Rookie Scouting Profile: TE Jalen Wydermyer

Jalen Wydermyer (TE) Texas A&M

Height	Weight	40-Time	DOB	NFL Draft	Dynasty ADP	NFL Comp
6-4	255	–	12/20/2000	5th-UFA	UFA	Marcedes Lewis

College Production

Four-star recruit out of Dickinson High School (TX) after posting a solid 42/875/10 line as a senior. Elected to say in-state and committed to Texas A&M and earned playing time immediately as a true freshman after starter Baylor Cupp was injured. Went on to catch 32-of-44 targets for 447 yards and 6 touchdowns and was named to the All-SEC Freshman squad and Second-Team All-SEC. In 2020, snagged 46-of-69 passes for 506 yards (22.8% target share) and another 6 scores, again earned Second-Team All-SEC accolades and was named a John Mackey Award finalist. In final (junior) season, posted a 40/515/4 and was again named as a Mackey Award finalist. Aggies’ all-time tight end leader in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

Strengths

• Natural hands catcher. Succeeds in jump balls and 50/50 throws.

• Size and frame to be a real mismatch against smaller linebackers and safties.

• Plus red-zone receiving option, with solid fundamentals who uses his frame and hands to win corner of the end-zone throws.

• Has enough speed to be a consistent threat on vertical routes.

• Decent route runner who knows how to find openings in zone coverage.

• Experience lining up in the slot, outside, and in-line at A&M.

Weaknesses

• Needs to quickly develop as a blocker, especially in run-blocking.

• Lacks a true top gear. Not overly explosive.

• Doesn’t get out of breaks smoothly. Can get bottled up in stop-and-go routes.

• Had some drops in 2021.

• May need time to develop as an all-around option. Might start career simply as a situational ‘Y’ tight end.

Fantasy Outlook

Many draft pundits project Wydermyer to be the top tight end in the 2022 NFL Draft but he’s still a work in progress who may not plan three downs right away. That makes Wydermyer a risky pick in redraft, where he projects to be a weak TE2 who probably won’t be drafted. In dynasty, where tight ends are a thin position, he warrants third-round attention in rookie-only drafts and could sneak into the top-20 in start-ups.

On The Clock: There’s some pass-catching upside here, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wydermyer be relegated to obvious passing downs as the No. 2 tight end. I’d just as soon take my chances on an established NFL veteran in redrafts formats, and in rookie-only drafts, Kyren Williams and Jerome Ford are players to consider over a limited tight end.

UPDATE: Wydermyer’s already falling stock took another hit at A&M’s Pro Day. Reports indicate he ran a 5.03 40 and there are others that indicate he had maturity issues. At this point, it might be a surprise it Wydermyer is drafted at all and he should be well off the fantasy radar in all but the deepest of dynasty leagues.

Wydermyer is likely to go undrafted. Tape was very very average but this Pro Day is a huge problem for him.

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) March 22, 2022

Post-Draft Recap

That’s precisely what happened. Wydermyer was not drafted and should be ignored in all formats, including dynasty. He eventually signed as an undrafted free agent with Buffalo, but he’s a long way away from making any kind of impact.