Nico Collins 2021 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 215 pounds
School: Michigan
Nico Collins 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Nico Collins may not be a big name amongst this year’s crop of receivers but he’s certainly a big body. He’s also been consistent, albeit without gaudy numbers; catching 38 passes for 632 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. He then caught 37 passes for 729 yards and seven scores as a junior. He improved his efficiency year-to-year but opted out of the 2020 season.
Collins was a four-star recruit, per 247Sports.com, after attending Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Alabama. He totaled 103 catches for 1968 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior and senior. 247 Football also ranked him the fifth-best player in the state but he opted for Michigan over the powerhouse Crimson Tide.
It might seem like Collins underwhelmed on the surface. But some of that is due to Michigan’s offense not being built to take full advantage of his skillset. But he did tie for the team lead in receptions in the 2019 Citrus Bowl and caught five balls for a game-high 80 receiving yards in the Peach Bowl against Florida the year before.
Strengths
- Big, physical boundary receiver
- Surprising top-end speed for size
- Good jump-ball receiver
- Size-speed vertical threat
- Hard-worker, not a “diva”
Weaknesses
- Lacks explosiveness reaching top gear
- Struggles with separation
- Not a very polished route runner
- Not always consistent at the point of attack
- Lack of production
NFL Comparison: Javon Wims
Javon Wims is the current NFL version of Collins. A player with the physical tools to be successful but who lacks the elite traits to overcome their lack of polish. Wims has struggled to produce at the NFL level and Collins could do the same. He’ll need a system that attacks downfield to take advantage of his size, speed, and jump-ball skills.
Teams in Need at the Position: Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles
Projection: 5th Round
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Bottom Line on Nico Collins
Collins will be able to contribute from the very beginning just as a big-bodied option on the perimeter. Where his career goes from there is anyone’s guess. He dealt with less-than-ideal quarterback play but others have looked more impressive in similar situations. Still, you can’t teach the traits he does possess.
Physically, he might always be limited by his lack of burst and quickness. But, again, with his build, he should always be able to contribute as a target in the red zone and as a possession receiver to move the chains on third downs. After opting out this past season, he did himself a favor by performing well at the Senior Bowl.
Main Photo:
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