New York Giants Draft Prospect: CB Mike Sainristil

Mike Sainristil is an intriguing slot cornerback option.

Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil lifts the trophy to celebrate the 34-13 win over Washington / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Mike Sainristil, CB

Height: 5’9
Weight: 182 lbs
Arm length: 30 ⅞”
Wingspan: 74 ½”
Hands: 8 ½”
Class: RS-Senior
School: Michigan
Stats

MEASUREMENTS

40-yard-dash: 4.47
10-yard split: 1.51
Vertical jump: 40”
Broad jump: 10’11”
3 Cone: 6.99
20-yard shuttle: 4.01
Bench press: 14

A former three-star recruit out of Everett, Massachusetts, where he attended Everett High School, and was the 52nd overall CB and the number one recruit from Massachusetts duing the 2019 cycle. Sainristil was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, but his family moved to Massachusetts when he was just seven months old. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year for his state in 2018-2019.

The Michigan coaching staff were undecided on his position when he was recruited - was he going to play CB or WR? The offensive staff won that debate, and Sainristil caught 37 passes for 539 yards with five touchdowns from 2019-2021 before he moved to CB after the 2021 season.

Sainristil was voted team captain twice and was a corp defensive player in Michigan’s National Championship season last year. He was a First Team All-American, First Team All-Big 10, and was the Big Ten Football Championship Game (vs. Iowa) MVP in 2023. He won both Offensive (2021) and Defensive (2022) Skill Player of the Year for the Wolverines. After helping Michigan win the National Championship in January, Sainristil withdrew his name from the Reese’s Senior Bowl event to prepare for the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Strengths

* Low-balanced and sturdy stance in press/off
* Low center of gravity and springy nature allow him to explode directionally
* Very good athlete who carries himself with swag
* Exceptionally quick - very good reactive ability
* Buttery smooth mover - fluid hips/explosive mover
* Stays low and flips his hips well
* Assumes good positioning from slot with inside leverage on over routes
--Gets into the hip and maintains proper body-to-body relationship
* Good overall man coverage positioning with excellent agility/COD
* Click & close downhill is immediate - sudden athlete
* Excellent eyes in zone
--Read the SAIL concept from the deep half of Cover 2 to undercut 7 route vs. Washington in National Championship. Q4 4:46
--Read 2 to 3 vs. Indiana through QB to get his hand on 3rd & 12 pass to 3 to cause INT
* Good positioning (leverage) and feel for zone coverage
* Good LOS skills and anticipation to break on screens
--Rutgers 4th & 2 Q3 4:47 pick-six
* Willing in run support
* Takes on blocks well - gets eyes on ball carrier w/ good drive + agility to avoid block and locate the ball carrier
* Missile coming downhill into contact
* Solid recovery speed/acceleration
* Great use of hands at the catch point
* Frames tackles at a solid rate -- aggressive at tackle point
* Has shown the ability to stay square to target and tackle low
* Small but strong - packs a heavy punch from depth on contact
* Despite framing tackles well, he still too frequently attacks high
* Appreciate his aggressiveness, but it did get him in trouble when tackling
* Must wrap up more to secure tackles
* Burst as a blitzer off the edge, times it well
* Plus overall blitzer
* Tough player who isn’t scared of contact
* Will be an immediate special teams asset (332 snaps in his career)

[View more draft prospect scouting profiles.]

Weaknesses

* Undersized with limited length
* Good athlete but had to engage his recovery speed due to long speed concerns
* Skinny frame
* Can be more impactful as a press CB - feet don’t always match his hands/eyes
* Must be in elite positioning due to lack of height/length vs. accurate passes
* Burned on 9 outside the numbers
--Minnesota Q2 00:13 Touchdown
--Bowling Green Q1 4:05 INC
--Maryland Q3 1:59
~~Wasn’t 9, but a wheel route where his lack of length led to the reception
* Footwork isn’t terrible and is a plus in some areas, but false steps or not properly matching WRs have led to huge offensive plays - susceptible to deception
--Rutgers Q1 14:13
--Bowling Green Q1 4:05 INC
--Nebraska Q1 4:47
*Missed tackle badly in the alley
--Alabama Q1 9:49 by Jase McClellan
* Although he has big hits on tape, he is also relegated to wrapping and holding on due to his size
* Will be 24 years old in his rookie season (October 3)

Summary

Mike Sainristil is a feisty nickel cornerback who uses his quickness and reactive speed to promptly close width on receivers who are tightly covered. His eye-discpline and attention to detail allowed him to thrive in zone, and he has all the necessary coverage traits to stay in phase as a man coverage defender. However, his long speed was exposed a few times on tape, and that remains a slight concern despite his adequate 4.47 at the Combine.

A team looking for a reliable apex defender who is small - but packs a punch - would do well to add Sainristil, who is a willing run support defender. His lack of size/frame will work against him in several areas; while willing and physical, at times, in run support, he can be prone to latching and holding onto ball carriers that are much bigger than himself. He also must optimize his coverage, for well-placed football is difficult for him to defend due to his 29th percentile arm length.

Overall, Sainristil is a good football player who is a small tone-setter. He’s smart, is an excellent blitzer who disguises his intentions well, and he’s a fluid athlete with incredible competitive toughness.

GRADE: 6.28

Nick Falato's Draft Grade Chart / Nick Falato

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