Rookie Scouting Profile: Jayden Reed

FullTime Fantasy Rookie Scouting Profile: Jayden Reed

Jayden Reed (WR) Michigan State

Height	Weight	40-Time	DOB	NFL Draft	Dynasty ADP	NFL Comp
5-11	187	4.45	04/28/2000	Day 2	3.11	Brandin Cooks

College Production

Despite earning All-State accolades at Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, Jayden Reed drew little FBS interest, mainly due to his diminutive (5-11, 155) size. Reed ended up enrolling at Western Michigan and caught 56-of-82 targets for 797 yards and eight scores, with an additional TD on a punt return. Following that breakout campaign and sitting out 2019, Reed transferred to East Lansing and posted a 33/407/3 as a sophomore reserve while leading the Spartans in all-purpose yards. Reed broke out in 2021, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a punt returner and being named a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award after comping 1,026 receiving yards, 10 touchdown grabs, and leading FBS with a pair of punt return scores. Reed concluded his college career with second-team All-Big Ten accolades as a receiver and honorable mention punt return honors.

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Strengths

• Versatile athlete who can line up in the slot (49% slot rate), perimeter, and profiles to be a stand-out kick returner.

• Tough competitor who more than holds his own with a fierce disposition. Unafraid to go over the middle. Reed should develop into a dependable, chain-moving possession target.

• Elusiveness, ball-tracking, and RAC skills have drawn many athletic comparisons to Stefon Diggs.

• High football IQ. Reed uses his hands well to fight off defenders and is able to create separation.

• Plus option in contested catch situations.

Concerns

• Undersized (5-11, 187) with a modest Speed Score and subpar burst.

• Needs polish on NFL route running concepts and gaining separation against larger and stronger defensive backs.

• Limited catch radius with small hands (37th percentile), and wing span (14th percentile).

• Sometimes struggled with concentration drops.

Fantasy Outlook

While I’m not going to compare Jayden Reed to Stefon Diggs as some people have, there is a lot to like about his game. The landing spot was great, too. Reed makes sense as an immediate replacement for Randall Cobb, who got 50 targets last season in a part-time role.

Of course, that was with Aaron Rodgers and the new-look Packers also invested heavily in the tight end position. That makes the 2023 Packers’ offense a little tough to handicap. Still, Reed checks a lot of boxes to succeed as a versatile and dependable weapon in the NFL.

Normally available near the 3/4 turn in rookie drafts, expect Reed’s ADP to climb up with his draft capital. I will happily take shots in the early third using my updated rookie rankings.