Jaylen Waddle will ensure that Alabama has two consecutive wide receivers. After moving to No. 12 and No. 15, Henry Ruggs III (Raiders) and Jerry Zeudy (Broncos), Wadle is expected to join Davonta Smith as a top-10 pick in 2021 in 2020.
Wadle (5-10, 182 pounds) is a field-stretching speed merchant in the Rugs mold, but he is close to Smith, being a full wide receiver. He can extend big plays to outside or inside. He has great speed and is designed to explode after the catch.
In his final injury-shortened season at Alabama, Waddle averaged 21.1 yards per catch during the Crimson Tide national championship run, playing well from Smith and home runs by quarterback Mack Jones. His style of playing on the field is most comparable to Tyrik Hill. To that end, Wadle could also be a game-changing asset in the comeback game.
Who will end up with Weddle in the 2021 NFL Draft? Here are the most probable landing spots being investigated:
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Jaylen Waddle Fits Best in 2021 Draft
1. Detroit Lion (No. 7 overall)
The Lions are eliminated with Kenny Goalde (Giants), Marvin Jones Jr. (Jaguars), Danny Amendola (unsigned) not returning to free agency at wide receiver. Starting a combination outside of Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams just won’t make the cut for new QB Jared Goff and new offensive coordinator Anthony Lin.
Detroit also needs to think about Smith, but new GM Brad Holmes should not mind targeting a pure big playwright to replace Goloday. The Lions should have a better running team with D’ndre Swift and a matchup nightmare at tight end at TJ Hockenson. They can use someone to stretch the field and help open the power running game and short-to-intermediate passing game for Goff. Waddles are now eligible to go to this height.
The Giants were best suited to Weddle at number 11. But the goalie’s big signing should focus his attention on offensive attack and defense.
2. Cincinnati Bengals (No. 5)
In the convention wisdom is Oregon’s going for an offensive tackle named Pannei Sewell, who better guards the barrow-pass. Out-of-the-box thinking says that a Burrow receiving a tight end like Florida’s Kyle Pitts could actually benefit.
Somewhere in between those aggressive rebuilding philosophies are the big body T Higgins and slot ace Tyler Boyd as a complement to a smaller ideal big game replacing AJ Green. Wadle can help the Bengro take advantage of its large branch and downfield accuracy.
3. Green Bay Packers (Number 29)
Staying in the first round would not give the Packers a waddle. Whenever Smith and LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase are off the board, they should think about trading aggressively with GM Brian Gutekunst. Green Bay, along with Aaron Rodgers, is now in a position to win the Super Bowl, but is a consistent, reliable home run hitter opposite Deviate Adams at home No. 1 in a row to take his league-high scoring offense to another level. The Waddle would ideally be an additional big-play threat and would have additional appeal due to potential slot usage.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (No. 6)
The Eagles are headed for a decision to make between Smith and Waddle, assuming Chase goes to the Dolphins (No. 3) or the Bengals ahead of them. Smith is a bit better for his purposes as an absolute full number 1, noting that he used a first rounder on the Speedie “Z” type Jalan Regor last year. But should things shake up and Smith is off the board with Chase, Wadle would still be an excellent choice to pair with former Alabama QB Jalan Hurts.
5. Indianapolis Colts (No. 21)
The Colts also need a big-play wide receiver to replace TI Hilton and complement Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal and Parris Campbell as the type of tackle. Waddle and Carson Wentz will be a promising new downfield wide receiver-QB connection for Frank Reich. Indianapolis’ AFC feud situation should also take into account a big trade – but still lower than in Green Bay – from GM Chris Ballard.
6. Baltimore Ravens (No. 27)
The Reverence tried to give him a perfect No. 1 pick to get Golade in NFL free agency, allowing the Marquis Browns to settle in deep threat mode, an outside complement to Lamar Jackson. Unlike “Hollywood”, Waddle is enough to expand from the big-game guy to meet No. 1, on whom Jackson can rely on in every situation. It would also be a great blocking asset for his run-heavy attack.
The Ravens should also think like the Packers and Colts and go over Waddle for a Super Bowl contender should they start slipping the Panthers to No. 8. A sweet spot for a trade for any team that wants the Waddle at No. 14 from the Cowboys at No. 10 via the Vikings.
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