Jalen Tolbert NFL Draft Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6′-3″
Weight: 195 lbs.
School: South Alabama
Jalen Tolbert 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert is rising up on most draft boards. Originally, Tolbert looked to go around the fifth round in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, the stock on him is going straight up.
Currently, the thought is Tolbert should go sometime late in the third round. He’s a very experienced player with five years on the collegiate level. He did redshirt his first year. Regardless, character is one intangible to help rise his already athletic stock exponentially.
Tolbert is a rare specimen, improving each year and the production shows it. He’s truly blossomed into a bonafide NFL prospect the last couple years.
In his sophomore year, Tolbert only caught 27 balls for 522 yards and six touchdowns. Still, the average remained high at 19.3 yards per catch. And that trend continued on until he graduated with a 17.6 average over his career.
He broke the single season record for catches and receiving yards at South Alabama in 2020. Then he did it again by topping his own mark with 1,474 yards and 82 receptions including eight touchdowns.
That includes a hefty 18.0 yards per catch in 2021. Tolbert can fly. South Alabama plays in the lightweight Sunbelt division, but he fared well against Tennessee in 2021. Also, in the Reeses Senior Bowl, nothing slowed him down.
He was the first offensive player in the senior bowl since 2017 from South Alabama. The other was tight end Gerald Everett. Tolbert got a rare opportunity to play on his home field at the senior bowl. Imagine being able to showcase your skills in the hometown where you grew up in. “I feel I was able to prove to myself that I’m able to play with the best of the best,” said Tolbert after the game. “That was a goal of mine coming into the week. I also wanted to have fun and enjoy the experience because I grew up coming to this game.”
Tolbert understands the game. Most importantly, the assets he can offer on the next level.
Strengths
- Consistent production upward through college
- Speedy to create separation when needed
- Natural agility after the catch by making players miss
- Powerful jump off the line of scrimmage on press coverage
- High character in the locker room providing leadership
Weaknesses
- Tad bit slow on the pop coming out of his breaks on routes
- Solid trustworthy receiver yet not explosive
- Limited sample size against high end competition
- Improvement needed before taking the ball in before running
NFL Comparison: Marvin Jones
Teams with need at Position: New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons
Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Bottom Line on Jalen Tolbert
Tolbert’s rise up the drafts boards are coming at a perfect time. He is a sold mid round pick to stretch the field early on. Also, he is smooth on the patterns in the short to intermediate range. The ceiling on him has yet to be determined. Depending on the role, Tolbert’s frame is near perfect with room to add a few pounds. Being in the NFL instantly makes him a potential steal in the third round. Potential impact starter with plenty of untapped versatility to hit high levels. Odds on being on the outside making an impact instantly.
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