Patriots: 1st-round 2021 NFL Draft targets after FA spending spree

Although you never want to see players get injured (ever), the injury suffered by Jaylen Waddle in the 2020 college football season could end up being a blessing in disguise for a team like the New England Patriots.

If Waddle is able to work out at full health before the 2021 NFL Draft, his inclusion on this list might look like a funny joke come the end of April. It’s very possible he could be a top eight selection even in a loaded receiver class like the 2021 crop.

With that being said, if the Patriots have a shot at Jaylen Waddle, he might be the ideal kind of offensive weapon to feature out of the slot in his rookie season.

Not only can Waddle play in the slot, but he can win on the outside, out of the backfield, and as a return specialist. He has such dynamic game speed and can blow by even the fastest defenders on the field.

Although speed is his specialty, Waddle is no one-trick pony. He is capable of making tough, contested catches and he’s got some nuance to his game.

He will be a tremendous NFL playmaker and a team like the Patriots would be wise to get in a position where they can select him atop their 2021 class if they are able to do so.