The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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18 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2026 BY ANTHONY BROOME S ix former Wolverines heard their names called during the 2026 NFL Draft, making it 88 consecutive events with at least one selection for the pro- gram. However, a seven-year streak of first-round selections came to an end this year. Edge rusher Derrick Moore was the first Michigan player off the board in this year's draft class, heading to the Detroit Lions in the second round at No. 44 over- all. There, he will join forces with former U-M captain Aidan Hutchinson, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Lions. Moore was voted a captain by his team- mates in 2025, capping a career where he was a three-time All-Big Ten selection (first team, coaches; second team, media, 2025; honorable mention, media, 2023; coaches, 2023-24). He appeared in 53 games with 24 starts in his career. Last season, Moore started 12 games and made 30 tackles, with a team-leading 10.5 tack- les for loss and 10 sacks to go along with 3 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. "I would say for me, it definitely means a lot," Moore said on a call with the local media. "Somebody who's just really fa- miliar with the area, pretty much grew up in and loves the area, I'm just excited just to be back. I feel like Detroit is my second home, really. All of Michigan is like my second home. "For a lot of people who don't know my story, freshman year, I moved my mom up to Michigan with me, so I really don't have to go anywhere far. It just makes ev- erything good for me, and my mom and I are already comfortable. We just love Detroit." Moore was one of t h re e U- M p l aye rs picked on the second night of the draft, along with tight end Marlin Klein (No. 59 overall, Houston Texans) and EDGE Jaishawn Bar- ham, who went in the third round to the Dallas Cowboys (No. 92). Klein, who was a captain with Moore during the 2025 season and a native of Cologne, Germany, was seen as a sur- prise, with most draft analysis ranking him comfortably outside of the top 100. However, some believe his best football is still ahead of him. "His story is really impressive," Tex- ans general manager Nick Caserio said after the pick. "His maturity, his intel- ligence, his toughness. … He could have sat out the bowl game. He basically told his coach, 'I'm playing.' He has good size and runs well. His best football is in front of him. He was a player that we liked from the beginning of the process." Day 3 kicked off with a reunion of sorts with Detroit selecting Jimmy Rolder in the fourth round at No. 118 overall, adding a second Wolverine to their class. Rolder was a late bloomer at U-M, but started 11 games and led the team with 73 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 passes defended and an interception during a second-team All-Big Ten season. "I just started coming into my own, and I'm just getting started," Rolder said in a post-draft call. "I just had that one year starting, and I was playing with more and more confidence each week. And I think the ceiling is way, way high now. I'm just excited for the opportunity to take it to the next level and just keep working on things, getting more technically sound and just continue my craft." Another U-M reunion took place when fullback/tight end Max Bredeson was picked No. 159 overall in the fifth round by the Minnesota Vikings. He joins former classmate and quarterback J.J. McCarthy three years after winning a national title together in 2023. "It's actually crazy. We threw with the same quarterback coach in high school," Bredeson said after his selection. "He turned out to be a better quarterback than I am, unfortunately. But I have known him for a while. We're best friends through playing at Michigan, the great wins we got to have together. I just grew close to him through all that. ... For him to be here is definitely special. " Michigan's draft class was rounded out by defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny coming off the board at No. 250 overall to the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round, where he reunites with his former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, now the head coach in Baltimore, and position coach Lou Esposito, who coached him the last two seasons in Ann Arbor. Five Michigan players signed as undrafted free agents: wide receiver Do- naven McCulley (Miami), kicker Dominic Zvada (New York Giants), edge rusher TJ Guy (Baltimore) and defensive tackle Da- mon Payne (Kansas City). Wide receiver and special teams stalwart Joe Tay- lor also received a rookie camp invite from the Las Vegas Raiders. ❏ ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL U-M Finishes With 6 Picks In 2026 NFL Draft Four of U-M's six NFL Draft picks this year came on defense, with Derrick Moore as the highest pick (second round, No. 44 overall). PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL U-M PLAYERS HEADED TO THE NFL Player, Pos. Draft Pick (Rd.) Team Derrick Moore, EDGE No. 44 (2nd) Detroit Lions Marlin Klein, TE No. 59 (2nd) Houston Texans Jaishawn Barham, EDGE No. 92 (3rd) Dallas Cowboys Jimmy Rolder, LB No. 118 (4th) Detroit Lions Max Bredeson, FB/TE No. 159 (5th) Minnesota Vikings Rayshaun Benny, DT No. 250 (7th) Baltimore Ravens Donaven McCulley, WR Free Agent Miami Dolphins Dominic Zvada, K Free Agent New York Giants Damon Payne, DT Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs TJ Guy, EDGE Free Agent Baltimore Ravens Joe Taylor, WR/ST Rookie Camp Las Vegas Raiders