NFL Scouting Report: WR Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Physical Tools, College Game Film, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: WR

Hometown: Houston, TX

School: Alabama

Class: Junior

DOB: 11/25/1998 (22)

Height: 5’10″ * | Weight: 182 lbs *

Hands: N/A | Arms: N/A

Bench: N/A | 40 Time: N/A

*Unofficial measurements

Interesting Facts

2018 SEC Freshman of the Year, 1st-Team All-SEC (2019), 2nd-Team All-SEC (2020)
Suffered a devastating ankle injury on opening kickoff 10/24 vs. Tennessee
Averaged over 6 REC, 139 YDS, TD in 4 games before injury
Returned to play in CFP Championship — 3 REC, 34 YDS while clearly hobbled
Scored 3 TD as a returner throughout his college career

Physical Tools

Pros

Natural athleticism: 4-star HS recruit & ran a 4.37 40-YD in 2018
Twitchy and explosive all-around athlete
Ramps up to full-speed in a hurry
Exceptional straight-line speed
Terrific hip fluidity and balance
Change-of-direction ability is outstanding

Cons

Thicker than DeVonta (6’0″, 165 lbs), but still on the smaller side (182 lbs)
Raw strength is somewhat lacking

Grade: A

Game Film

Pros

Devastating speed and quickness but plays very controlled
Incredibly explosive and fluid release package
Routes ran were varied, consistently created separation
Threatening at every level of the field
Sneaky strong, nuanced at the catch point — above-the-rim ability
Big-play waiting to happen; can rip the top off any moment
Slippery ball-carrier with terrific vision (return experience)
Some quality gadget usage from the backfield

Cons

Opportunities vs. press were few and far between
Could use more hand-fighting downfield
A willing blocker but not his calling card

Grade: A

Production

Pros

2018 SEC Freshman of the Year, 2019 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year
1st-Team All-SEC (2019), 2nd-Team All-SEC (2020), 82+ PFF grade all 3 seasons
Outperformed DeVonta Smith when healthy (averaged 6.3 RECs, 139 YPG, 1 TD)
Dominated on deep routes in 2020 (6/7, 329 YDS, 3 TDs, 94.6 PFF grade)
Only 5 of 33 targets came under 10 yards (caught all 5)
Final 10 career REC TD averaged 43.6 yards
Missed 7 games yet ranked 24th in slot yards (495) and 26th in deep yards (329)
Well on his way to a career year before ankle injury (100+ YDS all 4 games)
11.7 avg target depth, 10.1 YAC per REC (T-6th)

Cons

Just 971 career snaps over 34 career GP
Didn’t see high volume until 2020 (snap share doubled before injury)
Only 23% of career snaps came out wide (75% in the slot)
Barely over 2,000 YDS from scrimmage over 3 years (~60 YPG)

Grade: A-

Risk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnw7C_QE0mI&t=155s

Pros

Outstanding all-around athlete with game-breaking speed and agility
Familiar with pro-level schemes and route concepts
Incredibly twitchy and explosive, creates consistent separation
Bonafide deep threat with great ball skills and a knack for evading tacklers
Experience as returner translates into top-tier YAC skills
Relatively high-floor prospect with sky-high ceiling as potential All-Pro
Immediate dynamic impact from the slot (at the very least)
Natural born playmaker his entire football life

Cons

Smaller frame is somewhat a concern (5’10”, 182 lbs)
Talented WR corps, low volume until 2020 then missed 7 games (ankle)
Lacking in outside experience (75% of snaps from the slot)

Grade: A

Overall

A 4-star recruit and the 5th-rated WR of the 2018 recruiting class, Jaylen Waddle made an immediate impact as both a receiver and returner. Named SEC Freshman of the Year after nearly 850 YDS on 45 REC and 8 total TDs (1 RET TD), he would earn SEC Special Teams Player of the Year the following season thanks to a 26.5 return average (punt and kickoff) and 2 RET TDs.

Heading into his junior year, two of his fellow Alabama WRs were selected in the 1st round, leaving Waddle and DeVonta Smith as Mac Jones‘ main targets. Torturing the four SEC secondaries they faced together, Waddle was averaging nearly 140 YPG when his ankle was fractured on the opening kickoff in Knoxville, TN. Leaving a massive hole in the Crimson Tide offense, much of his target share was shifted towards Smith, who, in turn, delivered one of the single-greatest non-QB seasons in CFB history.

Clearly still hobbled in January, Waddle managed to return for the title game against Ohio State, but was removed after 3 catches. While disappointing that he couldn’t finish the game, this does suggest, however, that there’s little to no concern about his readiness for the fall and overall toughness. On the field, Jaylen is a legitimate game-breaker with video-game-like elusiveness and elite speed.

Not only is he a dynamite returner and YAC threat, but Waddle’s vertical abilities might be just as impressive. Dominating deep this past season, he has an explosive release and fluid hips to create constant separation. Along with legitimate above-the-rim skills at the catch point, he also has plenty of experience in a variety of alignments. Waddle doesn’t just provide an excellent floor as an elusive gadget weapon and return man, however — he may just be scratching the surface of his potential as a versatile, all-around WR.

Pro Comp: WR Santana Moss (Retired)

Projected Round: Top-15 Pick

Prime Destinations: CIN, MIA, DET, NYG, PHI

OVERALL Grade: A