Jaylen Wright NFL Draft Overview
Position: Running Back
Height: 6’0″ (u)
Weight: 200 (u)
School: Tennessee
Jaylen Wright 2024 NFL Draft Profile, Team Fits
Wright’s path to the NFL draft is predicated on three things – speed, speed, and more speed. He’s originally from Durham, NC where he was a four-star athlete according to 24/7. COVID-19 derailed his senior season, but Wright did enough as a junior to commit to Tennessee.
As a true freshman Wright was used primarily as a change of pace back. His 85 carries for 409 yards were fourth on the team, and he had the lowest yards per touch of his collegiate career. 2022 opened the door for Wright to be featured more. He had almost double the attempts, more than double the touches and ten touchdowns as a 19-year-old in the SEC. Josh Heupel’s offense created space that the smaller Wright thrived in. His 883 scrimmage yards were behind only Jalin Hyatt who was a deep threat monster in Knoxville.
Wright’s speed was used as a cornerstone in the Vols offense in 2023. Every game it seemed like he would launch a big play, or the offense would sputter. At 7.4 yards per carry, he led the team in scrimmage yards, touches, and had four touchdowns despite not being a goal line back. Due to his big play ability, he was the spark of the offense. Consequently, the SEC selected him to be on the second team All SEC squad.
Related – Watch: Cody Schrader Film Study
Strengths
- Makes SEC defenders look slow, which isn’t easy
- Adept at making defenders miss at the second level
- Capable pass catcher, but not a life changing receiving weapon
- Generally responsible with the ball, zero fumbles in 2023
- Explosive, reportedly has a 44-inch vertical
Weaknesses
- Slight frame extremely evident at the first level
- Medium contact balance at best
- Homerun threat with an open lane, doesn’t find the open lane at an above average level
- A revolving door in pass protection
- Lack of conviction on plays where he’s not a primary target
NFL Comparison: Izzy Abanikanda
Projected Draft Capital: Fifth Round
Team Fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, or Baltimore Ravens
Bottom Line on Jaylen Wright 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Wright is a change of pace back at best in the NFL. Accordingly, he won’t be selected until day three of the NFL Draft. Can he fill in for a game here and there? Of course. Can he handle the load and be the guy for a team? Not at this stage. He’s going to test off the charts at the 2024 NFL Combine, but he leaves too much meat on the bone as a rusher to be the primary back in an offense. He would complement an Isiah Pacheco or Chuba Hubbard, but he will cap himself at ten touches a game unless he packs on some serious strength.
As teams move to more space and dynamic systems, players like Wright will get more opportunities. The issue lies in his mismatch between frame, speed, and vision. He has all of the speed in the world, but can’t read his blockers in the open field consistently. One on one situations he’s great against secondary players, but reading blocks and breaking angles with anything other than speed isn’t in his bag at this point. For teams looking for a jitterbug with lightning, Bucky Irving is the preferred pick.
Main Photo Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
