedsters—even in yet another very strong year for wideouts."
Wilson's 5'10", 185-pound frame puts him on the smaller end of prototypical NFL wideouts.
Similarly, Wolverines linebacker Junior Colson leads Michigan in tackles with 89 total sacks but isn't too high on current draft boards.
The 21-year-old is ranked No. 132 overall by PFF, and at 177 by Pro Football Network. It may help Colson to return to Michigan another season.
Washington OL Troy Fautanu, RB Dillon Johnson
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Washington is tied for fourth nationally in sacks allowed, having given up just 11 all season.
A big reason for how well the Huskies' pass rush has held up is the play of left tackle Troy Fautanu, who is the No. 38 overall prospect with PFF and ranked 35th by Pro Football Network.
A few mock drafts have him going later in the first round, with 247Sports going the highest, to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 21 overall. CBS Sports put him at No. 27 to the Detroit Lions. B/R slots him at No. 31 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.
Here's Brandon Thorn's thoughts on what Fautanu brings to the offensive line:
"Troy Fautanu is a two-year starter inside Washington's pass-heavy, multiple run scheme featuring zone concepts, pin-pull, counters and extensive empty pass formations that leave him on an island. Fautanu has 28 career starts primarily at left tackle with two starts at left guard. He is listed at 6'4" but has abnormally long arms with a well-rounded, thick build and very good athletic ability."
"Fautanu is a dynamic run-blocker with the burst, quickness and power to cut off or cave in defenders on reach, scoop and angle-drive blocks, ricochet up to the second level and take out 'backers, plus erase smaller targets on tosses, screens and counters. He brings a tone-setting demeanor with the coordination, body control and sustain skills to finish at a high level, with the ability to deliver jarring knockdowns and body blows once latched and/or on contact."
Another Husky who has benefitted from Fautanu and Washington's offensive line is running back Dillon Johnson.
The 22-year-old has helped Washington stay balanced on offense, rushing for 1,162 yards and 22 touchdowns, including 22 receptions for 166 yards. He isn't listed as a first-rounder in the latest mock drafts or ranked in player rankings.
However, B/R's Derrik Klassen listed Johnson as a guy trending up draft boards in late November.
Michigan RBs Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards
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The market for drafting running backs high in the draft has gone down significantly in recent years, which makes Wolverines running back Blake Corum's draft stock intriguing.
Although the 23-year-old could have gone pro following the 2022 season in which he rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns, he opted to return for this year. Although he's rushed for less yards (1,111), he has scored 25 touchdowns on the season.
Corum was also vital during Michigan's win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, scoring the go-ahead touchdown in overtime. He also became Michigan's all-time leader in touchdowns with the score.
Although Corum isn't a projected first-rounder just yet, here's B/R's Ryan Fowler on where he might fit best at the next level:
"Some lines are simply better than others, and Corum has run behind a group of athletes who have distorted opposing lines for seasons on end. Thus, making the evaluation tough if he were to land in a spot with a below-average group in the trenches."
"Make no mistake about it, though: His vision, footwork and physicality pop off the screen when you turn on the tape. While some teams could shy away because of the reasoning mentioned and the wear on the tires from his time in Ann Arbor (636 career carries), he should become a high-level rotational piece.
Team Fits: Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions"
PFF has Corum at 93rd overall on its big board.
Donavan Edwards, who is Michigan's No. 2 back behind Edwards, has rushed for 1,558 yards and 13 touchdowns over three seasons.
The 20-year-old isn't a projected first-rounder, and PFF has him going at No. 104 overall and Pro Football Network has him going at No. 144.
It may benefit Edwards to come back for another year with Michigan.
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Washington WRs Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan
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A big reason for Michael Penix and this Washington offense's success this season is the receiving corps.
It's led by Rome Odunze, who has accounted for 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 17.9 yards per reception. His numbers last season were equally impressive, with 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns. He's the first Huskies receiver with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since 2002-03.
Odunze is a projected first-rounder, as high as No. 8 overall to the New York Jets (247Sports) and as low as to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 21 overall, per B/R.
Here's Derrik Klassen's B/R's Scouting Report on Odunze's potential at the next level:
"Rome Odunze is a big-bodied receiver who specializes at winning the ball in the air. Odunze's contested catch ability is his calling card. At 6'3" and 215 pounds, he has both the length and strength to outmuscle defensive backs for the ball with great consistency."
"It's not just the physical traits, though. Odunze tracks the ball beautifully and understands how to attack the ball at its highest point. He also has the flexibility and quick reaction skills to adjust to any throw, giving him a very quarterback-friendly catch radius."
Both Pro Football Network and PFF have Odunze as the No. 10 overall prospect for 2024.
Jalen McMillan had 1,098 yards receiving and nine touchdowns for the Huskies in 2022. He got off to a hot start in 2023, combining for 215 yards receiving and three touchdowns in their first two games against Boise State and Tulsa.
In Week 3 against Michigan State, though, the 22-year-old suffered a knee injury that sidelined him until the Nov. 25 win over Oregon State.
McMillan isn't a projected first-rounder, but he's the No. 90-ranked prospect for Pro Football Network and at No. 79 with PFF.
Washington Edge-Rusher Bralen Trice
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Bralen Trice benefitted from a monster game against Texas in the semifinal.
The 22-year-old was named the Sugar Bowl defensive MVP after accounting for five total tackles, including four solo stops, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports mocks Trice to land at No. 29 overall to the Miami Dolphins:
"Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb will both be coming off injuries next season. Emmanuel Ogbah's contract likely leads to the organization moving on from him this offseason. If they can rely on Andrew Van Ginkel, then perhaps they go in another direction but Bralen Trice gives them quality depth coming off a fantastic College Football Playoff semifinal performance against Texas."
Meanwhile, 247Sports has him going at No. 27 overall to the Detroit Lions. Trice being added to a pass-rush rotation featuring Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone sounds like a great fit.
Pro Football Network likes him going No. 32 overall to the Baltimore Ravens, as if that defense isn't scary enough. B/R has him going the highest, though, at No. 20 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been the starter for the last two seasons. Although his statistics don't quite jump off the page like Penix's, he'll be in the mix in the 2024 draft if he declares after this season.
This season has been his best for the Wolverines. He's thrown for 2,851 yards and 22 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He's completed 73.2 percent of his passes, too.
McCarthy has also shown an ability to make plays with his feet, rushing for 171 yards and three touchdowns.
As for his NFL draft projection, it's a bit all over the place. B/R mocks the 20-year-old to land at No. 11 to the Raiders, and Pro Football Network has him as the No. 25 overall prospect for 2024. But he's not listed in CBS Sports' or 247Sports' latest first-round mocks.
Here's where ESPN's Mel Kiper thinks McCarthy stands:
"[An intriguing wild card at quarterback is] Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, who has been one of the most difficult evaluations of this entire class. He has the tools to be in the mix for that No. 3 QB spot, but he just didn't convince me down the stretch. Where were the "wow" throws? I didn't see him go through progressions much. Sure, he only had four interceptions, but three of those came against … Bowling Green?"
"Perhaps a big showing with a national title victory might help clear up his projection a bit. There is also always the possibility that McCarthy comes back to play at Michigan in 2024 for his senior season, too."
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
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The 2024 NFL draft class of quarterbacks is loaded, featuring the likes of USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye and Bo Nix of Oregon.
And it looks as though Washington star Michael Penix Jr. has seen his draft stock rise as he plays on these big stages.
The Heisman finalist leads the FBS with 4,648 passing yards, including 35 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Against Texas, he went 29-for-38 with 430 yards with two touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
According to the latest mock drafts, Penix could be the new franchise quarterback on a few different teams. B/R's Paul Kasabian projects him to go No. 6 overall to the Atlanta Falcons via a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports mocks him to go to Denver with the No. 14 overall pick to replace Russell Wilson:
" In the wake of the Russell Wilson news, it is rather clear that Denver will be pursuing other options at quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. is a leader who can come in and provide some hope."
247Sports has Penix going at No. 11 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, replacing Jimmy Garoppolo.
Penix, who started his career at Indiana before transferring to Washington, suffered numerous injuries during his time with the Hoosiers. He tore his ACL twice, in 2018 and 2020, and suffered season-ending sternoclavicular joint and AC injuries in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
In Seattle, he's stayed healthy and become more of a pure pocket-passer with a rocket arm and an impressive touch when throwing the deep ball.
A win over Michigan with some big numbers on Monday night could be enough to vault him into the top 10. PFF ranks Penix as the No. 30 overall player for 2024, and the fifth-best signal-caller.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
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