Former Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil didn’t hold back on Tuesday, exposing his “hidden superpower” from his playing days in Ann Arbor and emphasizing distinctions from the scouting site Pro Football Focus.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound defensive back announced on his Instagram story that he had been named “Best in Slot” and “Best Blitzer” for the 2024 NFL Draft, before adding a final message declaring himself the “Best Slot WR,” with a sunglasses emoji at the end.
Sainristil has been questioned since he was regarded as a three-star prospect out of Everett, Massachusetts, in 2019.
Sainristil came into then-head coach Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan program with little notice, but he rapidly established himself as one of the team’s captains and most promising players. He left Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a national championship and three Big Ten championships under his belt, as well as a game-winning interception against Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies on January 8, 2024.
The Michigan Wolverines nickelback is currently awaiting word on his new home on April 25 or 26, the dates of the 2024 NFL Draft’s first, second, and third rounds.
Sainristil was just named a future “average starter” by NFL.com.
The multiple-time champion’s confidence and recent combine performance suggest that he is once again being underestimated.
Sainristil’s surging draft stock
Pro Football Focus ranked the Massachusetts native as the No. 36 overall prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, highlighting his versatility and unique abilities.
Sainristil caught 36 catches for 532 yards during his first three years at Michigan, from 2019 to 2021. He played defense in 2019 and 2021, making six tackles in limited action.
He finished his career with two standout seasons in the secondary. In 2022, Sainristil recorded 58 tackles, two sacks, seven passes defensed, and an interception to help Michigan reach the College Football Playoff.
Sainristil emerged as a dominating slot corner in 2023, recording 44 tackles, six passes defensed, two sacks, and six interceptions for 232 return yards and two scores during the national championship season.
Is a reunion with Harbaugh on the horizon?
The converted wide receiver has become a desirable commodity in Detroit’s upcoming NFL Draft after clocking a 4.47 40-yard sprint at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Sainristil has been projected as high as the middle of the second round, but he is more likely to be drafted late in the second or third round.
The ex-Wolverines defense recently had a nice visit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who welcomed him like family. He also hinted at a possible reunion with former colleague Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions earlier this spring, implying that the defending NFL North winners are both interested in picking him.
Sainristil is expected to be selected in the second round by his former coach Harbaugh and the San Diego Chargers, according to a recent USA Today draft projection.
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