Todd McShay's Way-Too-Early mock draft has Nico going in the first round.
18th to the Green Bay Packers. McShay used the Football Power Index's future ranking system to make the draft order. For those who are curious, the Lions are at pick 7 and take Rashod Bateman, WR from Minnesota. Not a bad pick but I'd prefer Nico.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
Sad we won't get to see him play again. But very happy people are taking notice. I think Nico can be an impactful NFL player.
August 12th, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
Is there no chance he would stay if (and that’s a big if) there’s a Spring season?
August 12th, 2020 at 9:38 PM ^
Same percent chance as his jersey number.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
Sad that "Nico but with 200 targets" will remain a thought experiment.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:19 PM ^
Sad that we never seem to utilize our NFL caliber WR until we are down double digits in the second half.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
to amend this, we never seem to utilize them while they have eligibility at Michigan
August 12th, 2020 at 1:19 PM ^
Truly wasted what should've been the best WR recruiting class we ever had.
August 12th, 2020 at 6:33 PM ^
DPJ and Nico both very good, but needed to be utilized more.
Tarik Black wasn't any good and always hurt.
Oliver Martin is a MAC talent.
In retrospect, 2 duds out of 4.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:22 PM ^
Would love to see Nico get rewarded for staying a year and avoiding that stacked 2019 WR draft class. Anyone else get Mike Evans vibes from Nico? Similar build, Evans is an inch bigger. Neither are burners but the type of guy who will win every contested jump ball. Big receivers who use their size to take advantage of corners. Depending on how he does in the combine, I could see some scouts grasping onto that comparison. Evans went 7th in the draft.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
A little bit of that vibe, yeah. I will say this, Evans is a hell of a football player but I think Nico has a significantly better attitude. I'm disappointed for him that he won't be able to truly show out this year. I think teams are absolutely going to love him in interviews.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:51 PM ^
Reminds me of Brandon Marshall. Great at high pointing a ball, better separation than you would think, better straight line speed than most 6'4 guys, good hands, willing and sound blocker. Not getting this guy more touches will always be a huge "what if" for the Harbaugh era.
August 12th, 2020 at 3:22 PM ^
Problem is 2020 receiver class might be even more loaded. Ja'Marr Chase, Rashod Bateman, Rondale Moore, Nico Collins, Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith, Sage Surratt, Justyn Ross, Tylan Wallace among others. And next year already looks loaded as well, with George Pickens, David Bell, Garrett Wilson, Jadon Haselwood and Theo Wease.
August 12th, 2020 at 4:00 PM ^
I dont think anyone besides maybe Ja'Marr Chase would go before Lamb, Jeudy, Ruggs, Jefferson or Higgins. Toss up after that with the likes of Reagor, Aiyuk, Shenault, Hamler. There is also a lack of big receivers outside of Ross, which some teams will be looking for. It's a strong class but the 2019 class was just super deep.
August 12th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
Ja'marr Chase probably would've been the first receiver off the board last year, he was insane. Waddle was better than Henry Ruggs last year. Rondale Moore doesn't have as many snaps as the other guys in 2020, but he was incredibly explosive all over the field when he played, Tamorrion Terry is a 6'4 receiver that would've probably been a day 2 pick last year,. Chitarius Atwell is another insane slot demon that produced big time last year, and Tylan Wallace and Sage Surratt both got hurt last year, but were putting up monster numbers before they did. Devonta Smith, Chris Olave, Nico Collins, AmonRa St-Brown, Dazz Newsome, Jahan Dotson all are very well regarded and could've used the season to skyrocket their draft stock.
Or we put it this way: LSU, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson, Minnesota all had wide receivers taken in last years draft, and none of them lost their best WR. Last year was incredible, but I think next year would've been way better had these dudes had a chance to play another 12-15 games. Receiver classes are going to be loaded for the next 3-4 years.
August 12th, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
I dont think anyone besides maybe Ja'Marr Chase would go before Lamb, Jeudy, Ruggs, Jefferson or Higgins. Toss up after that with the likes of Reagor, Aiyuk, Shenault, Hamler. There is also a lack of big receivers outside of Ross, which some teams will be looking for. It's a strong class but the 2019 class was just super deep.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:26 PM ^
The #1 jersey is cursed. Finally get a guy worthy of it and his last season is wiped out by a worldwide pandemic.
I knew there was something more to this crisis.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:16 PM ^
We've been duped. Covid didn't originate in China. It started in a public convenience cooler in Columbus.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^
Surprised that Mayfield isn't in that mock as I think he was gonna break out as a stud this year, but I will be happy that hype around him is not bursting as this point so we may have him for the spring and 2021 season.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:57 PM ^
Agreed, IMO Mayfield will be a first rounder.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:35 PM ^
If Nico doesn't play this season, I don'y see how he's a 1st rounder tbh
August 12th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
What do you mean if? It's done. DONE.
And honestly, if Nico crushes it at the combine, he has a great chance. He's already cracked McShay's 1st round board without even playing.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:53 PM ^
Isn't there still technically a chance the season is moved to the spring?
Also, idk how Nico goes from being a mid-round pick this year to being a 1st rounder in 2021 without showing anything on the field
August 12th, 2020 at 1:55 PM ^
This is the internet. People speak in absolutes even with no evidence to back it up.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:00 PM ^
Technically, yes. Logistically.. nightmare.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:19 PM ^
I don't see him playing if there is spring football. League minimum is still a lot of money and why chance an injury at this point, middle rounds or first round?
August 12th, 2020 at 5:08 PM ^
Short answer to your question is lack of competition. As others have mentioned the last draft class was stacked at his position. All of those players gone and not a lot of time for new players (i.e., rising juniors / seniors) to show out would inherently put him in a better draft position.
Does not fully answer the question and not saying I agree that he's a first round lock, but I do think the jump from mid-round to 1st without games is possible.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:37 PM ^
Did 247 go back and change Rashod Bateman's recruiting profile? I find it hard to believe they had a guy rated as a 4 star whose only power 5 offer was Minn.
https://247sports.com/Player/Rashod-Bateman-46040957/high-school-192638/
August 12th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
Supposedly he had offers from Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest. That's according to their 247, obviously.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
His recruitment definitely seems odd. He committed to Minn on June 12, Then took two unofficial visits to Minn in July and Sep. Then He started getting a bunch of P5 offers. Took his official to Minn in December, and a few days later was offered by Georgia.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
Double Post
August 12th, 2020 at 1:39 PM ^
Excellent for Nico! I hope it comes to fruition.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
Did he officially withdraw from the season yet?
I assume that if there is a spring season, that there's a good chance he doesn't play, but I also think 90% of people assumed he was leaving after last season as well, and that didn't turn out as predicted.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:48 PM ^
Just a thought... (and I'm not necessarily advocating any players do this)
If a student athlete wants to play, but their school has decided not to, I wonder if the NCAA should allow the student an immediate transfer and eligability waiver to participate this fall. It would be unprecedented, sure, and might cause a whole bunch of transfers, but these are unprecedented times. It would be really interesting to see Nico, for example, play for a Big 12 team this fall.
Again, not saying any players should do this, but I do think they should have the choice. Why not? It's in the student athlete's benefit to have such a choice.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:42 PM ^
This is a very interesting concept but I doubt the NCAA would give themselves that many headaches. The transfer portal would be chock full of all sorts of players.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
Laughable Man!! I know McShay missed the draft, so maybe that's why he's out of the loop.Green Bay hasn't selected a skill position player in the first round since Aaron Rodgers has been with the team. Well until this year when they drafted his replacement. They're not drafting Nico, but I hope he goes in the first.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:47 PM ^
While I hope Nico goes in the first round, a team is really going to have to be in love with him or he is going to have to kill it at the combine.
McShay has eight WR's going in the first round, that's a quarter of the first round picks, and it doesn't even account for Rondale Moore. McShay is just throwing shit against the wall and seeing what sticks.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:50 PM ^
Good for Nico and for UM for developing him into a first round pick. Out of curiosity, where does Olave go? It would be nice to see our top WR go ahead of OSU's. I'll be curious to see 1) if there is spring football, 2) if Nico opts out, and 3) how many OSU juniors and seniors would opt out. I don't see anyone other than maybe Mayfield opting out of a spring season for UM, but a whole slew of OSU guys I'd think would strongly consider it like Fields, Olave, Myers, Davis, Cooper, Proctor, & Wade among others.
August 12th, 2020 at 3:00 PM ^
To answer your question Olave goes to JAX, one spot ahead of Nico & ironically the next pass he catches could come from Trevor Lawrence.
August 12th, 2020 at 7:12 PM ^
That would be interesting. He'd probably drop it just to eff with Trevor's completion percentage.