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Jaylen Harrell NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Michigan EDGE

BR NFL Scouting Department

HEIGHT: 6'4"

WEIGHT: 250

HAND: 9¾"

ARM: 33¼"

WINGSPAN: 81⅛"

40-YARD DASH: N/A

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: 37"

BROAD: 9'10"

POSITIVES

— Good frame with solid size and good arm length for an NFL edge. Has room to add extra weight.

— Quick to get his hands up against the run. Has enough strength to set the edge versus tight ends and is solid versus offensive tackles.

— Physical against pullers and takes on blocks with good pad level to create stalemates as the force player. Has a nice wrong-arm move to get under pullers as the spill player in the run fit.

— Solid inside spin move that he can win with as a pass-rusher. Clears the lineman's hands with an impressive ice-pick while spinning.

— Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.

NEGATIVES

— A little late off the ball and false steps, hurting his get-off/ability to win with speed around the edge.

— Doesn't show great athleticism and isn't sudden, limiting his pass-rush arsenal.

— Lower body looks stiff, which hurts his bend. Doesn't take good angles when rushing the passer, leading to inefficient paths to the quarterback.

— Lack of change-of-direction skills makes it difficult for him to turn speed to power as a rusher.

2023 STATISTICS

— 15 G, 31 TOT, 6.5 SK, 9 TFL, 1 PD, 2 FF

NOTES

— Born May 1, 2002

— 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings

— Injuries: 2022 (Undisclosed, missed 1 game)

— Father, James, was a linebacker at Florida before playing in the NFL and USFL from 1979 to 1987

OVERALL

Jaylen Harrell shows promise as a run defender, as he's solid at setting the edge and knows how to take on pullers as either the spill or force player in the run fit. As a pass-rusher, he has a nice inside spin move and a good motor but doesn't offer much more than that.

Harrell doesn't show a ton of enticing athletic traits and looks a little stiff, which could limit his ceiling and cause teams to pass on him in favor of high-level athletes who are more of a project. His timing and accuracy are also off with his hands when he's working pass-rush moves other than the inside spin.

Overall, Harrell could be a decent backup for teams looking for a standup linebacker who can be a decent run defender.

GRADE: 5.7 (Backup/Draftable — 6th-7th round)

OVERALL RANK: 200

POSITION RANK: EDGE20

PRO COMPARISON: Tyreke Smith

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

   

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