Jaylen Waddle – WR (Alabama)
Jaylen Waddle is one of the most electrifying playmakers in the 2021 NFL Draft, and if he ends up in the NFC North, he’s going to be a thorn in the Vikings‘ side for years.
Waddle has a second gear that, when initiated, no one is going to catch him. He’s lightning fast, with great hands. He rarely has to go up for a contested catch because he always seems to be open, but he can do it on the rare occasion the cornerback is in striking distance to make a play on the ball.
Waddle is coming off a foot injury and that slowed down some of his production in Alabama. If he hadn’t suffered this injury, he’d be pushing Ja’Marr Chase as the No. 1 receiving prospect in this year’s draft class.
Waddle wouldn’t just worry Minnesota when he’s out on the field on offense, but he’d also be a huge concern for them on special teams.
He is a dynamite return man with great vision and a burst that can boost him into the end zone. He’d be a major factor in that area, and he would force the Vikings to kick away from him every single time, which would end up giving their divisional opponent great field position whether he fields the punt or not.
If Waddle does end up in the NFC North, the best shot is that he goes to the Detroit Lions. He’d immediately be their No. 1 target in the passing game and he would give new Lions quarterback Jared Goff a big-time playmaker to utilize.