TOMLIN IN TROUBLE: Mike Tomlin was fined a $450,000 for making a terrible statement on Michigan Pro Day
Close up the workweek at one of Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan’s favorite Pro Day spots. Michigan. The two are at the Wolverines’ Pro Day, as are probably other Pittsburgh Steelers personnel. And with good cause. With a staggering eighteen players invited to the 2024 NFL Combine following their National Championship season, Michigan boasts the highest number of draftable prospects of any club this season.
Tomlin and Khan are both present at the Michigan Pro Day in Ann Arbor, according to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy.
Along with Tomlin and Khan, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin are also at the Michigan Pro Day for the Steelers. Throughout the day, we’ll see if other members of the Steelers’ front office, scouting staff and coaching staff pop up at the Michigan Pro Day.
The highest-drafted prospect is almost certainly to be QB J.J. McCarthy. Earning buzz that he could even climb into the Top Three picks of next month’s draft, McCarthy benefitted from talent around him that reduced his pressure but he made plays when Michigan needed them. Over the past two years, he’s thrown 44 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’s been linked to the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings.
For Pittsburgh, the players likely interesting them the most are: WR Roman Wilson, CB Mike Sainristil, and DL Kris Jenkins Jr.
Wilson had Mike Tomlin’s eye at the Senior Bowl and their relationship began before their trip to Mobile. A big-play threat, Wilson averaged 16 yards per reception in his career and broke out in 2023, posting 48 receptions, 789 yards, and 12 touchdowns. At the Combine, he weighed in at 5106, 185 pounds and blazed a 4.39 40. He’s viewed as a Day Two pick.
Sainristil is considered one of the top slot corners in this year’s draft. With a game modeled after Mike Hilton, Sainristil flipped from receiver to corner but kept his ball skills, picking off six passes in 2023, returning two for touchdowns. Active against the run, he has 10.5 tackles for loss the past two seasons. Undersized at 5093, 182 pounds, he ran a 4.47 at the Combine. Like Wilson, he’s viewed as a Day Two pick, likely to hear his name sooner than later on Friday night.
Pittsburgh’s interest in Jenkins has seemed light so far. But given his bloodlines, size, talent, and team need along the defensive line, he fits. Son of longtime NFL defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Sr., he posted 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this past season for the champion Wolverines. On the shorter side at 6026, 299 pounds, he measured in with 34-inch arms at the Combine, running an impressive 4.91 40 with a 1.70 ten-split. He’s likely to hear his name in the second or third round.
Michigan marks the fourth Pro Day stop for Tomlin and Khan this cycle, joining Georgia, Clemson, and Alabama.
Other players to note include LB Junior Colson, who has notched nearly 200 tackles the past two combined seasons. Signing Patrick Queen tamps down the need to address inside linebacker but ILBs Coach Aaron Curry has made at least one Pro Day stop this cycle.
Barner is a tight end with size who transferred from Indiana. Zinter is regarded as one of the top guards in the class but broke his leg late in the season, unable to workout at the Combine. It’s unclear if he’ll be able to do anything more today. Nugent is a highly experienced center who attended Stanford before switching to Michigan in 2023, starting all 15 games. Henderson has left guard and tackle experience, an Arizona State transfer who played tackle in 2023 for the Wolverines.