Marlin Klein, the former Michigan tight end who was projected to be a late-second, early-third-round NFL Draft selection, became a Houston Texan on Friday night.
The Texans chose Klein, who made The Athletic’s “Freaks List” before the 2025 season, in the second round with the 59th overall pick.
Klein became the second Michigan player taken in the NFL Draft, after edge Derrick Moore was selected in the second round by the Detroit Lions with the 44th overall pick.
There were no Wolverines selected in the first round Thursday night for the first time since 2018. Last season, Michigan had three first-rounders with defensive tackle Mason Graham going No. 5 to Cleveland, tight end Colston Loveland going No. 10 to Chicago, and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant going No. 13 to Miami.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said during a recent video conference with reporters that Klein would be a Day 2 selection. He had Klein as his No. 5 tight end, while ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper ranked Klein No. 9 among tight ends.
“I wouldn’t be stunned if he got into the bottom of the second round, just because teams are looking for these hand-in-the-ground, wide tight ends that have size, that can block, but also have some speed and some ability to make plays down the field, which he does,” Jeremiah said on the call. “He had to wait his turn behind Loveland. I think if he was the featured tight end at Michigan for three years, we’d be talking about him as a guaranteed second-round pick.”
Klein, voted a captain, dealt with a right ankle injury suffered during practice early last season and missed the game at Oklahoma. The injury hampered him throughout the season until he revealed he was 100% healthy with three regular-season games remaining. He finished with 248 yards on 24 catches and a touchdown last season.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Marlin Klein, Michigan tight end, selected in second round by Texans
Reporting by Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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