Mike Tannenbaum likes football players from the University of Alabama.
As a former executive in the National Football League, he has been complimentary of Mac Jones in the NFL Draft process.
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Tannebaum sees the native Floridian dropping no lower than No. 8 overall in the first round.
He views Jones as someone ready for the challenge of the NFL. In serving as a front office insider for ESPN, Tannebaum spends a lot of time breaking down film. He has been watching a lot of Jaylen Waddle and the native Texan has Tannebaum’s wheels spinning.
Despite playing in six games last season, the former four-star was highly explosive. Waddle started the 2020 season with four straight 100-yard performances versus Missouri (134), Texas A&M (148), Ole Miss (120), and Georgia (161).
He recorded at least one touchdown reception in three of the four games, while his long scores came in matchups against the Aggies and Bulldogs.
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A right ankle injury versus Tennessee sidelined Waddle for seven games. He was not healthy in the College Football Playoff National Championship showdown; however, he rehabbed enough to get on the field against Ohio State.
The 5-foot-10, 182-pounder caught 28 passes for 591 yards receiving with four touchdowns in 2020. During his career, Waddle tallied 106 catches for 1,999 yards and 17 scores.
He doubled as an electrifying return specialist — two punt return touchdowns, one kick return score — but Tannebaum likes Waddle’s hands, toughness, routes, and speed to separate from press coverage against top-tier defenders.
Jaylen Waddle — @D1__JW — is the complete package. He’s fast, tough and has strong hands
He is a top tier route runner with the ability to remain explosive in and out of his cuts pic.twitter.com/rz84vsFAUs
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) March 2, 2021
DeVonta Smith, Waddle’s former teammate at Alabama, and Ja’Marr Chase of LSU project as the best two receivers in the draft class.
Regardless of that, Tannebaum said Waddle is a ‘top-10’ pick from what he has seen on tape.
Three of the 10 teams with first-round picks have the wide receiver position listed as a need. Miami (No. 3), Philadelphia (No. 6), and Detroit (No. 7) are picking in the first round next month.
It will be interesting to see which NFL franchise ends up with Waddle on its roster.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith
