Jaelon Darden 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5’7.5
Weight: 174 lbs.
School: North Texas
Jaelon Darden 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Overview
Born in Houston, Texas, Darden attended Eisenhower High School before committing to the University of North Texas. In high school, he was nominated for first-team all-district at the quarterback position as a junior. During that year, Darden completed just under 60% of passes of 637 yards with 10 touchdowns. He additionally rushed for 869 yards. As a senior, he received an honorable mention for all-district. Darden switched from quarterback to wide receiver at North Texas.
In his first year at North Texas, Darden completed 32 receptions of 281 yards with three touchdowns and had one rushing attempt. Additionally, Darden punt returned 10 times for 119 yards and one touchdown, and kick returned for He was named the C-USA special teams player of the week after the 11/25 game. During the 2018 season, Darden completed 48 receptions of 575 yards with four touchdowns and rushing three times for 16 yards. He also returned punts five times for 62 yards.
During the 2019 season, Darden completed 76 receptions of 736 yards with 12 touchdowns and had two rushing attempts of 13 yards. Also, he completed 16 punt returns of 108 yards and one kick return of four yards. Darden was the team’s leading receiver this year and received first-team All-Conference USA nominations. In his 2020 senior year, he completed 74 receptions of 1,190 yards with 19 touchdowns. Additionally, he returned four punts for 21 yards. He is now the leader for North Texas in receptions and receiving yards and touchdowns.
Darden was named ESPN All-American, First-Team All-American by PFF and the FWAA, and Second Team All-American by the AP, Sporting News, The Athletic, and the AFCA. Also, Darden was named the Conference USA MVP and First-Team All-Conference, the PFF Conference USA Player of the Year, the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Texas College Offensive Player of the Year, and received a Preseason Conference USA selection. He also was a finalist for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
For his pro day, Darden completed the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, the 20-yard shuttle run in 4.07 seconds, the three-cone drill in 6.65 seconds, had 11 reps benching, a vertical jump of 35.6, and a broad jump of 10’2.
Strengths
- Speed and explosiveness to separate from defenders;
- Accomplished kick/punt returner who has returned for a touchdown in college;
- Became North Texas’ career leader in receptions;
- Very durable;
- Received numerous accolades and finalist for awards.
Weaknesses
- Size and build will be a detriment against bigger, stronger defenders;
- Unknown how he will do with multiple defenders on him;
- Lacks physicality;
- Limited in offensive usage, best used in schemes that are spread out;
- Small hands for catching.
Teams With Need At Position: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals
Projection: Third/Fourth Round Selection
Bottom Line on Jaelon Darden
Jaelon Darden is an explosive, offensive wide receiver who can make the big plays when needed. He also is an accomplished kick/punt returner, giving teams the ability to deploy him in multiple ways. However, his lack of size and build will cause him to fall to the middle rounds in the draft. Teams who are able to draft him will be getting a player who can back up a starting receiver and has the speed to be a defender’s nightmare later into games.
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