Top 10 NFL players from Michigan

Michigan’s football program has been revitalized under Jim Harbaugh, but they have historically always provided great players for the NFL.

The biggest name is undoubtedly Tom Brady. He has far exceeded expectations and is considered the GOAT.

However, while the Michigan Wolverines haven’t won a national title since 1997, the production line hasn’t slowed.

Harbaugh has brought back a sense of pride to Michigan. They are, once again, at the forefront of the college system.

At the start of the 2022 NFL season, there were 48 former Michigan Wolverines who were active. Below, we will rank the top 10 from that group.

Top 10 current NFL players from Michigan

10. Kwity Paye, DE, Indianapolis Colts

Kwity Paye is a player with fantastic potential. As a first-round selection in 2021, the defensive end is improving.

As a rookie, he recorded four sacks, 32 tackles and 10 QB hits. His dominant power off the edge is difficult for defenses to deal with.

He formed a potent pairing with Aidan Hutchinson during their collegiate career. Paye has carried this style on into his NFL career.

In 2022, he has continued his rise to stardom. He already has four sacks in six starts. He has 24 tackles in total and six QB hits. Paye is going to be a force on the Colts’ defensive line for years to come.

9. Cesar Ruiz, G, New Orleans Saints

Cesar Ruiz is gradually making an NFL career for himself. Despite having been shuffled all across the offensive line since being drafted by the Saints, Ruiz is finding consistency.

His rookie year was impacted by injuries that prevented him from becoming a starter. He had to settle for a rotation role. He has since been a starter, who has not missed a game since 2020.

His athleticism marks him out as a unique presence on the O-Line. He is so quick to identify rushing plays that he can stop them at source.

In 2022, he has allowed just five QB pressures and two sacks. This is a marked improvement on 2021 and shows the benefit of keeping him at right guard rather than center.

8. Devin Bush Jr, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Having been selected with the 10th overall pick in 2019, hopes were high for Devin Bush Jr.

He left Michigan as one of the most dominant defensive players in college football. Yet, he hasn’t been able to translate this to the NFL.

An outstanding rookie year, where he finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, was a high point. He recorded one sack and 109 tackles, but injuries have plagued his progress since.

7. Taylor Lewan, T, Tennessee Titans

Taylor Lewan has been brilliant in the NFL. In eight full seasons since being drafted by the Tennessee Titans, he has made the Pro Bowl three times.

Lewan is so gifted on the offensive line. He has the ability to win matchups against bigger defenders.

In 105 games, Lewan has allowed just 21.5 sacks. Injuries have prevented him from playing as much football from 2020 onward. However, he remains a gifted lineman for the Titans.

6. Brandon Graham, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

Michigan Wolverines alumni Brandon Graham has been ever-present for Philadelphia since being drafted in 2010. He has had a 13-year career with the Eagles, recording 62 sacks.

He is one of the most dominant edge rushers in franchise history, making good on all the potential he showed in college.

His best season came in 2020 where he recorded eight sacks and made the Pro Bowl for the first time.

Age is catching up with the 34-year-old, who is no longer a starter for the Eagles, but in 2022, he does have three sacks as a role player. Graham would be a dominant starter on a worse team.

5. Michael Onwenu, G, New England Patriots

Michael Onwenu is a member of the more recent Michigan exports to take the NFL by storm.

Nobody had any real expectations for the offensive guard when he slipped to the sixth round in 2020.

Bill Belichick loves finding value in the later rounds of the draft. He has done so, yet, again with Onwenu.

Adept enough to star as either a right or left tackle, Onwenu is a regular starter for the Patriots.

He has flown under the radar with the Pats, becoming a key figure on their offensive line. In 2022, he has played 570 offensive snaps and not allowed a single sack.

4. Jabrill Peppers, S, New England Patriots

Jabrill Peppers is one of the best safeties in the NFL. He has played for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and New England Patriots.

He is a player with outstanding levels of physical strength and is able to make a lot of tackles.

As a safety, he was dominant, making a career-high 91 tackles in 2020. Although, he has since been switched into a defensive back. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as he played 15 different positions at Michigan.

He’s a Swiss Army knife kind of defender. Put him anywhere and he will make plays. While not a Pro Bowl-level performer individually, he often makes up a vital part of a defense.

3. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

Aidan Hutchinson has been selected here, despite his rookie status. He was selected second overall in 2022 as part of a historic defensive class coming out of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Described as a generational pass rusher, Hutchinson has been a revelation with the Detroit Lions.

He has the raw power you see in Nick Bosa, while having the lean body that calls to mind Von Miller.

The sky is the limit for the 22-year-old. He could easily be the best edge rusher in football by 2024.

Having registered 13 sacks in his final year as a Michigan Wolverine, he was the college’s most prolific ever rusher. Nobody in yellow and blue has ever recorded more sacks in a single season than Hutchinson.

In the NFL, he has had to adapt to not being as dominant. However, in eight starts, he has still registered 4.5 sacks and one interception.

2. Rashan Gary, LB, Green Bay Packers

Washington Football Team v Green Bay Packers

Rashan Gary has been a slow-burning talent for the Green Bay Packers. Selected as a first-rounder, Gary didn’t start a single game as a rookie.

Gary initially started as an edge rusher, registering seven sacks in his first two seasons.

However, a switch to outside linebacker in 2021 turned his career around.

All of a sudden, Gary was one of the best defenders in football. He started 16 games and recorded 9.5 sacks and 26 quarterback hits.

Gary was very dominant, having more freedom to rush from the outside on the right.

This year has seen Gary continue in this form, hitting six sacks in nine starts, as well as 12 QB hits. He was on course for a career-year before tearing his ACL in Week 9.

1. Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What else is there to say about Tom Brady? The Michigan product never enjoyed the best college career. It took him a while to earn the starting job.

He wasn’t drafted until the sixth round. What has followed has been the stuff of legend.

Tom Brady is, perhaps, the greatest player the NFL has ever seen.

A 15-time Pro Bowler, Brady has won the Super Bowl seven times. Since signing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady has turned the franchise’s fortunes around completely.

He delivered the first title to Tampa in almost two decades and is still going strong at 45.

In Week 9 of 2022, Brady made yet more history. He went over 100,000 passing yards in both regular and post-season games, the first to ever hit such a milestone.

Simply put, Michigan has produced the most recognizable name in NFL history.