Michigan Football: Kwity Paye will be worth a top-10 pick in NFL draft

Michigan football’s Kwity Paye is being projected as a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL draft and here’s why an NFL team won’t regret taking him that early. 

The 2021 NFL draft is just a few weeks away now and while there’s a good chance multiple Michigan football players are selected in the first round, one guy, Kwity Paye, is moving his way up draft boards.

At least if you believe some of the mock drafts out there.

Paye’s stock has been up and down a little bit and part of that has to do with his time at Michigan since he didn’t have a ton of sacks during his time with the Wolverines.

Still, when Daniel Jeremiah put out his latest mock draft, he had the Dallas Cowboys select Paye with the 10th overall pick. Here’s what he wrote via 247 sports:

"“Paye is the most explosive pass rusher in the draft He would team up with DeMarcus Lawrence to give the Cowboys a big-time duo off the edges.”"

In another mock draft by CBS Sports, the former Michigan football standout was projected to go 14th overall to Minnesota, another team looking for a pass rusher.

"“Paye was more potential than production at the college level, and all that potential remains. “He’s explosive and powerful, but his repertoire needs refinement. If the Vikings help him tap into that potential, this could be a pick that pays off for years to come.”"

It’s true that during his four-year career with Michigan football, he only had 11.5 sacks, which doesn’t sound like a ton. However, a lack of college production doesn’t mean he can’t produce in the NFL.

Paye’s a top-10 talent

Rashan Gary was another guy who didn’t have a ton of sack production at Michigan, but down the stretch for the Packers last season, he was maybe their best pass rusher. A lot of it is about opportunity and Paye is going to get a chance to do more pass rushing in the NFL than college.

He also won’t be getting double and triple-teamed like he was at times last year with the Wolverines.

Paye showed off his athleticism recently at Michigan football’s pro day which was 4.52. That should only increase the interest in him and at the end of the day, if teams pass on him because of his “lack” of production, that would be a mistake.

He’s one of the best pass rushers in this draft and in the NFL, he will prove it.