Green Bay Packers 2021 NFL Draft Prospects to Know: WR Nico Collins
By Paul Bretl
Adding another playmaking receiver to an already explosive offense with Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur at the helm is never a bad idea. But for the Green Bay Packers, who at the moment don’t have any receivers under contract in 2022, it’s important that they use this draft to begin restocking that soon-to-be bare wide receiver shelf as well.
So, yes, I’m here to tell you that Green Bay will take at least one receiver this year, and I won’t be surprised if it’s two. One player who fits that mold of the prototypical Packers receiver is Nico Collins from Michigan.
We all know that Green Bay loves those big-bodied receivers, and that’s what Collins is; standing 6’4,” weighing 215 pounds, and posting a highly impressive Relative Athletic Score of 9.76 out of 10 at his Pro-Day. So when it comes to size and athleticism, you can check those boxes off when discussing Collins.
The Michigan product opted out of the 2020 season but was a two-year starter prior to then. During the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he was targeted 121 times, hauling in 62 percent of those passes for 1,362 yards at an impressive 18. 2 yards per catch with 13 touchdowns. Collins’ production over those two seasons was pretty similar.
While he was held back at times by the quarterback play at Michigan, Collins was still an effective downfield target, as evidenced by his average yards per reception and average depth of target being 15.4 yards, according to PFF ($$).
In the NFL, he is an ideal fit for an offense that likes to push the ball vertically. While under LaFleur the quick passing game in Green Bay is much more prominent than what it had been, the vertical element is still crucial. Not to mention that with Rodgers under center, attacking downfield is always going to be a part of this offense.
Although Collins still has room to grow as a receiver, he is someone who would make an impact right away on this Packers team.
For a look at Collins’ game and what he could offer the Green Bay Packers, here is what Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network had to say in his pre-draft report:
"“On the field, Collins is a big-play threat vertically down the field that pairs very good vertical speed with excellent ball skills. There’s little question upon a deep dive of Collins’ tape that he was not done any favors by the Wolverines’ passing game during his tenure with the team—his college quarterbacks failed to really take advantage of the mismatch he presents on the boundary and the Wolverines’ team identity wasn’t rooted in feeding their receivers the football.All that does is make Collins a major breakout candidate and someone I expect will be a much better professional player than a collegiate one. Collins has overwhelming size and the second gear needed to consistently stack defensive backs; projecting him into a vertical passing offense would make the most sense in trying to find an ideal role.”"
In what is another deep wide receiver class, PFF and The Draft Network have very different opinions on Collins. While PFF has him rated as their 22nd receiver and 150th overall prospect, The Draft Network is much higher on him with an overall ranking of 62 and listing him as the 11th best receiver on their board.
Based on the countless mock drafts and dozens of big boards that the Mock Draft Database has compiled this offseason from draft analysts, they have Collins projected as a third-round selection.
While fans were disappointed that the Green Bay Packers didn’t leave last year’s draft with a receiver, that won’t be the case in 2021 given the huge need they’ll have at the position next offseason. Although I’m still skeptical that the Packers will take a receiver in Round 1 as so many mock drafts predict, Collins is a Day 2 candidate that fits the traditional wide receiver mold here in Green Bay.