Why the Detroit Lions Should Draft Michigan’s Mike Sainristil in the 2024 NFL Draft

While I could list a lot of Michigan Wolverines in this series, this is the last one that makes the cut for me. The Detroit Lions would be an excellent home for Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil overall. His work ethic and how he is as a person and a player is what the Lions could use on their team, especially in their secondary. After another offseason of change at the cornerback position with new additions via free agency and a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneersthe Lions can wrap up their overhaul in the secondary by taking Sainristil in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Sainristil is a prospect projected as a late first—or early second-round pick, which is right up Detroit’s wheelhouse this season. Unlike years past, the Lions could get Sainristil by just sitting where they are at pick 29 and wouldn’t need to trade up to get him unless they had fears others wanted him more.

Sainristil’s size in the NFL pushes him towards the slot. While the Lions already have a great nickelback in Brian Branch, adding more depth or giving Branch the option to help at safety is a nice wrinkle this team could add by getting Sainristil.

Sainristil would have an instant impact in the secondary and give the Lions another weapon back there to make plays and wreak havoc. Let me explain why the Detroit Lions should draft Mike Sainristil in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Previously:

Collegiate history

During his five years at Michigan, Sainristil went on an adventure. He was brought in as a wide receiver in 2019 and played in that position for three seasons before moving to cornerback. Sainristil had 37 catches for 539 yards and five touchdowns at wide receiver. In 2022, with the wide receiver room getting crowded and the secondary thinning out, Sainristil moved to cornerback, where he excelled and shined.

In two seasons at cornerback, Sainristil finished with 108 tackles, 13 pass deflections, seven interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Sainristil was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a first-team All-American in 2023. He helped lead the Michigan defense to three straight Big Ten Championships from 2021 to 2023 and the 2023 National Championship.

Despite only being on the defensive side for two years, Sainristil was the leader in the secondary. He was voted team captain both years in the secondary, showing that despite being on the other side of the field and in a new position overall, his teammates still respected him enough to have him be one of the team’s leaders. For someone starting at wide receiver and emerging as a star at cornerback in a short period, that is impressive and challenging.

Sainristil’s strengths

Sainristil leadership was obvious on the field. He would pick his teammates up if they struggled and owned up to his mistakes if he made them.

In 2023, Sainristil had a PFF defensive grade of 81.4 which was 41st for cornerbacks who played at least 20% of snaps in 2023. He also had a coverage grade of 85, ranking him 24th for cornerbacks. With a PFF grade of 82.3 for zone coverage, Sainristil was ranked 22nd among cornerbacks. Out of the 50 targets against Sainristil, he allowed 29 catches for 412 yards and four touchdowns.

Sainristil played in the slot 72.7 percent of the time last season and 95.5 percent in 2022, so while he is going to be a nickelback in the NFL, he can still bounce to the outside if need be. His size is a disadvantage in matchups, but how he plays physically and mentally helps him out greatly in that regard.

His former defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, spoke about Sainristil and his impressive versatility.

“His receiver background I think helps him a lot when you can go from inside to outside (cornerback),” said Minter. “He’s really good at anticipating routes, reading the body position of receivers so he can anticipate which way they’re cutting and breaking and stuff like that. And then he’s got really good ball skills. I think the thing that still over the two years has surprised me the most is how sure of a tackler he’s become, and his ability to knock down a stiff arm and get a guy on the ground.”

He also said something that would be great for the Detroit Lions.

“I think somebody’s gonna take him (in the draft), and I think somebody is going to love him as their nickel for a lot of years.”

Sainristil is fearless when laying out the boom and taking a player out. He is physical, violent, and just a nuisance on the field. He doesn’t let you go easily when you are going against him as a wide receiver, and if you are out in the open field and he is in your way, the odds aren’t in your favor of getting past him.

Here, again, is another example of his tackling tenacity. He doesn’t give up on the play. He initially gets beat, but he makes up for his mistake and stops the play from turning into a first down.

Even in matchups where he is beaten in coverage and against someone bigger than him, Sainristil can still make plays. Here he plays the ball and knocks it out of the tight end’s hands, again in a big game and a big moment. The lights are never too bright for Sainristil, and he doesn’t get caught up in the moment, good or bad.

Mike Sainristil took an interception 72 yards to the house and then celebrated with turnover buffs, Jim Harbaugh, and his teammates. pic.twitter.com/LWWGLpzN5u

— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) October 22, 2023

Finally, I need to go over his ball-hawking skills. Last season at Michigan, Sainristil had six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. In the biggest moments of the season Sainristil was the guy who would give the ball back to the offense—or score himself. In this interception above, Sainristil picked the ball off and tight-roped, avoiding getting pushed out of bounds, and scored. If you want another playmaker on the defense, Sainristil is your guy.

How does Sainristil fit?

The secondary was once again a weakness in Detroit in 2023, but it was still better than in 2022 and 2021. Despite adding Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson, the sudden loss of Cameron Sutton has impacted the cornerback room that seemed fully built. The team could use some help at cornerback now that there is an open spot, and Sainristil can fit that role. While he would slide in at nickelback, his versatility and ability to handle some outside cornerback assignments are helpful.

I was wondering if having Branch and Sainristil on the same roster would even work early in the draft process, but learning and understanding how both players are Swiss Army knives when it comes to their skillset, it can certainly work. Last season, we saw Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn try to get Branch on the field as much as possible, even with C.J. Gardner-Johnson starting training camp at the nickel. If the Lions draft Sainristil, Glenn will have a similar challenge, but the Lions defensive coordinator would welcome having “too much” talent at nickel and would find creative ways to get both players on the field. Plus, this fits Brad Holmes’ philosophy of just drafting talented players and figuring it out later.

If the Lions draft Sainristil, they are getting a player who helps others out with his ability to dominate the slot but can also handle the outside if needed. He would help shore out the cornerback room and become a true asset to this defense.

2024-04-14 14:00:00
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