The 2023 NFL Draft is here! After months of waiting, we finally know where the 2023 NFL Draft class will land. This information shapes the outlook for rookies in 2023 and beyond. We’re going to have you covered throughout and following the 2023 NFL Draft to help you prepare for your fantasy football leagues. Next up for many will be dynasty rookie drafts. To help you prepare to make your dynasty rookie draft picks, let’s dive into Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Draft profile as well as Pat Fitzmaurice’s dynasty rookie draft outlook for Jayden Reed.
Dynasty Rookie Picks & Predictions: Packers Draft Jayden Reed
Let’s first see what NFL Draft expert Matthew Jones says about Jayden Reed.
Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Draft Outlook
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.
2023 Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook: Jayden Reed
A speedy playmaker who was a three-year starter at Michigan State and also excelled as a punt returner, Reed will have a chance to immediately contribute as a pass catcher in Green Bay, where the Packers have little at wide receiver beyond second-year men Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.
Reed had 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior before an injury-marred senior season in which he sustained foot, hip and back injuries. Reed’s 4.45 speed shows up on tape, and he’s a sudden mover able to gain separation with his sharp cuts and instant acceleration.
The 5-11, 191 pound Reed doesn’t break many tackles and isn’t built for high-volume usage. He occasionally had issues with drops during his time at Michigan State.
Reed is likely to go in the middle part of the second round in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts, and in the late second round or early third round in superflex drafts.
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