Draft Analysis: Jayden Reed

February 9, 2023 /
  • Height: 5’11”
  • Weight: 187 lb
  • College: Michigan State
  • Tape watched: Michigan, Western Michigan
  • College Comparison: Devin Duvernay

Pros

  • Hands
    Jayden Reed catches everything thrown his way. He is elite at tracking the ball over his shoulder. He was one of the most consistent contested catch receivers in the NCAA in 2023.
  • Explosiveness
    A very noticeable burst, Reed creates unique opportunities with the football. He has great release traits as a result.
Reed has three punt return touchdowns in his college career.
  • Route Running
    For the most part, Jayden Reed showed the ability to run every route in an NFL offense. He had clear choice routes where he made correct decisions on the fly. Understanding and identifying man versus zone as a play develops is a great skill to transition to the NFL.
A great feel and timing route by Reed on this whip/sit choice route.

Midline

  • Release
    Reed has shown dominant reps both in game, and at Senior Bowl drills. Consistency is what makes this a midline attribute. He has fast feet, active hands, and a good toolset in his press release. There are times Reed tries to solely win on speed or burst, and ends up blanketed by a disciplined corner.
Reed never attacks the corner’s leverage and allows him to open up freely and run with Reed.
Reed learned from his mistake on the next drive and displays a great rep in the same situation. Hesitation, then a jab to his inside leverage gets the corner to take a big step inside and give Reed a clean release downfield.

Cons

  • Size
    On the smaller end of receivers, Reed makes up for his size with his compact, muscular frame. He breaks a lot of tackles and finishes runs. Reed has a very limited catch radius, even though he maximizes every throw near it.
  • Versatility
    Reed had his best moments in the slot. While he played the boundary receiver position often, I don’t think he fits there in the NFL. The lack of elite play speed may hinder his transition to a perimeter receiver.

Overview

Jayden Reed is a player whose stock rose quite a bit at the Senior Bowl. He showcased his footwork, burst, and ball tracking all week. Reed can thrive in certain offenses that prioritize players with RAC abilities. Reed doesn’t take plays off, displaying a high motor on the field. He certainly showed enough potential at the Senior Bowl to warrant a close eye at the NFL Combine.