The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 21 EDGE JOSAIAH STEWART Third Round (No. 90 Overall) Los Angeles Rams Michigan is "Edge U," with 12 edge rushers selected in the NFL Draft since 2017, Stewart being the most recent. The Wolverines have had at least one edge rusher come off the board eight of the last nine years. Stewart was one of the Big Ten's leaders in sacks, checking in tied for sixth with 8.5 in 2024, capping off a stellar two-year career in Ann Arbor after starting his collegiate journey at Coastal Carolina from 2021-22. When Stewart got the call from the Rams to indicate that he was being picked at No. 90 overall, he had to hold back tears. "You're going to get the best out of me," Stewart told head coach Sean McVay. "You know it. Let's do it." McVay was fired up to hear the emo- tion. "It was about his body of work and who he is as a person," McVay said of the choice to draft Stewart. "That was one of the cooler calls that we've ever had in the nine years that we've been doing this together in terms of the emotion, how important it is and what it meant to him. There's a lot of work that he's put in to get to the point that he earned. He knows there's a lot of work to come." RB KALEL MULLINGS Sixth Round (No. 188 Overall) Tennessee Titans Michigan didn't have a running back drafted after Mike Hart in 2008 until Chris Evans in 2021. A sixth- round pick in 2021, Evans was the first of four being chosen in the last five years, with Hassan Haskins (fourth round in 2022) and Blake Co- rum (third round in 2024) being the next two before Mullings came off the board in the sixth round in 2025. He was the 18th running back drafted in 2025. Mullings joins edge rusher Jay- len Harrell — a 2024 draft pick and Mullings' classmate at Michigan — as a Tennessee Titan. Harrell was Mullings' first outreach after receiv- ing the call from the Titans on draft day. "It's just crazy that we've known each other since high school, before we committed to Michigan," Mullings said. "Being able to go through that journey, win a national championship together and now we're on the same NFL team, it's crazy how God has a plan for all of us, and it's crazy being able to live out that plan." A former linebacker who transitioned to offense at the end of the 2022 cam- paign, Mullings showcased his toughness during his Michigan career. "I see myself as a very physical run- ner that's willing to earn and gain every yard I possibly can," Mullings said. "But at the same time, I see myself as very versatile. I feel like I offer a lot in terms of pass blocking and catching out of the backfield. And, definitely, my hallmark, though, is that physicality and breaking tackles, running people over." OL MYLES HINTON Sixth Round (No. 191) Philadelphia Eagles Hinton became the 13th Michi- gan offensive lineman to be drafted in the last six years. The Wolver- ines had three in 2024 — Zak Zinter (third round), Trevor Keegan (fifth round) and LaDarius Henderson (seventh round) — but Hinton was the lone man up front to be picked this year. He's the third in his immediate family to reach the NFL, joining his father, Chris Sr. (1983-95), and older brother, Christopher (2022-cur- rent). Christopher was a defensive lineman at Michigan from 2019-21, while his father was an offensive lineman who earned first-team All- Pro honors in 1987 and 1993. Hinton said he's seen similarities between his game and his father's. "He was super strong and ex- plosive, and I feel like I'm the same way, out there mauling," Hinton said. "I have a feeling that's what I'm going to do here." Hinton is reunited with Keegan, who was a backup offensive line- man as a rookie on the Eagles in 2024. ❏ Four Michigan Players Sign As Undrafted Free Agents In addition to the seven U-M players chosen in this year's NFL Draft, four more Michigan men were signed by teams following the event. • RB Donovan Edwards, New York Jets — Edwards appeared in 50 games with 13 starts during his Wol- verine career, totaling 2,251 yards and 19 touchdowns along with 86 catches for 797 yards and 4 scores. • DB Makari Paige, New York Giants — Edwards' high school teammate at West Bloomfield (Mich.) High, Paige is in the NFL after five seasons at Michigan, seeing time in 53 contests with 32 starts. The Giant showed his versatility last season, moving to nickel at the end of the year despite having spent the majority of his time in college on the back end at safety. • OL Josh Priebe, Miami Dolphins — One of the weakest spots on the Dolphins' roster coming into this offseason was offensive guard, and Priebe will compete for playing time there despite going undrafted. He appeared in 49 games with 42 starts as a college player at Northwestern (2020-23) and U-M (2024). • LS William Wagner, Cincinnati Bengals — The Athletic's No. 1 long snapper in the draft class will look to beat out returner Cal Adomitis as the Bengals' long snapper after a stellar six-year career in maize and blue. — Clayton Sayfie Cornerback Will Johnson, who had been projected as a first-round pick, slid down to the Arizona Cardinals in the second round after medical concerns surfaced about his knee. GRAPHIC COURTESY MICHIGAN FOOTBALL