Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil has been one of the big risers throughout this season. Sainristil’s playmaking ability has opened eyes in 2023, placing him firmly on the NFL’s radar. When is Sainristil eligible for the NFL Draft?
Here’s the rundown of his status for the coming cycle.
When Is Michigan CB Mike Sainristil Eligible for the NFL Draft?
Sainristil is eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft. To be eligible, players must accrue at least three years at the collegiate level. He is currently wrapping up his fifth season at the collegiate level.
Sainristil initially joined the Wolverines in 2019 as a three-star recruit. Having played wide receiver and cornerback in high school, he began his Wolverines career at the WR position and played that spot for three seasons.
As a receiver, Sainristil peaked in 2021, hauling in 22 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. But the loss of Daxton Hill in the 2022 NFL Draft created a void in the secondary, which Sainristil was tasked to help fill.
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Sainristil switched back to cornerback in 2022 and performed well, accumulating 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a pick, and seven pass breakups. But his best play came in 2023.
In 2023, Sainristil elevated his game and became a true impact player for the Wolverines. Heading into the 2023-2024 CFP National Championship, Sainristil has 36 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, five interceptions (two pick-sixes), six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
For his play in 2023, Sainristil earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media.
Is Mike Sainristil a 2024 NFL Draft Prospect?
In a 2024 NFL Draft class filled with intriguing slot DB prospects, Sainristil is emerging as one of the best. Though he’s set to turn 24 years old next fall, Sainristil off-sets his age with instant utility as a potential NFL starter and could be a mid-round pick.
At around 5’10”, 182 pounds, Sainristil is a bit undersized. But he flies downhill with unmatched urgency as a supporting defender and a Blitzer. And in coverage, he’s a twitchy, fluid, and tenacious defender with the 4.4 recovery speed and swarming instincts to be a constant disruptive force.
Sainristil has not been announced as an accepted invite to the Senior Bowl or Shrine Bowl, likely because he’s focusing on the CFB Playoffs. But once the playoffs are over, it’s expected that Sainristil will hit the All-Star circuit to further sell his talents to NFL evaluators.