Over the next couple of months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up into the 2020 NFL Draft. With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.
Today, we are taking a look at TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor.
Honors and Awards
- 2019 Second-Team All-Big 12
- 2018 Second-Team All-Big 12
- 2018 Pro Football Focus Second-Team All-Big 12
- 2018 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honor Roll, vs. Oklahoma State
- 2017 True Freshman All-America Team, 247Sports
- 2017 Big 12 Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year
Stats
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Highlights
Draft Profile – WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
Explosive athlete. Top long jumper in the nation in high school. Quick in-and-out of routes. High points and hand catches jump balls through contact. pic.twitter.com/5z2hTDaa0i
— Andrew (@andrewmertig) February 1, 2020
Per PFF, TCU WR Jalen Reagor saw the "fourth-highest rate of off-target passes of any receiver in the country".
Beauty of a stack w/great explosiveness. Just a flat out miss by the QB. pic.twitter.com/tRgLE4sIMN
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) February 5, 2020
There are some issues with drops but Jalen Reagor shows he can do the spectacular making special plays on the ball
Another poorly thrown ball (a theme when watching TCU) Reagor climbs the ladder goes up and gets it all while staying in bounds đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/DABdJtv2oP
— Ryan Cearfoss⚪ (@fntsyfbconnect) February 3, 2020
Strengths
- One of the best playmakers in this year’s class.
- Can go from 0-100 in a split second. Keeps defensive backs on toes and likely makes them think twice about playing press coverage.
- Ability to get over the top of the defense requires the attention of a safety at all times.
- Yards after catch king. Can turn a short throw into a long gain. Shows elusiveness, creativity, vision after the catch and suddenness, using head fakes and impressive lateral change of direction to make multiple defenders miss.
- Light on his feet with terrific balance. Sinks his hips with ease and pops out of breaks to separate. Plant foot burst to gain spacing out of his breaks.
- Unafraid to go up and get it. Tracks and adjusts, good concentration, leaping ability, body control and boundary awareness.
- Excellent weight-room strength and ideal balance. Bounces off tacklers with ease.
Weaknesses
- Limited route tree. Included slants, screens, stops, crossers, etc.
- Could have difficulty beating physical, press coverage. Needs to develop hand technique at line of scrimmage.
- Catch focus plummets at times, more focused on getting upfield before having the ball in his hands. Tends to cradle-catch even when he goes up for the ball and needs to improve attacking it with his hands.
- Little effort as a blocker, looking careless in this aspect of the game.
Summary
Reagor is one of the fastest receivers in this year’s class, but it’s more than just his straight-line speed that makes him so dangerous. While many receivers have track-like speed, the former Horned Frog has the functional athleticism, burst and agility that makes him so lethal in the open field. TCU didn’t have the best quarterback play throughout the years and the offense limited him in terms of the route tree, so there’s still growth needed in that area to become a complete wideout at the next level.
Chargers Fit
Speed kills in today’s game and that’s something Los Angeles has been lacking at the wide receiver position. Reagor does offer some positional flexibility, but he would be the starting “z” receiver for the Bolts, where he would thrive as a vertical option to force defensive backs to hone in on him, opening things up for the other pass-catchers on the team. Given his blazing speed and elusiveness in the open field, he would be able to serve as a return specialist, too.