The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 147 Maurice Hurst DT 6 Cleveland Browns Re-signed with the Browns on a one-year deal in March ... A pectoral injury put him on the injured reserve list last December, ending his regular season four games early ... Notched 22 tackles, 4 stops for loss, 3 pass breakups and 1.5 sacks before getting hurt. Aidan Hutchinson DE 2 Detroit Lions Led the team and was tied for 12th in the NFL in sacks (11.5), adding 51 total tackles with a team-high 14 for loss, to help the Lions reach the NFC champion- ship game. Kris Jenkins DT R Cincinnati Bengals Selected No. 49 overall in the second round … Projected to earn playing time right away. Cornelius Johnson WR R Los Angeles Chargers The second Michigan prospect to be picked by their former coach in Jim Harbaugh was chosen in the seventh round with the No. 253 overall selection … The Char- gers are thin and without much experience at wide receiver, so he could carve out a role. Trente Jones OL R Green Bay Packers Signed as an undrafted free agent following the draft but announced his retire- ment from football on May 13. The Packers placed him on the reserve/retired list in order to retain his NFL rights. Trevor Keegan OG R Philadelphia Eagles Projects as a backup at guard behind starters Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen, after being taken in the fifth round (No. 172 overall) of the 2024 draft. Jourdan Lewis CB 7 Dallas Cowboys Slated to start at nickel back once again, after opening eight of 16 games there last season, registering 52 tackles, 2 stops for loss, 1 interception and 5 pass breakups. David Long Jr. CB 5 New York Giants Bounced around on three teams last season, finishing up with the Green Bay Pack- ers … Had 19 tackles in 14 games played in 2023 … On May 1, signed by the Giants. Ben Mason FB/TE 3 Los Angeles Chargers Signed by his former U-M head coach, Harbaugh, and the Los Angeles Chargers April 2 … Made his NFL debut in the Baltimore Ravens' regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he primarily contributed on special teams. Jalen Mayfield OL 3 New York Giants Saw time in three tilts off the bench for the Giants last season and projects as a backup in 2024. J.J. McCarthy QB R Minnesota Vikings The highest-drafted quarterback in Michigan history — tied with Forest Evashevski (No. 10 overall in 1941) — is expected to compete for the starting job with Sam Darnold, who's opened 56 career games in the NFL. Braiden McGregor EDGE R Green Bay Packers Went undrafted this spring after forgoing his final season of eligibility and is considered by The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt as on the "roster bubble" entering preseason practices. Cameron McGrone LB 3 Indianapolis Colts Saw time in 12 games last season, mostly on special teams, racking up 4 tackles. Sean McKeon TE 4 Detroit Lions Played in nine outings (no stats) for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 before his season was cut short with an ankle injury … Signed with the Lions this offseason. Josh Metellus S 4 Minnesota Vikings Started all 17 outings last season, tallying career highs in tackles (116), tackles for loss (7), quarterback hits (10), sacks (2.5), forced fumbles (4), interceptions (1; tied) and pass breakups (5; tied) … Projected to start at safety in 2024. 3. OLB Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers Gary's fourth NFL season was cut short in the ninth game due to an ACL injury, but he bounced back to have a big 2023. The Plainfield, N.J., native posted a team-best 9 sacks and 7 tackles for loss, forcing 2 fumbles. His 66 pressures were 20th among NFL edge rushers. Gary has the propensity to take over games. Six of his sacks came in two games — wins over the New Or- leans Saints and Detroit Lions. 4. S Josh Metellus, Minnesota Vikings Last December, Metellus — a former sixth-round draft choice in 2020 — ranked seventh in Pro Bowl voting at the strong safety position. He wound up not making the all-star event, but he shined in a breakout 2023 campaign. In his first three years in the league combined, Metellus amassed 64 tackles, yet he nearly doubled that amount with 116 in 2023 alone. He added 10 quarterback hits, 7 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles and an interception. He lined up on all three levels of the defense — from the edge rusher spot to safety to slot corner — and proved to be a valuable weapon. "A guy who can step up to the plate and deliver and help the team win and make plays, that's the guy I want to be for the team," Metellus said on NFL Network. "The team relies on me. That's a reason why they voted me captain. I take pride in being versatile and being able to play multiple positions." 5. DE Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts Paye had dealt with injuries in his first two seasons but stayed healthy enough to play and start a career-high 16 outings in 2023. The 6-foot-2, 265-pounder notched 52 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, 9 quarterback hits and 2 forced fumbles. He was a catalyst on a defense that produced the franchise's Indianapolis-era record of 52 sacks. Paye has increased his sack production each season, totaling 18.5 in 43 outings over three seasons, and is ascending. The Colts decided to exercise the fifth-year option on his contract this offseason so that he remains a part of their future, at least through 2025. Josh Metellus — a former sixth-round draft choice in 2020 — had a breakout season at strong safety in 2023 with 116 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, 7 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles and an interception. PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS