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We are not really sure if we have seen the last of wide receiver Nico Collins in a Michigan Wolverines helmet, but it certainly will not be happening this fall. However, it appears at least one NFL Draft analyst is as hyped about the Michigan wideout as ever.
ESPN’s Todd McShay put out an updated mock draft earlier this week and sees Collins as a potential first rounder. This is notable in that Michigan has not had a wide receiver drafted in the first round since Braylon Edwards was selected No. 4 overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2005.
18. Green Bay Packers
Nico Collins, WR, Michigan
Seriously, what are we doing here? Ten first-round picks for Green Bay since 2012 and only one — Jordan Love, a quarterback — went toward the offense. Odd strategy when you have one of the game’s best QBs in Aaron Rodgers now entering his age-37 season. Aaron Jones broke out, and Davante Adams is going to put up points, but can someone in the Packers’ front office get this man another playmaker? Please. While Collins had just 37 catches last season, he turned that into 729 yards and seven scores with mediocre QB play. He’s a physical beast, with a 6-foot-4 frame and plenty of vertical speed.”
Collins could have entered the 2020 NFL Draft, but elected to return to school for his senior season and to boost his draft stock. It remains unclear if he might be able to do that in a spring season, especially as most analysts have seen him as a mid-to-late round projection.
Collins hauled in 37 passes for 729 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior last season and was one of Michigan’s best deep threats down the field. He was set to wear the famed No. 1 jersey for Michigan this season.