Ruiz Selected by New Orleans Saints in First Round of NFL Draft
4/23/2020 11:13:00 PM | Football
• Draft Tracker
• Michigan Draft Central
• Michigan Draft History
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- At 11:09 p.m. Thursday (April 23), University of Michigan junior center Cesar Ruiz realized his childhood dream as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced his selection by the New Orleans Saints in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ruiz was the 24th player selected in the first round of the annual selection meeting held for the first time virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With Ruiz's selection by the Saints, the Michigan football program has had at least one player selected in a record 82 consecutive NFL Drafts (1939-current).
Ruiz is the second Michigan center to be chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft. Steve Everitt was the 14th pick of the 1993 draft by the Cleveland Browns. The only other Wolverine center selected in the first round of a professional draft was Dan Dworsky by the Los Angeles Dons in the 1949 AAFC Secret Draft.
The top-rated center in the draft, Ruiz appeared in 36 career games during his Michigan career, including 31 straight starting assignments to finish his three-year tenure. He was the highest-graded pass-blocking center in the country last season according to PFF College.
Ruiz started 26 consecutive games at center over the past two seasons, earning second team All-Big Ten honors in 2019 and third-team accolades in 2018. Ruiz was a candidate for the Rimington Trophy and the Outland Trophy as a junior. He started five games at right guard as a true freshman in 2017.
The 2020 NFL Draft continues Friday (April 24) with the second and third rounds. ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network will provide television coverage starting at 7 p.m.
Notes
• Ruiz became the 48th Wolverine taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.
• He is the 12th Michigan offensive lineman selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and the 15th offensive lineman to be chosen in the first round of a professional draft. The last Wolverine offensive lineman taken in the first round was Taylor Lewan, the 11th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
• Ruiz becomes the first offensive player and the fifth overall player to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since Jim Harbaugh took over as Michigan head coach (2016-20).
• He also becomes the 22nd draft pick in Harbaugh's five years at Michigan.
• Ruiz is the third offensive linemen drafted during Harbaugh's tenure, joining third-round selections Graham Glasgow (95th pick in 2016, Detroit Lions) and Mason Cole (97th pick in 2018, Arizona Cardinals).
Michigan Players Selected in the 2019 NFL Draft (First Round)
| Name | Pos. | Rd. | Pick | Team |
| Cesar Ruiz | C | 1st | 24th |  New Orleans Saints |
