Michigan prospects to watch on night two of the 2021 NFL Draft

The first night of the 2021 NFL Draft has come and gone with Michigan Wolverines pass rusher Kwity Paye coming off the board in the first round. He will join the Indianapolis Colts and former Wolverine teammate Jordan Glasgow there.

All attention turns to night two of the draft, which should see another batch of Wolverines come off the board. Here are a few names to keep an eye on in the second and third rounds on Friday.

Wide receiver Nico Collins

Some believed that Collins could have worked his way into the first round had he played this season, but he still wowed during the pre-draft process and has a chance to be picked in the second round. The draft still has a laundry list of talented receivers left with Rondale Moore, Elijah Moore, Terrace Marshall and Dyami Brown among the names still available.

Depending on what the draft grades look like, it seems likely that the run on him falls somewhere between the mid-second and early third round.

Offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield

Mayfield had a first-round grade at one point before tumbling after a disappointing pro day showing. He still has a shot to be a plug-and-play starter, but his slow 40-time has some in league circles wondering if a kick inside to guard is in his future. The middle of the second round might be where we start keeping an eye on him, but he could side into the third depending on who goes ahead of him. A tumble past that would be surprising.

Linebacker Cameron McGrone

McGrone is a top-40 prospect on some boards, while others have him being selected in the middle rounds. He is another Michigan prospect that might not have enough production and consistent play on film, plus he is coming off of a torn ACL in the fall. I still believe he has the athleticism and awareness to be a solid starting MIKE linebacker in the NFL and see him coming off the board somewhere in the third or fourth rounds.

Cornerback Ambry Thomas

Thomas is the dark horse of Friday night. He has the tools to be a nice developmental corner prospect that could have starting upside in the right situation. He could have cemented his status as a day two pick if he had played this year, but there might be enough on tape and through his testing numbers to have him selected on Friday if there’s a team that is in love with the evaluation. Teams that play press-man coverage will be the ones to keep an eye on for him.

The second and third rounds of the NFL Draft from Cleveland kick off on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The fourth through seventh rounds will take place on Saturday starting at 12 p.m.