The start of the 2024 NFL Draft process has slowly started getting underway, with the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl games and practices giving us a small first glimpse at how these prospects measure up to their peers with NFL aspirations.
Unfortunately, Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl due to rehabbing from an injury sustained during his final collegiate season. Is he an RB1 candidate who is flying under the radar for this dynasty rookie draft class heading into the NFL Combine?
Should You Draft Jaylen Wright in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
When it comes to big-play ability, a three-down skill set, and pass protection capabilities that shouldn’t prevent him from getting on the field early in his NFL career, a legitimate case can be made for Wright as the top running back prospect in this draft.
Jaylen Wright is flying under the radar going into the 2024 NFL Draft 🤫 pic.twitter.com/WzqqtWs4M3
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) February 23, 2024
Wright is listed at 5’11” and 210 pounds and certainly plays to size — if not bigger — which suggests a potential leading role in an NFL backfield. He is a great slashing running back with plenty of home-run hitting ability but can also generate extra yards with his physicality and elusiveness.
He was among the best in the country with 4.35 yards after contact per attempt in 2023, which speaks to his ability to make the first defender miss consistently.
Wright is an early declare and had two years’ worth of solid production in the SEC. When you pair that with a solid NFL frame that should test well at the Combine, it’s reasonable to think Wright’s draft stock could rise over the next few months.
Wright is currently projected as a second- or third-round pick in upcoming dynasty rookie drafts.
Who Is Wright?
Background
Wright was widely touted as a three-star prospect coming out of Southern Durham High School in North Carolina.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have the opportunity to play his senior year of prep football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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He was named to the Big 8 3A All-Conference team after his junior year in 2019 after producing 901 rushing yards and five scores.
In addition to excelling on the gridiron, Wright was a standout performer on the track team, running a blazing time of 6.29 in the 55m dash in 2019.
College Production
Wright’s three-year run with the Volunteers was productive throughout his entire tenure. The dynamic RB contributed as a true freshman with 431 total yards from scrimmage and four scores.
He managed to make a significant leap in his sophomore year, leading the team with 875 rushing yards and scoring 10 TDs on just 146 carries (6.0 yards per carry).
Despite seeing nine fewer carries in his junior season, Wright produced a career-best 1,013 rushing yards (7.4 yards per carry) while adding an additional 22 receptions for 141 yards through the air.
Wright’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Top speed is among the best in this RB class; Wright clocked in at 22.2 MPH on a 75-yard house call against the Georgia Bulldogs defense in 2023; Four runs of more than 40+ yards in his junior year.
- Some great reps with above-average contact balance; Hip fluidity allows him to effectively spin out of would-be tackle attempts; Play strength is enough to consistently work through arm tackles
- Lateral agility pops with jump cuts and change of direction
- Effective runner in both zone and gap schemes; Primarily deployed in gap scheme concepts at Tennessee; Top speed and explosiveness when making one cut and screaming downhill translates well to outside zone concepts at NFL level
- Flashes above-average vision; When decisive and under control, can be a threat to take any carry the distance
- Pass protection is a plus; Scans effectively and engages assignment with consistent balance and patience with hands
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t possess overwhelming power to enforce his will on defenders at point of contact
- Patience comes across as too much hesitation on some reps; Some indecisive reps on tape led to negative plays
- Should help his linemen out a bit more consistently by pressing the hole and threatening gaps to secure better leverage for pulling linemen on gap scheme runs
- Footwork and balance are functional but inconsistent; Weight distribution can be a bit clunky, which leads to some inefficient conversions when trying to change direction and accelerate to top speed when a crease opens
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