Jaylen Waddle could be best non-QB in 2021 NFL Draft class
Speed kills in the modern NFL and nobody has more speed in the 2021 NFL Draft class than Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Waddle is the single most explosive playmaker in the class, showing legitimately elite speed, quickness and elusiveness in the open field. Waddle is a threat to score from anywhere on the field and will undoubtedly be a hot commodity for NFL teams in April.
We know that Trevor Lawrence will be going No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft and other quarterbacks will also likely follow him quickly. It is difficult to imagine a scenario where at least four (perhaps even five) quarterbacks are not off of the board by pick No. 8. Other premier offensive prospects like Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell, Florida tight end Kyle Pitts and LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will also fly off of the board early.
Simply put, the 2021 NFL Draft class is absolutely loaded with offensive talent. However, even with all of that talent available, it is Waddle who has the rarest skill-set and perhaps the highest ceiling at the next level.
In this discussion, we are not going to compare Waddle to the quarterback prospects. Lawrence, in particular, is a special prospect who will likely be a star at the next level. Also, guys like Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance have extremely high ceilings and it is difficult for any other player to compare to a high-level franchise quarterback.
However, when it is all said and done, Jaylen Waddle could easily be the top non-quarterback to come out of the 2021 NFL Draft class. Waddle has rare physical traits that make him an impact deep receiver and a dynamic weapon with the ball in his hands. However, he is also a well-rounded wide receiver prospect who runs crisp routes, understands how to find the soft spots in the zone and displays reliable hands at all times.
Waddle is a solid and dependable wide receiver prospect who has a safe floor and incredibly high ceiling at the next level. He did struggle with an ankle injury this past season, but assuming he progresses through that injury well, there should not be anything holding him back as a rookie.
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Every NFL team is looking for more speed and Jaylen Waddle has game-changing speed that will make him a threat to score every time that he is on the field. Simply get this guy the ball in space and let him work. If Waddle lands in a good situation in the 2021 NFL Draft, the sky is the limit for his NFL career.