STRENGTHS
Jayden is a smart, athletic multi–position player in a team’s defensive backfield. He has good overall speed and those long arms and legs that make it easy to cover off the snap of the ball. He can play up near the line of scrimmage or in a 2 deep cover because he is quick to come up and support the run. Jaden has the mental toughness you like to see in a safety, along with the high football IQ and leadership skills needed, to be a potential top safety in the NFL. He has the length and size to cover big slot receivers and pass-catching Tight Ends. Jaden has the talent to impact quickly for the team that selects him in the right defensive system.
CONCERNS
Jaden will have to learn better coverage techniques and become a surer tackler. He will also have to keep his arms extended to get off blocks quicker and make tackles that he is missing now. I do not doubt that Jaden will improve in these areas of concern and when he does he will become an excellent starting safety.
BOTTOM LINE: 3.92
Jaden has a lot of bad habits and is effective at the college level because of his high football IQ, effort on every play, and leadership. He needs to fine-tune his overall game in general and pay more attention to the physical details too. It’s a lot of small issues that when rolled up into one become bigger issues. For example, He looks into the backfield too early and long when in single coverage. He has to learn to drop his head and run with the receiver and read the receiver’s hands better. Against the run, he collapses his arms allowing blockers to get into his body too much. In zone coverages, he is too quick to react to play action and can get fooled, and doesn’t have the recovery speed to cover up. Jaden has to learn to trust his pre-snap read and get himself in better position instead of getting his teammates set first. It’s little issues that are big for him because he does lack the speed and quickness that others have. Jaden reminds me a lot of former Buffalo Bills Safety Jordan Poyer. Jordan wasn’t selected until the 7th Rd in the 2013 Draft. I’m not sure what round Jaden is likely to be selected in but I am convinced he has the potential to be a starting safety and impact.
