cam mcgrone

The NFL Draft is a nice weekend because no matter how the football team did the previous season, Michigan fans can be assured they'll see a Wolverine achieve a professional dream every single year since 1938, a streak unmatched by any school except USC. That run continued in last weekend's 2021 edition, though Michigan State's 80-year streak was snapped. Tragic.

Michigan had eight players drafted, tied for the fifth-most of any college with Florida—Alabama and (sigh) Ohio State had the most with ten, followed by Georgia and Notre Dame. Other Big Ten programs with at least three selections were Penn State (6), Iowa (4), Northwestern (3, including two first-rounders), and Wisconsin (3). That number is a bit misleading in terms of how much talent the Wolverines fielded last season, though:

Kwity Paye: injured off and on
Jalen Mayfield: DNP after MSU
Nico Collins: opted out
Ambry Thomas: opted out
Cam McGrone: injured off and on
Ben Mason: is a FB
Cameron Cheeseman: is a long snapper and opted out

— Dan (@ThiccStauskas) May 3, 2021

Sorry, sorry, this was supposed to be fun. Let's take a look at where the former Wolverines were picked and the roles they project to play at the next level.

DE Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts, Round 1, 21st overall

This is why the draft is worth watching:

“She’s done working. She’s retired.”

Kwity Paye shares a moment with his mom after getting drafted ❤️
pic.twitter.com/un4XDz7VrP

— PFF (@PFF) April 30, 2021

Paye was the second defensive end off the board in what's considered a down year for edge rushers. He joins a solid Indianapolis front four that could use some pass-rushing pop from strongside end, where he'll be in competition to start right away—as a first-round pick he'll get every opportunity to take hold of the job.

His disciplined run defense and high-level athleticism should translate right away, and the expectation is his pass-rushing production will improve with development (and not playing in front of M's 2020 secondary). He'll at least be a consistent rotation player.

No matter what, Paye's estimated $7.3 million signing bonus will afford his mom plenty of leisure time.

[Hit THE JUMP]

McGrone joins Jalen Mayfield as an NFL draft hopeful with almost nothing aside from a redshirt freshman season to go on:

Follow Your Dreams And Trust In The Lord✨

Matthew 8:23-27 pic.twitter.com/mmX2fqHHXk

— Cameron McGrone ✊ (@McGrone_Strong) December 29, 2020

McGrone was impressive but erratic in 2019 and didn't get much of an opportunity to show what he could do this year because of COVID, the defensive tackles, and an injury. Pegging his position is near-impossible. I'd imagine someone takes a swing at him in the mid- to late-rounds since he's demonstrated some impressive ability.

UPDATE: Quinn Nordin also declared. 

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FORMATION NOTES: Le beef.