An in depth and complete scouting report and draft prospect profile of Michigan Safety Mike Sainristil for the NFL Draft.

Prospect: Mike Sainristil

School: Michigan

Age: 23

Mike Sainristil Measurables:

• Height: 5’9” (NFL Combine)
• Weight: 182 (NFL Combine)

• 40: 4.47 (NFL Combine)
• 10 Yard Split: 1.51 (NFL Combine)
• Vertical Jump: 40” (NFL Combine)
• Broad Jump: 10’11” (NFL Combine)
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.01 (NFL Combine)
• 3 Cone: 6.99 (NFL Combine)
• Bench: 14 (NFL Combine)
• Other Notes:
  • Measured in 1” shorter at Combine than ESPN had listed
  • Sainristill may have a little tightness in his hips?

Tape Watched: 2022: Maryland; 2023: Maryland, Ohio State

Prospect Grade: 69% with upside

Projected Draft Day: Late Round 2- Early Round 4

Player Comparison: Quandre Diggs with Adoree Jackson’s athleticism

Best Team Fits: Baltimore Ravens, LA Chargers(If Minter goes with Harbaugh)

Mike Sainristil Player Summary:

The  Positives

• Ceiling is high due to lack of experience 
• Quick trigger, aggressive coming down hill
• Good tackler- Special teams value
  • Lays the boom also
• You wouldn’t be able to guess his size by how he plays. He plays much bigger than he is 
• Better in zone and off man. Anything where he can keep his eyes on QB
  • Good at reading QB eyes
  • Better at reading routes and concepts from off
• Secondary versatility
  • In 2023, Sainristil took on a bigger role playing outside, inside, and safety

The Negatives

• Lack of experience, first year playing defense in 2022
  • Even in 2023 you can see the inexperience 
• Needs to get defensive instincts
  • Better in 2023, but still could be better 
• Struggles to shed blocks
  • Better in 2023, but still could be better
• For a former WR, his route recognition isn’t what we expected it’d be
  • Shows better in zone, man not so much

Side Notes:

• In the Ohio State Game, when Will Johnson got hurt, Sainristil stepped up to the occasion and shadowed Marvin Harrison Jr.(most snaps, not all)
  • Marv did not see a single target while Sainristil was on him
• Sainristil could absolutely play nickel, but with his route and concept recognition, being able to keep it in front of him and read it could help him thrive as a safety rather than a CB/NB closer to the line

Mike Sainristil could end up being one of the best Day 2/3 finds of this year’s draft class. He may be small in stature, but you can’t tell by the way he plays. The biggest thing about Sainristil is that he’s only a second year defender. He transitioned into a DB in 2022. By this season he transitioned from a primary nickel to a guy who could play CB, Nickel, and Safety. Based on the tape, and where we thought he excelled, we believe that Sainristil will actually be a better safety than CB. Similar career path to Quandre Diggs.

Updated 4/23/24:

• Grade switched from “69%” to “69% with upside”
• Projection switched from “Day 2-Day 3” to “Late Round 2- Early Round 4”
• Comp switched from “Quandre Diggs” to “Quandre Diggs with Adoree Jackson’s athleticism”
• Side Note Added
  • Sainristil could absolutely play nickel, but with his route and concept recognition, being able to keep it in front of him and read it could help him thrive as a safety rather than a CB/NB closer to the line