Reed is fun to watch after the catch, but will he land in an optimal city for his skill set?
Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed joined the Spartans after spending the 2018 season with Central Michigan and having to sit out the 2019 campaign due to transfer rules. He was an immediate contributor as a true freshman and enjoyed a breakout 2021 season that resulted in second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Height: 5-foot-10 7/8
Weight: 191 pounds
40 time: 4.45 seconds
Reed would see his stats dip in his redshirt senior season over all 11 games played, though his all-around contributions were enough to warrant another second-team All-Big Ten selection.
His talent and potential weren’t fully displayed in FBS action, and he very well could be “outdrafted” in relation to his production. Don’t be surprised if a team takes a shot on him in Round 3, and Reed shouldn’t fall out of the fourth round.
Table: Jayden Reed stats (2018-22)
| Year |
School |
Class |
G |
Receiving |
Rushing |
| Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Att |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
| *2018 |
Western Michigan |
Fr |
12 |
56 |
797 |
14.2 |
8 |
1 |
-9 |
-9.0 |
0 |
| 2020 |
Michigan State |
rSo |
7 |
33 |
407 |
12.3 |
3 |
6 |
17 |
2.8 |
0 |
| *2021 |
Michigan State |
rJr |
13 |
59 |
1,026 |
17.4 |
10 |
7 |
34 |
4.9 |
1 |
| 2022 |
Michigan State |
rSr |
11 |
55 |
636 |
11.6 |
5 |
4 |
11 |
2.8 |
0 |
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
Pros
- Lines up all over the field and can be utilized in any number of offensive systems
- Extremely dangerous after the catch — quite possibly his best trait thanks to agility and instant access to top speed
- Tracks the ball well on deep throws
- Displays a natural feel for exploiting zone coverage but also is unfazed by facing larger cornerbacks in press coverage
- Three punt returns for TDs to his credit and has experience handling kickoffs
- Highly competitive and should take well to NFL coaching — has major upside that may prove he is a better pro than collegian
[lawrence-related id=475853]
Cons
- Adequate hands in general but wasn’t at his best in traffic — in fairness, he faced a ton of contested catches
- Saw his production markedly drop in 2022 thanks to injuries and offensive shortcomings
- Will be 23 years old as a rookie
- So-so athletic profile in relation to his size — quicker than fast and will require volume to excel over the long haul
- Inconsistent route runner who can get sloppy at times
Fantasy football outlook
In many ways, Reed profiles as a poor man’s Golden Tate. The latter was more athletic overall, but their measurables and overall skill sets are cut from the same cloth. The versatility will endear Reed to any number of NFL teams, and his ability to create after the grab will make fantasy owners happy when he’s given an opportunity. Unless he winds up in a fortuitous situation via injury during the season, it’s improbable that will happen in Year 1.
In the best-case scenario, Reed is a point-per-reception WR2 in 2024 or ’25. A fairer vision has him in the conversation for fantasy depth with matchup utility. His dynasty value is depressed by entering his rookie season being as old as some third-year players.
