Michigan Football: Draft predictions for Nico Collins, Cam McGrone

Michigan football could have as many as 10 players picked in the NFL draft, but what about Nico Collins and Cameron McGrone?

When it comes to Michigan football players hoping to get drafted this week, two of the most talented individuals are unquestionably Nico Collins and Cameron McGrone.

Collins was a high-ranked four-star recruit out of high school and he put together some productive years for Michigan football in 2018 and 2019, catching 13 touchdowns and racking up 1,388 yards.

Donovan Peoples-Jones was another talented receiver who played alongside Collins and went last year in the sixth round. Collins was going to return in 2020 but opted out when the Big Ten pushed its season to the spring.

By the time the league was playing in the fall, Collins was unable to return because he had hired an agent. Despite sitting out, Collins impressed scouts at the senior bowl and is 6-foot-4. He ran well at his pro day and his ability to go get the ball is attractive to NFL teams.

It’s a deep class of wide receivers, which is probably one of the reasons Collins is looking like a second or third-round pick. He’s got first-round talent and a wide-receiver-needy team like Green Bay could pounce on Collins near the end of the second round.

It wouldn’t shock me if Collins lasted until the third round, but I don’t think he will last until day three of the draft, but I didn’t think Peoples-Jones would either so who knows?

Where will McGrone go?

As far as McGrone is concerned, NFL teams need to decide whether they are going to get the McGrone of the 2019 season or the one we saw in 2020?

McGrone burst onto the scene in 2019 and in 11 games, he posted 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He also broke up a pass and forced a fumble.

At 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, McGrone looked like the younger version of Devin Bush Jr., in 2019 but it wasn’t that same way in 2020. He was injured at times and that could have been the issue.

But when he’s on top of his game, McGrone can be a true three-down linebacker. He has the speed to cover guys, he can blitz, and he’s tough against the run, at least when he’s at his best.

The inconsistency definitely hurt him and even though he has the talent to be a top-50 pick, I don’t see him going in the top 100 and think he’ll be off the board in round 4.