Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor is an energetic pass rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft. McGregor plays with a red-hot motor and outstanding quickness. McGregor shows up when it matters most, recording a team-high two sacks in the Wolverines’ Rose Bowl triumph over Alabama en route to the National Championship.
McGregor recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his performance throughout the 2023 season, his pass-rush arsenal, winning a National Championship, which teams are showing interest in his services, and so much more.
JM: What will forever be your main takeaway from leaving Michigan as a National Championship winner?
Braiden McGregor: My biggest takeaway from my time at Michigan and what we accomplished. It was a dream come true to depart the program as a National Championship winner.
I grew up in Michigan. I’m a Michigan fan first and foremost. Leaving the program on top, we were 2-4 when we came in during the 2020 season. Talk about turning things around. We flipped the switch completely throughout my four years there.
Us seniors, the fourth, fifth, and sixth-year guys, we left the program in a better place. Even the juniors, some of them get to leave with a winning record and as a National Champion. We left the program in a better state than we found it in. That was the biggest thing for me.
JM: You recorded two sacks in the Rose Bowl victory over Alabama. What a huge performance that was for you. What was it like being in the zone for that game?
Braiden McGregor: It’s a cool story. Coach Ben Herbert, our strength coach, got the chance to speak in front of the defense the night before the Rose Bowl. He played in the Rose Bowl three times. He had two sacks in one of those games.
He talked about how historic it is to have an opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl. He talked about never forgetting his two-sack performance. He told us we’d remember this game for the rest of our lives.
That motivated me to go out there and do something special. It’s a big deal, especially at Michigan. The Rose Bowl is a part of our history. When coach Herb said that, I wanted to go out there and top his performance (laughs).
I have a great relationship with coach Herb. That’s my guy right there. After that first sack, I looked at him and said, “I need two more” (laughs). Getting that second sack was awesome. They were both great plays and I was excited to make them for the team.
That second sack, that was probably my best sack, my favorite one throughout my entire college career. It kept Alabama from picking up a first down. It got us going. It was a great experience overall. I was so happy that I could help us pick up that win.
JM: Pro Day is on March 22. You did not participate athletically at the NFL Combine. Do you plan on participating at your Pro Day?
Braiden McGregor: Yeah, for sure I am. I was dealing with a high ankle sprain I picked up at the Senior Bowl. I just needed a little more time to get past that. I was still so thrilled to be at the NFL Combine. It was another step in the right direction for me.
Now that I’ve pretty much been medically cleared, I’m excited to showcase my abilities at Pro Day. I think I’ll manage to put up some really great numbers. I plan on turning some heads. I’m excited about that.
JM: You had a great regular season as well in addition to the playoff, totaling career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (9). What led to that uptick in production?
Braiden McGregor: We had a very good team this year. We didn’t even play many starters during the fourth quarters of games. At times, it was tough to even get the stats I did because everyone was so good on defense (laughs). You’re sharing sacks with everyone.
Everyone was flying around and making plays. It was very competitive out there. I stuck to the plan. I kept being myself. I never tried to do too much. That’s what I realized. When you get out there and you want to get sacks and pad stats, it’s harder to do that. You just have to trust the process and trust the calls.
Everything that’s being called is the right play. I trusted our staff. When you play with complete faith the way I did, the numbers will come your way. That was a big thing for me. Stats don’t matter, wins and losses do.
15-0. I couldn’t care less about my stats. The National Championship was my favorite.
JM: You played within the defense. How would you describe your pass-rush arsenal? What are your go-to moves and counters?
Braiden McGregor: It’s a long time coming. When I first arrived at Michigan, I didn’t really play on the defensive line in high school. I was more of a tight end and off-ball linebacker. I had to develop a pass-rush arsenal, period.
My first two years at Michigan, I didn’t really have one at all. I was just getting my feet wet. I was trying to understand how to play the position. I started to figure it out a little bit during my junior season. I started stringing together moves.This past offseason, I really focused on developing three go-to moves. You need a spin move, an inside move, and a power move. I tried to make all of those moves look the same. That’s my approach. Of course, I still need to get better. I’m excited to continue pursuing those opportunities at the next level.
I love the bull rush. That’s probably my go-to. I’m a big dude and I’m pretty explosive. Being able to get underneath an offensive tackle’s chin and being able to put my helmet right there and push him back into the quarterback helps me set up everything else.
I used the speed-swipe and a stab-club this year as well. I was able to throw off offensive tackles because they weren’t sure if it was going to be a long-arm or a speed move. Those were my three favorite moves from this past season.
JM: You’ve worked hard to develop a deep arsenal of moves. Now that the NFL Combine is in our rearview mirror, do you have any Top 30 visits or virtual meetings coming up?
Braiden McGregor: I’m meeting with the New Orleans Saints the night before Pro Day (3/22). I’ve had a ton of Zoom meetings and phone calls this past week. I’ve pretty much had one every single day. I met with the likes of the Colts, Raiders, Giants, Jets, and Saints on Zoom. I believe the Bengals meeting is coming up as well.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why, We’ve appreciated your time. What kind of impact is Braiden McGregor going to make at the next level?
Braiden McGregor: I’m going to bring my winning mindset to my team at the next level. I’ve developed one heck of a competitive attitude. The stats don’t matter. What I did in college doesn’t matter anymore.
If you’re a first-round pick, a seventh-round pick, or even an undrafted free agent, I’m going to bring the same attitude and effort no matter what. I’m bringing a sense of competitiveness to practice.
That’s just something I’ve always wanted to bring with me. I’m going to help us win games. I’ll do whatever it takes to help us win. That’s pretty much what I’m most looking forward to next season.
