With The First Pick
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WR Jaylen Waddle should declare for 2021 NFL Draft after injury

By Nicholas McGee

Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) pushes away Tennessee defensive back Kenney Solomon (31) during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK
Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) pushes away Tennessee defensive back Kenney Solomon (31) during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK /
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2021 NFL Draft
2021 NFL Draft prospect Jaylen Waddle. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Should Jaylen Waddle head to the 2021 NFL Draft early?

Alabama was dealt a bitter blow in the Crimson Tide’s blowout win over Tennessee on Saturday with the loss of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to a season-ending ankle injury and, while the focus, for now, must be on his recovery, thoughts will eventually turn to whether he will remain in college for another season or head to the NFL.

Waddle, who underwent what head coach Nick Saban described as a “very, very successful” surgery on his fractured ankle, per AL.com, has not had the opportunity to enjoy a full season as a starting receiver in the Alabama offense.

That may increase his temptation to stick around for his senior season in Tuscaloosa. Despite his relatively limited opportunities through his 33 games for the Crimson Tide, the reality is Waddle has done enough to cement his status as one of the top receivers in a prospective 2021 NFL Draft class and has no need to stay at Alabama and prove himself further.

Waddle started 2020 season on fire

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Waddle entered the 2020 season with evident sky-high upside given his track-star speed, lower-body flexibility and surprising proficiency at the catch point for a player of his 5-foot-10 and 182 pound frame.

The main knock on Waddle was that NFL evaluators had not had the opportunity to get a proper look at him playing a leading role in the Crimson Tide offense. Though he has been robbed of the chance to do so for a complete season in 2020, what he did in four games as a starter provided ample evidence he can make the jump to the next level and continue to be a devastating big-play threat.

He still leads Alabama in receiving yards despite being injured on the opening return against Tennessee. Waddle has racked up 557 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver, averaging 22.3 yards per reception and recording 100-yard efforts in each of the first four games of the season.

By going for 161 yards and a touchdown on six catches in Alabama’s win over Georgia, Waddle proved he can produce spectacular results as a starting receiver against even the most formidable of SEC defenses.

Why Waddle should head to the 2021 NFL Draft now

Waddle’s medicals will be key if he decides to head to the pros but, with Saban saying his prognosis is “very good”, there appears to little reason why his injury would send him tumbling down draft boards.

His bad luck in getting hurt last weekend served as another illustration of the risk of playing football without the reward of financial compensation. Waddle has nothing to gain from remaining at Alabama and a lot more to lose.

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He lacks starting experience and would go to the pros coming off an injury but at this point there should be no doubt that Waddle’s best move is to end his collegiate career and focus on becoming a star at the highest level.

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