Tag: Jaylen Waddle NFL draft

Alabama standout receiver Jaylen Waddle is poised to be among the top selections in the 2021 NFL Draft, and his game-breaking athleticism presents a generational talent.

Few wide receivers offer video game-like movement skills of Waddle’s caliber, and watching him play immediately redirects the mind to Tyreek Hill. NFL teams and fantasy footballers alike welcome with open arms such a rare skill set.

Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 182 pounds
40 time: 4.30s estimated

Waddle was highly recruited out of Episcopal High School in Houston. He earned AP second-team All-American and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year Award recognition in 2020.

Waddle missed the March 23 Alabama Pro Day, due to a broken ankle suffered six games into the 2020 season, and he was unable to go during the second round of the school’s on-field demonstration for pro scouts. The junior returned to play in Alabama’s national championship game vs. Ohio State — visibly limping at times — and was held to 34 yards on three catches.

Table: Jaylen Waddle NCAA stats (2018-20)

Year	School	Class	Pos	Gm*	Receiving				Rushing
					Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
2018	Alabama	FR	WR	15	45	848	18.8	7	0	0		0
2019	Alabama	SO	WR	13	33	560	17.0	6	1	5	5	0
2020	Alabama	JR	WR	6	28	591	21.1	4	3	12	4	0
Career				34	106	1,999	18.9	17	4	17	4.3	0

*includes postseason/bowl games

The 2019 Crimson Tide receiving corps was so talented it contributed to Waddle’s limited utilization. He was buried behind Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs and DeVonta Smith. While the statistics may not jump off the page for volume, the efficiency metrics are ridiculous. He scored every 6.2 catches, and the career 18.9 yards-per-reception is elite.

Surprisingly, Waddle didn’t see many handles on the ground, although he was dynamic in the return game. He scored three times on 47 combined kick and punt returns. Eleven of his 20 career scores came from at least 50 yards.

Pros

• Terrifying speed for defenses to game plan against
• Impressive fluidity and agility
• Limited touches in college should have him fresh as a daisy in the pros
• Can line up anywhere on the field and fits pretty much every NFL system
• Has room to develop his game and fine-tune areas beyond sheer athleticism
• Loose hips, quick-twitch movement make him exceptionally difficult to cover on breaking routes
• Dangerous in the return game (averaged 19.3 yards per punt return)
• Rare leaping ability makes him a formidable challenger in jump-ball situations
• Adjusts to the deep ball and tracks as well as anyone
• Utilized on all three levels of the route tree

Cons

• Can outrun most quarterbacks’ arm strength, which potentially creates problems if the timing isn’t spot on
• Blocking is unlikely to ever be his strong suit
• A few body catches and easy drops on his tape
• Will need some refinement in the game’s nuances as a pro, namely in hand technique to escape press coverage, removing the occasional wasted step, better emphasis on plucking the ball away from him — all minor aspects that come when being picky about an elite weapon
• The ankle injury shouldn’t be a serious concern or a long-term one, but it warrants noting given his high draft stock

Fantasy football outlook

There will be only a handful of players to come off of the board before Waddle in the upcoming draft. The likeliest landing spot is the Detroit Lions at No. 7. After losing Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones in free agency, the Lions have to assemble more talent around incoming quarterback Jared Goff.

There’s a small chance Miami covets Waddle more than Ja’Marr Chase at No. 6, presuming either is available. If Waddle somehow makes it past the Lions, it’s hard to see him slipping beyond Philadelphia’s 12th overall selection.

Waddle being compared to the Chiefs’ Hill is a mildly unfair in the sense Hill has accomplished so much at this point in his career. Waddle was a part-time player in college and isn’t quite as functionally strong as Hill. There are a few nitpicking negatives, but the potential for superstardom is real, hence the comp.

In Year 1, it’s probable we see Waddle flash several times but fail to string together consistently strong performances. Be prepared to draft him with this frustration in mind. He’s a WR4 with flex potential in the short term and has upside to be among the top few players at his position in no time.

Auburn junior wide receiver Seth Williams will enter the 2021 NFL Draft after an inconsistent but promising stint with the Tigers.

Coming out of high school, Williams was a highly recruited player who passed on a chance at playing for Alabama in favor of Auburn. He made an immediate impression, scoring five times (tied for team lead), which helped him earn SEC honors as a freshman.

The 2019 season saw Williams’ trajectory continue upward, finishing with team-highs as a receiver (59-830-8). A statistical downturn came in 2020 as quarterback Bo Nix struggled with inconsistency. Nevertheless, Williams still led the team in receiving.

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 211 pounds
40 time: 4.50 seconds

Auburn’s pro day gave Williams a chance to showcase his measurements and on-field performance in drills. He didn’t hurt himself draft-wise, but it’s tough to expect his stock will climb much higher than the early portion of Round 3.

Table: Seth Williams NCAA stats (2018-20)

Year	School	Class	Pos	Gm*	Receiving				Rushing
					Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
2018	Auburn	FR	WR	10	26	534	20.5	5	0	0	—	0
2019	Auburn	SO	WR	12	59	830	14.1	8	0	0	—	0
2020	Auburn	JR	WR	11	47	760	16.2	4	0	0	—	0
Career				33	132	2,124	16.1	17	0	0	—	0

*includes postseason/bowl games

Pros

• Quality size and build for an NFL possession receiver
• Strong frame allows him to out-muscle smaller cornerbacks
• Brings a combination of size and leaping skills to the red zone — displays ability to box out defenders, likely a trait from playing high school basketball
• Has functional pro-caliber speed once he reaches top gear
• Massive wingspan (81 1/8 inches)
• Displays above-average skill with his hand fighting against defenders — subtly chops and swipes away enemy mitts to improve his chances of a clean grab
• Willing, if not aggressive, blocker in the running game
• While not elusive in the “wow” sense, he has some ability after the catch, demonstrating a stop-start move with respectable results
• Happy to do the dirty work over the middle of the field and take a lickin’ from defenders

Cons

• Lacks suddenness and explosion in his game — long-striding naturally limits his acceleration
• While his straight-line speed is adequate, foot quickness could be a problem at the next level when trying to create separation
• Will need to improve his hands at the line of scrimmage when facing press coverage
• Inconsistent hands catching the ball — made a few special receptions but also missed some easy ones
• More of an effort blocker than anything — too many instances of poor technique that will get him in trouble as a pro
• Struggled against high-level competition over the course of his career (one TD in eight games vs. Georgia, LSU and Alabama combined)
• Doesn’t always look like he is giving it 100 percent, especially when the ball isn’t going his way
• Inconsistent production and a statistical drop-off in 2020 warrants a closer look (QB play was an issue)
• Hard to know exactly what he is as a route runner due to the simplicity of Auburn’s system
• Questionable ability as a deep receiver in the NFL, despite averaging 16.1 yards per catch at Auburn
• Could be relegated to exclusively playing from the slot in sub packages if he cannot routinely beat press on the outside
• Modest ceiling-to-floor ratio

Fantasy football outlook

His final landing spot obviously determines Williams’ ultimate worth in fantasy, but the two forecasts — in a generalized sense — point to a career-long utility guy.

The long-term outlook could see him carve out a role as a trusted weapon in the red zone for his quarterback, and there’s some upside to that for fantasy purposes, but unless he is coached into being a better player early in his career, Williams could flame out in a hurry.

There are a few worthwhile player comparison to help give a better picture of his fantasy football spectrum of value. In the best-case scenario, he’s a healthy version of Alshon Jeffery or Courtland Sutton and develops into a fringe WR1 or capable No. 2. In the middle tier is someone like a Brandon LaFell or Mohamed Sanu — serviceable in a pinch in fantasy, good for a bye week or a short-term injury, but no one gamers are clamoring to roster. Worst-case, Williams struggles to improve the nuances and doesn’t live out of his rookie contract on the same roster.

Luckily, fake footballers in single-year leagues mostly can ignore him (depending on where he is drafted), and dynasty owners will have little investment required to find out the hard way just what Williams can become.

Teams most likely to be linked to Williams include the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Washington Football Team, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers.

The Lions, Eagles and Raiders may present the strongest opportunities for immediate action.