Player Overview
Mike Sainristil projects as a day three pick, a future role-player. Odds are he may well spend his professional career being waived, signed to practice squads, and waived again – but, in the immortal words of Han Solo, “Never tell me the odds!” His small frame and occasional inertness are not to be ignored, but Sainristil’s versatility may prove to be his saving grace and make him a crucial late-round/high-upside pick for your IDP fantasy roster.
Another guy who saw something in “Frozone,” as Sainristil refers to himself on Instagram, was Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh switched Sainristil from the focal point of his offense on WR to the position of defensive back to maximize his potential. There, route reading, QB spying, explosiveness, and sure hands proved to be the traits of a defensive leader whose secondary froze many an offense – Michael Penix is defrosting from the national championship so hard that he missed performing consistently at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Slot/Outside CB usage
Mike Sainristil’s style of play made him the Michigan Wolverines’ star defender as soon as he switched from being a WR, and he played all over the field, finding himself in the slot almost 72% of the time, but also playing outside, and, to a higher degree, spending time in the box 12.9% and 10.9% respectively. During the 2022 season, Sainristil spent 77% of his 755 snaps in the slot, and his willingness to throw his body against the larger offensive players is reflected in 57 tackles (48 solo).
“Frozone’s” one interception and one TD stat line in the same period heralded high effectiveness. In that season, Sainristil spent only 3.7% of his total snaps (just 27) playing outside corner, and his time on the outside increased in 2023. to 21% of his total snaps. In this period, “the smallest Wolverine,” as Dane Brugler called him, accrued six interceptions, two leading to two TDs, and added six passes defended and two forced fumbles.
So, even if Sainristils’ small stature proves to be a hindrance on the next level and leads to a lesser number of tackles, we still may have a splash player on our hands, able to make a house call from any part of the field after making an interception.
Total pressures
A sneaky stat, or an unexpected one for a person of such a small frame, is Mike Sainristil finding himself on the line of scrimmage for 20-plus snaps in each of his last two seasons. This led to a healthy career total of 20 QB pressures, making two sacks in each of the seasons, which are more than a welcome addition to his future IDP fantasy profile.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Saying Sainristil is a bit on the small side would be an understatement, and his inability to cash in on the contact and make a tackle against larger opponents will be the greatest test he faces on the pro level.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic mentions size as a weakness, saying that many GM’s will shy away from picking Sainristil come draft day, but also recognizes him as a possible exception to the rule for his football IQ:
“Sainristil is basically a player-coach for the Michigan defense. His competitive intangibles and ability to raise the level of his teammates will make him a coaches’ favorite throughout the draft process.”
As Jonathan Heitritter of the Steelers Depot sees Sainristil as a welcome addition to an aging Pittsburgh secondary, he reminds us of “Frozone’s” misgivings – an inclination to get handsy and draw penalties when a receiver gains separation on him, as well as his footwork and long speed getting exposed in man coverage.
Sainristil’s biggest issue seems to be a lack of confidence in his instincts which makes him hesitant and leads to errors and nervousness.
Fantasy Summary
To summarize, Mike Sainristil will be passed by many franchises on draft day. However, Jim Harbaugh is in LA and the Chargers need an upgrade to their secondary. Jeff Hafley is the new DC in Green Bay, and loves to close the middle of the field, yet his current roster yearns for such a talent. Dan Quinn is commanding the Commanders and may choose to create a new ball-hawk in the vein of Trevon Diggs or Daron Bland. These are some of the options, but whoever uses a pick on Mike Sainristil will want him for his qualities and will not be put off by his size.
In IDP fantasy, Sainristil should prove safest as a late-round pick in best ball leagues or leagues that favor big plays, as we can’t be sure that his size will not fail him in producing tackles. Mike Sainristil is a late pick stash in dynasty leagues, as he sure may not start producing in his rookie year. So, put Frozone on some ice, and be patient.