2021 NFL Mock Draft: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields are golden tickets
Pick Analysis. WR. Alabama. player. Scouting Report. Jaylen Waddle. 8. 59
Over the past two seasons, Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been the young buck in one of the most prolific and highly regarded pass-catching groups in the history of college football. But now that Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III are gone, Waddle’s role is going to grow exponentially. If his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa are any indication, he’s set to do some big things for the Tide in the 2020 campaign.
In the simplest terms, Waddle is a big play waiting to happen. While he has just 78 receptions over his first 28 games with Alabama, those receptions have gone for 1,408 yards and 13 touchdowns, meaning he’s found the end zone more than once in every six catches. Moreover, he’s been a dynamic weapon as a return-man, averaging 24.4 yards per punt return this past season and forcing opposing teams to simply kick away from him.
For all of the good things that the Miami Dolphins did in the 2020 draft, they didn’t pay much attention to getting new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa weapons. That must change in the 2021 NFL Draft and reuniting him with Waddle makes a ton of sense. Waddle can open up the vertical offense while keeping the young quarterback comfortable and offering elite value on special teams as well.