How Michigan football’s 2021 NFL draft picks fared as rookies

Regardless of a dismal 2020 season, Michigan’s soccer program was well-represented on the 2021 NFL draft.

Eight Wolverines have been chosen, however not all of them contributed on the sector throughout Michigan’s pandemic-shortened 2020 marketing campaign. Three gamers opted out to deal with getting ready for the draft, whereas three others missed time due to damage.

Though Jim Harbaugh’s group completed 2-4, Michigan’s eight choices trailed solely Alabama (10), Ohio State (10), Georgia (9) and Notre Dame (9) for essentially the most within the draft.

The Wolverines are anticipated to have one other massive contingent of gamers chosen within the 2022 draft that begins April 28, however first, right here’s how final yr’s picks fared as rookies.

Defensive finish Kwity Paye: First spherical, No. 21 general, Indianapolis Colts

The previous three-star recruit out of Bishop Hendricken in Rhode Island was restricted to 4 video games in 2020, however his pass-rushing skill nonetheless made him a scorching commodity on the draft.

Paye had a stable rookie season, beginning in all 15 video games he appeared in and recording 32 tackles and 4 sacks. The 6-foot-2, 261-pounder additionally had two fumble recoveries and 10 quarterback hits for a stout Colts protection.

General, Paye performed 66% of defensive snaps in 2021. All 4 of his sacks got here after Week 9.

At Michigan, Paye had 11 ½ sacks over 4 seasons, together with a career-high 6 ½ in 2019.

Offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield: Third spherical, No. 68 general, Atlanta Falcons

Mayfield was a possible first-round choose heading into 2020 however suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 in opposition to Michigan State and didn’t play the remainder of the yr.

Though the Grand Rapids native performed sort out at Michigan, he began 16 video games at left guard for the Falcons. Mayfield performed 99% of offensive snaps and allowed 11 sacks, in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus.

At Michigan, the previous four-star recruit appeared in 18 video games and began 15 over three seasons.

Receiver Nico Collins: Third spherical, No. 89 general, Houston Texans

The Texans endured a lackluster season offensively, however Collins was one of many few vivid spots, particularly late within the yr. He completed tenth amongst rookies with 446 receiving yards in 14 video games.

The 6-foot-4 Alabama native caught 33 passes on 60 targets and scored one landing. Collins, who opted out of his senior season to organize for the draft, had no less than two receptions in every of the previous 5 video games, together with a career-high 5 catches for 69 yards in a 33-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13.

In three seasons at Michigan, Collins completed with 78 receptions for 1,388 yards and 13 touchdowns in 29 video games.

Cornerback Ambry Thomas: Third spherical, No. 102 general, San Francisco 49ers

Like Collins, Thomas additionally opted out of his senior season to deal with the draft. The previous four-star recruit out of Detroit Martin Luther King obtained off to a gradual begin as a rookie and was inactive for 5 of the group’s first seven video games. Nevertheless, Thomas earned a beginning function in Week 14 and performed no less than 93% of defensive snaps in every of the final 5 video games.

He completed the common season with 23 tackles, 5 move breakups and an interception whereas permitting 20 receptions and three touchdowns on 32 targets.

The 6-foot, 190-pounder had three tackles and a move breakup within the group’s 23-17 playoff-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys however he missed the divisional spherical recreation in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers after being positioned on the COVID-19 record.

Thomas returned the next week for the NFC championship recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams and had a career-high 13 tackles. He was focused 13 instances and allowed 9 completions for 65 yards in a 20-17 loss.

For the Wolverines, Thomas appeared in 39 video games and began in 13. He completed with 54 tackles, 9 move breakups and 4 interceptions.

Linebacker Cameron McGrone: Fifth spherical, No. 177 general, New England Patriots

McGrone declared after his junior season regardless of struggling a torn ACL in recreation 5 in opposition to Rutgers. He was positioned on the non-football damage record in July and was by no means activated.

The Indianapolis native, who had 92 tackles and 4 ½ sacks in 19 profession video games for the Wolverines, has but to make his NFL debut.

Fullback Ben Mason: Fifth spherical, No. 184 general, Baltimore Ravens

Mason signed a four-year deal after the draft however was waived through the preseason. The 6-foot-3, 254-pounder was signed to the New England Patriots’ observe squad simply days later however was minimize in December.

He landed on the Chicago Bears’ observe squad on Dec. 8 however was re-signed by the Ravens in January to a reserve/future deal. Mason, who performed fullback, tight finish and defensive sort out in 4 seasons at Michigan, has not appeared in an NFL recreation.

Working again Chris Evans: Sixth spherical, No. 202 general, Cincinnati Bengals

Evans served because the Bengals’ third-string working again in 2021 and appeared in 14 regular-season video games. He performed 95 offensive snaps and rushed 17 instances for 77 yards. The 5-foot-11, 219-pounder additionally added 15 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Evans performed in all 4 playoff video games for the Bengals, dashing twice for 13 yards whereas additionally hauling in a single move for 3 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Rams within the Tremendous Bowl.

The Indianapolis native solely returned two kicks through the common season however was Cincinnati’s prime returner within the playoffs. He returned 9 for 211 yards, with a protracted of 32.

At Michigan, Evans was suspended for your complete 2019 season however returned for a fifth yr in 2020, dashing 16 instances for 73 yards in six video games. He additionally caught 9 passes for 87 yards.

For his profession, he rushed for 1,795 yards on 320 makes an attempt and completed with 49 receptions for 479 yards.

Lengthy snapper Camaron Cheeseman: Sixth spherical, No. 225 general, Washington Commanders

Cheeseman might need been the most important stunned on this record however he ended up enjoying in all 17 video games for Washington.

The Ohio native opted out of the 2020 season to organize for the draft. The earlier three years at Michigan, Cheeseman performed in 39 video games.

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