Jared Wayne NFL Draft Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 210 lbs.
School: Pittsburgh
2023 NFL Draft: Jared Wayne Scouting Report
Jared Wayne was a three-star receiving recruit out of Ontario, Canada. He played all four years of his career at Pittsburgh, registering 18 and 21 catches in each of his first two seasons. In 2021, Wayne adapted to a more exclusive role on the Panthers’ offense. In his junior season in 2021, Wayne finished second on the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, all behind the Biletnikoff winner and future first-round pick Jordan Addison. He tallied 47 catches, 658 yards, and six touchdowns that year and was a crucial piece to Kenny Pickett’s success.
In his senior season, however, Wayne finished as the top receiver for Pitt. He had career highs in receptions (60) and yards (1062) and also added five touchdowns despite a rather deficient passing offense. He was a very reliable deep target for whoever was under center for Pitt and made the big plays when it counted. Wayne was up there with other ACC receivers like Zay Flowers, Josh Downs, and AT Perry in terms of statistics and overall production. Wayne will go much lower than them but expect him to be a potential late-round bloomer or maybe even a steal, should he go into the right offensive situation.
Strengths
- Great possession receiver with decent hands;
- Uses size and strength to his advantage;
- Decent speed (4.51) despite larger frame;
- Great deep threat receiver with good route running down the field;
- Able to extend plays by getting open, shaking off defenders with physicality.
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t possess top-notch speed and doesn’t often “turn on the burners”;
- Drops, poor catching attempts are common;
- Not a great short route runner; not very elusive;
- Doesn’t have much versatility when it comes to different schemes and positions.
NFL Comparison: George Pickens
Teams With Need at Position: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Projection: Late-Rounds (6th or 7th)
Bottom Line on Jared Wayne
Wayne does not project to be among the top receivers in this draft but still deserves a look. He set career highs in both receptions and yards in his senior year despite a really poor Pitt offense, led by a quarterback tandem of Kedon Slovis or Nick Patti. He is a more-than-capable downfield receiver who can make the big plays when you need him. Wayne turns 50-50 balls into probably 70-30 balls and possesses some good ball skills despite his larger frame. He also has some pretty decent off-the-line speed and has great recognition and route running in the middle and deep parts of the field. He isn’t as experienced in the short game but can still go for a few catch-and-run plays, as he did many times at Pitt.
Right now, Wayne looks to be a late-round pick and probably be between the twelfth and eighteenth receiver off the board. The position is a hot commodity and almost every team can afford to take one to boost their group. That probably puts him in the fifth, sixth, or seventh rounds with the chance of going higher or completely going undrafted. We’re unsure how NFL teams view him but he has some good traits that could make him a successful NFL receiver. His most likely comparison is George Pickens (based on play style, size, etc…) but he doesn’t seem to have that extra “demonic” sense to him that the fellow Pittsburgh Steeler Pickens often sports.
Main Photo: Jansen Vinlove – USA Today Sports
