The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/510942
W ide receiver Devin Funch- ess became the first former Wolverine off the board at this year's NFL Draft, going in round two to the Carolina Panthers, but linebacker Jake Ryan (round four) presents a more in- teresting story. His journey will be more challenging, with fewer guaran- tees afforded to him than to the selections in the first, second and third rounds, but he has a chance to flourish and eventually provide the Green Bay Packers with great value for their slotted draft position. Here is a look at former Michigan players of the past 25 years that overachieved compared to their NFL Draft selection. 1. Tom Brady, sixth round, 2000: Brady has started 207 games in his 15-year career and has led New England to four Super Bowl vic- tories (2001, 2003, 2004 and 2014), earning the game's MVP honors in 2001, 2003 and 2014. His 53,258 passing yards and 392 touchdowns both rank fifth all time in NFL his- tory, and while they don't count toward career records, Brady has thrown for another 7,345 yards and 52 scores in 29 playoff starts. He is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, and is widely considered the greatest sixth-round draft selection in NFL history. 2. Jonathan Goodwin, fifth round, 2002: Seem- ingly destined to fall through the cracks, Goodwin made the switch from guard to center seven years into his NFL tenure, and the move changed his career arc. The former Michigan offensive guard started 107 games from 2008-14, at least 13 each season, and was the offensive line general for the New Orleans Saints when they won the 2009 Super Bowl. A 2009 Pro Bowler, Goodwin has started 16 postseason games — his teams are 10-6 in those contests — and was critical to the success the 49ers enjoyed under Jim Harbaugh, centering his offensive lines in 2011-13 before returning to New Or- leans this past year. 3. Elvis Grbac, eighth round, 1993: A standout at Michigan from 1989-92, once holding both the career records for passing yards (6,460) and MAIZE N' VIEW MICHAEL SPATH Best Bang For Your Buck Quarterback Tom Brady has gone from sixth-round draft pick to future Hall of Famer with four Super Bowl rings. PHOTO BY DAVID SILVERMAN/ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS