Mike Sainristil NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Michigan CB

BR NFL Scouting DepartmentContributor I

Ryan Kang/Getty Images

HEIGHT: 5’10”

WEIGHT: 182

HAND:

ARM:

WINGSPAN:

40-YARD DASH:

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL:

BROAD:

POSITIVES

— Fluid backpedal with short, smooth steps under control. Shows quick transitions and very good closing speed.

— Plays with good vision and instincts in the pass game. Instinctual player who has a good understanding of the threats in his area.

— Aggressive player versus the run. Triggers quickly and closes ground on the ball-carrier. Shows good physicality when taking on blocks and isn’t afraid to get his hands on blocks to condense running lanes.

NEGATIVES

— Struggles with open-field tackling. Lacks the size and strength necessary to take down bigger backs. Will stop his feet and dive at ball-carriers.

— Can be slow out of breaks. Doesn’t always trust his eyes when breaking on receivers. Often looks for verification with the ball in the air.

2023 STATISTICS

— 14 G, 36 TOT, 4 TFL, 1 SK, 5 INT, 2 TD, 6 PD, 2 FF

NOTES

— Born Oct. 3, 2000

— 33 career starts

— 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Born in Port Au Prince, Haiti

— Plays violin, piano and drums

— 2023 first-team All-Big Ten (media), second-team All-Big Ten (Coaches)

— 2023 first-team All-American (ESPN)

OVERALL

Mike Sainristil is a versatile defensive back with tons of collegiate experience. He is an explosive athlete, but he lacks the ideal overall size for an NFL cornerback.

Originally recruited to Michigan as a two-way player, Sainristil played mostly wide receiver at first before pivoting to defense ahead of the 2022 season. He also played in cover units on special teams throughout his time with the Wolverines.

Sainristil performs best when in coverage. A versatile defender, he can align all over the defensive secondary. He’s a fluid athlete with very good body control and quick feet to transition out of breaks.

When he trusts his breaks, Sainristil can quickly drive and close on the ball. He does a great job of flipping his hips and has the top-end speed to run with receivers deep. Sainristil is an instinctual defender who does a great job of identifying routes and has the ball skills to attack the ball in the air, though he does panic downfield at times.

As a run defender, Sainristil does a very good job of triggering to what he sees. However, he lacks the size and strength desired to fit in the run game. At times, his lack of size causes him to fall off tackles and struggle with bigger blockers. Though he does a good job of coming downhill, he sometimes stops his feet and dives at the legs of ball-carriers.

Sainristil played at multiple spots during his time at Michigan, but he looks to be more of a nickel defender in the NFL. He could provide safety and cornerback depth when in a pinch, but he lacks the overall size for both. However, his ability to play special teams increases his value to a possible Day 3 pick.

GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player/ Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 92

POSITION RANK: CB13

PRO COMPARISON: Josiah Scott