Michigan Football: Projecting Where Wolverines NFL Draft Prospects Will Land

Devin Funchess, Frank Clark, Jake Ryan and Devin Gardner each have enough athletic talent to play in the NFL. Beginning on April 30, the former Michigan standouts will find out if pro teams feel the same way regarding their potential.

They’ll either hear their names called at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, or they’ll be forced to hunt down a camp date, make a team and break into the league as undrafted rookies.

Funchess and Clark should be the first two selected, but don’t sleep on Ryan—he may end up floating around somewhere in the middle to late rounds. Depending on who’s shopping, he could be quite a steal at linebacker.

Gardner’s future in the NFL isn’t at quarterback; it’s at wide receiver. The fifth-year senior wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but he’s had several offseason workouts and should find a job at the next level. Despite his struggles at Michigan, Gardner is an incredible athlete with above-average intelligence. For him, it’s a matter of correcting durability issues and becoming a better leader on the field.

During his senior year, he often appeared frustrated and looked as if he didn't always have control of the offense, which is a quarterback's main objective. 

Where will the Wolverines land? It's all a game of speculation at this point. Their destinations, along with those of the rest of this year’s draft class, have been debated and discussed for weeks. Experts from every corner of the sports media world have offered predictions. Pundits have submitted their picks, too.

Using mock drafts from CBS and Walter Football, this piece will take a few (hopefully lucky) guesses as to where Funchess, Clark, Ryan and Gardner will land in the 2015 draft.

Funchess

In its latest mock draft, Walter Football has Funchess going to the New Orleans Saints at No. 75 or to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 90 overall. Those picks are in the third round, not the late first or second as many had predicted prior to the combine. 

CBS experts vary in their predictions, but they’re saying Funchess could go to the Cleveland Browns (Rang, No. 19), the Kansas City Chiefs (Brugler, No. 49) or the New England Patriots (Prisco, No. 32). 

At first glance and given their offensive play-calling, the Saints seem like a good fit for Funchess, who could be asked to replicate what former start tight end Jimmy Graham had done before signing with the Seattle Seahawks this past offseason.

Then again, playing for the Patriots could be a great fit for Funchess. The Patriots need a tight end, and playing alongside a future Hall of Fame quarterback would only accentuate Funchess’ skills. Funchess is also used to colder climates—he’s from Michigan and has played in late-November games at The Big House.

According to Zach Eisendrath of Michigan’s athletic department, Funchess ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash during his pro day workouts in Ann Arbor. Funchess wasn’t a star during the NFL combine, but his boosted 40 could be enough for teams to snag him in the late first round or second round.

Plus there’s the size factor. At 6’5” and roughly 235 pounds, Funchess has the frame to become a prime downfield option. Partnering with Drew Brees in New Orleans or Tom Brady, a Michigan alum, in New England, would be an excellent way to start a career for Funchess.

Prediction: New Orleans at No. 75 seems sensible. So does Baltimore at No. 90. However, given CBS' predictions, it's difficult to see Funchess slipping beyond the first 50 or 60 picks. The Saints have the No. 44 pick, which could be used to acquire the versatile TE/WR. But that's if he is available. Prisco's call of Patriots at No. 32 could come true, too. 

Clark

(Insert Oakland Raiders joke here.)

A set of regrettable, disrespectful acts away from the field overshadowed Clark’s standout senior year at Michigan. If not for a domestic violence charge, which has since been reduced to a disorderly conduct charge following a plea agreement, the former Wolverines defensive end may be a bonafide second-rounder.

At 6’2” and 277 pounds, he’s built well for the next level. His exemplary showing at the NFL combine proved his athleticism beyond a shadow of a doubt. One look at his 4.79-second 40-yard dash or 38.5-inch vertical leap says it all: Clark is quick and nimble.

He’s strong, too. He put up 19 reps of 225 pounds.

Walter Football projects Clark going to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 99 overall. The Bengals could use help in their pass-rushing attack, and Clark, a native of Ohio, could be the right fit. Although the third round seems a bit high, it is indeed possible.

Again, Clark impressed at the combine. That’ll be worth something come draft day.

CBS experts didn’t post picks on Clark, but the site says that the defensive end is a fourth-rounder. There are plenty of ends in this draft, and there isn’t much about Clark—other than disciplinary issues—that sets him apart from the pack. CBS ranks him No. 13 at the position.

Walter Football has the Cleveland Browns selecting a defensive end with the No. 77 pick. They may decide to test their luck with Clark, a hometown kid with immense potential. Or maybe not. There was the whole fiasco with Johnny Manziel, a troubled pick from a year ago.

Drafting Clark will be a slight gamble for any team, but Clark should go somewhere between the third and fifth rounds.

Prediction: Walter Football’s call of Clark at No. 99 to Cincinnati makes sense. Being selected No. 77 overall seems like too much of a stretch, and No. 99 overall is already at the limit of sensibility. For broad purposes, let’s say that Clark is destined for an AFC North/East team. His cold-weather experience may appeal to teams in the division.

Ryan

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Ryan didn’t have the superstar ending to his career, but make no mistake about it—when healthy, he played as well as any Michigan linebacker has in recent memory. His dedication and leadership made him an invaluable asset, even while he was sidelined with an ACL injury during most of his junior year.

At 6’2” and 240 pounds, Ryan, who played mostly in the middle during college, projects as an outside linebacker in the NFL. He’s coming off four years of defensive coaching from Greg Mattison, which should help his draft stock to an extent. Mattison coached with the Baltimore Ravens and had developed several stars during his three seasons as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator.

Ryan’s respectable showing at the NFL combine should also play a role on draft day. He ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and put up 20 bench reps of 225 pounds. Like Clark, he’s quick, strong and nimble.

And like Clark, he’s from Ohio.

Walter Football has the Cleveland Browns selecting Ryan at No. 156 overall, which falls in line with consensus fourth-to-fifth-round projections from everyone else.

CBS experts didn’t post predictions on Ryan, but the site says that Ryan, its No. 15 OLB of the draft, is a fifth- or sixth-rounder.

Prediction: The Philadelphia Eagles could take Ryan at No. 145. According to Walter Football, they’re looking to take a linebacker. That pick would make sense in a couple of ways. First, Eagles coach Chip Kelly runs a fast team, and Ryan would fit well into a fast, physical defense. Second, it’s cold in Philadelphia, which wouldn’t be an issue—Ryan knows all about the cold weather. He’s was raised in it.

Green Bay picks at No. 166. If Ryan still had the hair, he’d be perfect for the Packers, who, with Clay Matthews, already have a long-haired linebacker. And it doesn’t get much colder than it does during a late-December Sunday in Green Bay.

Gardner

At first, he was a quarterback, one who had the tools necessary to guide the Wolverines to the promised land. That didn’t pan out for Gardner, who was then moved to wide receiver before eventually being pegged as a quarterback…again.

This time, in the eyes of NFL scouts, Gardner is considered a receiver. Well, by most anyway.

The 6’4”, 216-pound Michigan native has worked out with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, among others.

“My dream is to play football in the NFL, so that’s what I’m going to do,” said Gardner, via Mark Synder of the Detroit Free Press. “If a team wants me to play quarterback, I’ll play quarterback. If you want me to be a scout-team quarterback when I’m a receiver, I’ll do that. I’m pretty sure it’s openly known that I’ll do whatever to help the team.”

In all likelihood, Gardner’s willingness to fill any role necessary for team success will be the kicker on draft day—or during signing periods, as CBS experts don’t see him being selected during the seven-round festivities.

Neither does Walter Football, which didn’t predict beyond the sixth round.

Prediction: Being invited for a workout is a great sign. And fortunately for Gardner, there are still teams that view him as a quarterback. His versatility is enough to get him paid. He will play on Sundays this season, and the Steelers, Patriots, Chiefs and Lions could each use him in some capacity.

Gardner could use a guy such as Mike Tomlin, a hard-nosed yet modern coach. The Steelers have used multidimensional quarterbacks in the past, so that’s a plus for Gardner. See Kordell Stewart for reference of that.

While Gardner won’t dethrone Big Ben Roethlisberger, he could end up becoming one of the two-time Super Bowl champion’s favorite targets. Pittsburgh would be ideal for Gardner, who could mesh well within a system that's conducive for rapid development. 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability.