Over the next four weeks WEEI.com will offer up a total of 28 prospects who could be potential Patriots selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. While the top five projected overall prospects – QB Trevor Lawrence, QB Zach Wilson, WR Ja’Marr Chase, TE Kyle Pitts and OT Penei Sewell – won’t be included, all other players at all positions will be considered potential targets for Bill Belichick and his staff. Today, we look at how one of the many recent Alabama receiver prospects might fit in Foxborough.
Jaylen Waddle
WR Alabama
5-10, 182
Resume: Hard to remember now, but Waddle may have been the hotter wide receiver prospect when the 2020 season started. Then he injured his ankle while DeVonta Smith went on to win the Heisman. … Previously a part-time player in his Tide career buried behind the school’s ridiculous talent at the receiver position, Waddle opened 2020 with four straight 100-yard games and four touchdowns before breaking his ankle on a return in the fifth game.
Though he got back on the field for the national title game where he notched three catches for 34 yards, he was still very much hobbled by the injury. … Waddle averaged 18.9 yards per catch on his 106 receptions for Alabama over three years. His highest total actually came with 45 back in 2018 as the SEC Freshman of the Year. … A big-play machine, Waddle averaged a touchdown (17 in his career) once every six catches for the Tide, including four longer than 75 yards. … He also served as one of the most explosive returners in the country, averaging 19.3 yards per punt return over three seasons with a pair of touchdowns. He added another score and a 23.5 average in more limited opportunities on kickoff returns and was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2019. … The Texas native oozes speed and run-after-catch playmaking ability. … Lacks elite size and strength for the position. … Relatively limited experience and production, so he may be a work in progress early in his NFL career.
Pre-Draft Buzz: ProFootballNetwork.com writes that “pairing Waddle with Cam Newton would be dynamite.” … The Ringer compares Waddle to Colts five-time 1,000-yard receiver T.Y. Hilton. … Waddle did not work out at Alabama’s pro day – which had Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels in attendance – due to the ankle injury suffered last season. …. Waddle reportedly told people he’s capable of a 40 time in the 4.2s or low 4.3s. … NFL.com had Waddle landing with the Patriots in one of its mock drafts, and the site compared him to Chiefs speedy playmaker Tyreek Hill.
Why Waddle fits the Patriots’ needs: The Patriots have upgraded most of their roster this offseason, including receiver. But New England still lacks a true No. 1 target at the position. With the ability to make plays at all three levels of the defense, take the top off the opponent’s back end and even work out of the slot, Waddle would be a unique weapon for McDaniels to put to use in the new-age Patriots passing attack. Waddle may not be the polished route runner that Belichick prefers, but his playmaking upside is undeniable. It also won’t hurt that Belichick has the most direct, honest pipeline to Nick Saban in the business. If Waddle falls to No. 15 and has Saban’s recommendation he would literally be a home run playmaking fit in Foxborough and could put to rest fears of the Patriots ability to draft and develop at the position. He’d also probably be a heck of a lot fun to watch.