Eagles land Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle in Mel Kiper’s 2021 NFL mock draft
It’s officially NFL mock draft season and ESPN’s legendary prognosticator, Mel Kiper Jr., has unveiled his latest official mock of 2021.
Instead of a run on quarterbacks, Kiper has the Jets and Dolphins ruining the Eagles’ dreams of one of the big-two SEC wideouts (DeVonta Smith, Ja’Marr Chase) but they land the next big thing in Alabama wideout, Jaylen Waddle.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Jaylen Waddle, WR, AlabamaThe Eagles had a disastrous 4-11-1 season, with quarterback Carson Wentz regressing and getting benched for rookie second-rounder Jalen Hurts. And yes, Wentz, was not very good, but his receivers didn’t exactly give him much help. They got only 20 total catches from veterans Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson due to injuries, and 2019 second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside barely got on the field. So even though Philadelphia drafted Jalen Reagor in Round 1 a year ago, I still see this as a hole in the offense. Waddle, one of the fastest prospects in this draft, could be the go-to target in new coach Nick Sirianni’s offense. He was one of college football’s most electric receivers over the past three seasons, even if he was overshadowed at times by teammates Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith. His ceiling is as a No. 1 pass-catcher at the next level.
A highly skilled route-runner, Waddle compares to Tyreek Hill, and the Texas native was on his own Heisman pace, averaging 139 yards per game over his four healthy games before suffering a broken right ankle in Alabama’s win over Tennessee.
Waddle would pair well with Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, Quez Watkins, John Hightower, and Travis Fulgham as the Eagles transition to the Nick Sirianni era.
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