With the 100th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the
Carolina Panthers select
.... Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor
Hurd was a five-star running back recruit who ranked among the top 10 players in the country at his position despite playing in just one game as a senior due to a shoulder injury (he was Tennessee's Mr. Football in 2012 with 3,357 rushing yards). As a true freshman at Tennessee, Hurd led the Volunteers in rushing (190-899-4.7, 5 TDs) and also contributed as a receiver (35-221-6.3, 2 TDs) while starting 9 of 13 games played. He made an impact in his first bowl game, rushing for 122 yards and two scores against Iowa in the TaxSlayer.com Bowl. He was a second-team All-SEC pick as a sophomore, starting all 13 games, again leading his team in rushing (277-1,288-4.6-12), being active in the passing game (22-190-8.6), and excelling in the postseason (Outback Bowl MVP with 24-130-5.4, TD vs. Northwestern). Things began to change in 2016 when Hurd started the first seven games of the year (112-4541-3.7, three TD) but suffered a concussion. He approached his coaches about a position change due to the head injury, and when they declined to move him, Hurd decided to transfer. Baylor accepted him into the fold in 2017, and he sat out the year while learning the wideout position. Coaches used him as a running back on occasion (48-209-4.4, three TD) during his senior season, but he won the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year award because he led the Bears in receiving (69-946-13.7, four TDs) while starting 11 of 12 games played. Hurd had a procedure on his knee in December, missing his team's bowl appearance.
Overview
Hurd was used as big slot but he might need to transition into a role outside to take advantage of his potential to stretch the field as a downfield ball-winner. He's still learning the nuances of the position, but he has outstanding traits, a great work ethic and an ability to get much better very quickly. While Hurd will be an NFL receiver, he offers a unique option of becoming a short-yardage banger near the goal line. His best days are in front of him.
Strengths
- Driven to prove people wrong after move from running back to receiver
- Elite size and length with plus athleticism
- Has physical attributes to drastically improve as a route-runner
- Sways defenders with aggressive head and shoulder fakes at route turn
- Understands route leverage
- Future jump-ball winner in red zone
- Uses size to squeeze out additional yards after contact as receiver
- Has length and frame to bully-finesse cornerbacks
- Long arms stab throws both high and wide of his frame
- Courageous to catch and secure in traffic in the face of inevitable punishment
- Used as running back at times and could offer unique roster flexibility
- Can batter defenses on short yardage once he gets momentum downhill.
Weaknesses
- Will need to expand route tree and learn to play outside the numbers
- Leggy with below-average short-area quickness
- Could struggle to defeat press coverage early in career
- Hasn't learned to vary route speeds just yet
- Hits his turns at high speed and drifts up the embankment
- Not a natural pass-catcher
- Needs to be catch-ready sooner to prevent throws from eating him up
- Lacks experience tracking and stacking down the field
- Disappointing effort as a blocker
Reasoning: Current GM, Bigfoot has gone rogue this draft. Locking into two of the top available prospects in the secondary were both great moves for the team. Since then, Bigfoot has drafted Drew Lock & Hurd in an effort to rebuild on the fly while Cam Newton likely sits out the season. Hurd is a nice compliment to the already deep receiving core of the Panthers. Hopefully he stands out after a year of development.
@raiders91sc is on the clock
