2021 NFL Mock Draft: First-round projections after Super Bowl LV
31. Scouting Report. 11. player. Pick Analysis. WR. Alabama. Jaylen Waddle
If you’re an NFL team looking for a receiver, you have to just tune into Alabama every year to see who the top draft prospects are at the position. Alabama is becoming ‘WRU’ and the 2021 class will provide another couple of first-round prospects from Tuscaloosa.
DeVonta Smith will be the first receiver off the board, in my opinion, and some might be lobbying for Jaylen Waddle to be No. 2, but Ja’Marr Smith will go just ahead of him.
But Waddle being available at No. 11 for the Giants would be best-case scenario for the organization.
The offense was a nightmare this past season. Daniel Jones played some mediocre football with under 3,000 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 14 games, Wayne Gallman leading the backfield with just 682 yards and Darius Slayton leading the receiving corps with 751 yards. No one really stood out.
Sterling Shepard and Slayton were the only receivers (not including tight ends) to surpass the 400-yard mark. The receiving corps need a ton of help.
That’s where Waddle comes in. He’s an electric wide out who can be that deep-threat for Jones and the Giants and he’ll finally make defenses respect the pass.
Waddle had 1,999 yards and 17 touchdowns on 101 catches in 34 career games at Alabama.