For the second year in a row, an NFL Network analyst says Michigan has underused an edge rusher.
On Tuesday, recruiting analyst Daniel Jeremiah said that the projected choice for the first round Kwity Paye threw “a little out of position” during his time in Michigan, a conclusion he reached after watching a movie of Paye in recent years.
In his most recent simulation draft for the NFL.com, Jeremiah shows Paye going to the Las Vegas Raiders in 17th place.
“Kwity is interesting – because Don Brown moved him a lot, and moved him everywhere,” Jeremiah said in a conference call with reporters. “A lot of times in a zero, upside-down technique, and they kind of played games with him.”
Paye’s statistical achievements (or lack thereof) seemed to confirm this during his four-year stint in Michigan. In 38 games, he had 100 tackles (23 1/2 for a loss) and 11 1/2 sacks, with his most accomplished season in 2019, when he had 12 1/2 loss tackles and 6 1/2 sacks.
Although they were good, but they were not extraordinary – leading one to believe whether it was Paye’s skill of 1.80 m and 272 pounds or the points on which he was placed.
Most: ESPN’s Todd McShay placed Paye in 14th position
“He is strong and explosive,” said Jeremiah. “The test numbers – when everyone sees them, (they will be) ridiculous. Just explosive. This boy can run and jump.
“But for me, when you have an explosive player like that – I like it when they give him a clue. Give him a little distance. “
Jeremiah said he would like to see more of this from Paye, who often played a traditional defensive role with his hand on the ground. The Providence native, Rhode Island, started 20 games for the Wolverines over three seasons, including 12 games as a junior, but was slowed down by injury in 2020.
“I mean, kick him out on a wide-9 and leave him on that track where he can generate all that speed and strength and collapse his pocket,” said Jeremiah. “You see some of those things. You see him beating hard points. But the way they play, it’s like they almost have to race to pass, as some of these teams do. Instead of putting his ears back and trying to get on the pitch, he is trying to play with the blocks ”.
Last spring, before the 2020 NFL Draft, Jeremiah questioned the use of edge rusher Josh Uche in Michigan’s loss to Ohio in 2019. He wondered aloud why Uche – taken in the second round by New England Patriots – did not play more pops.
Related: LB Cam McGrone among the “underestimated” perspectives of Mel Kiper’s draft
As for Paye, he wants to see him more in an end-to-end role at the NFL level.
“I think this kid is going to be a better professional than he was in college, when someone releases him,” said Jeremiah. “I’m excited to see you.”
MOST: Teams are “divided” in Michigan’s offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield, designed to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 24, Jeremiah said. “His tape is a little bit up and down, but he has a lot of athletic ability and just needs to be a little bit more consistent,” he said. “But there is a lot to work with.”
… Wide receiver Nico Collins, who played in the Senior Bowl after opting out of the 2020 season, could be a fourth round pick in another deep receiver class this year, said Jeremiah.
“For a big guy, he has a long time to travel. He has a really good feeling, ”he said. “But for me, there is a little bit of rigidity that is the concern here. This is one thing to keep an eye on. I just wanted to see more of him. They had so many different guys they were taking the ball for – I wanted to see more of Nico Collins, and I just didn’t get a chance to see this year. “
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