2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan State)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Jayden Reed.

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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan St.)

Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan St.)

6’0″ – 185 lbs.

Background:

Originally attended Western Michigan, where he spent one season, during which he caught 56/88 passes (63.6%) for 797 yards and eight touchdowns. Transferred to Michigan St. and caught 34-407-3 (12.0) as a sophomore before breaking out with 59-1,026-10 (17.4) as a junior. Didn’t have quite as dynamic a senior season but still recorded a solid line of 55-636-5 (11.6) to close out his collegiate career.

Positives:

Four-year contributor who played in the slot his first two seasons and then took over eighty percent of snaps split out wide over the past two seasons combined. Was a legitimate deep threat as a junior and shows impressive acceleration and top-end speed, creating opportunities underneath. Predominantly ran routes to the intermediate/deep levels, but there are hitches, jerk routes, etc., mixed in underneath as well. Has clean footwork to release at the line against press. Attacks leverage as a route-runner. Doesn’t need to shift down much through the stem and can be difficult to stick with on overs and other patterns of that nature. Settles down into soft spots in zone. Overall flexibility looks good. Shows impressive focus and body control to come down with catches in traffic. Makes solid adjustments to throws away from his frame. Shows an understanding of positioning and brings a desirable level of physicality when blocking, and the team often motioned him into a tight alignment to block on the edge.

Negatives:

Size is closer to adequate overall. Wasn’t as dynamic this past season, his second on the outside. Could show more consistent hip-sink and snap at the stem when running patterns at the intermediate level and tends to blow through some of his routes. Dropped 8.5% of his passes, indicating hands that are closer to average. Didn’t show a ton of power as a runner after the catch this past year, with just three missed tackles forced per PFF. More physical than technically sound as a blocker.

Summary:

An explosive athlete who can threaten defenses downfield, his speed creates opportunities for him to work underneath as cornerbacks play off, and he is a solid route-runner with impressive body control and aggressiveness as a blocker. Those traits could put him in the mix for a second-day selection, even following a relatively modest senior season in which he didn’t make as many plays as he had during his junior year.

Projection: Round 3-4