Michigan Football: Predicting Wolverines’ 2021 depth chart

Michigan football already lost one player to the NFL in Jalen Mayfield, who else will be left on the team when it takes the field in the spring of 2021?

It didn’t take long for the Michigan football program to lose its first departure to the NFL, following the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the 2020 season until the spring.

It was obvious that the move by the Big Ten would force the hands of players. You might wonder why Jalen Mayfield is declaring after just one season as a starter?

Well, just look at his options.

Mayfield has been getting buzz as a first-round pick and while that’s far from a sure thing, he put good things on tape last season, especially against Ohio State and Chase Young.

Mayfield also has the tools you would want in an NFL tackle. Sure, it will be more a projection than if he had played another season, but if he returned, he would probably have to play two seasons before getting a chance to enter the NFL draft again.

The NFL hasn’t said it would move back the 2020 NFL draft, which it could to June 2. Last year, players had to decide if they wanted to enter by Jan. 17, so if nothing changes there, no players who play in the spring would be eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft.

The college season in the Big Ten and Pac-12 at least would be played during the NFL combine and the Senior Bowl.

That’s why Mayfield made the choice he did. He can train and next fall, he will be getting paid to play football instead of being forced to play another season at Michigan because he decided to play in the spring.

That’s what these guys are facing and why many, if not all, who have a legit shot at the NFL, will probably be gone for good.

That’s going to have a huge impact on the depth chart and so, without anything better to do, let’s take a look at what the two-deep might look like this spring (freshman included).