What kind of NFL career we should expect from Jauan Jennings
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings didn't do himself any favors at the NFL Draft combine. Jennings, who has never been known as a burner, ran a 4.72 in the 40 yard dash. Analytics are a huge part of professional sports these days, which means Jennings' 40 time will be heavily scrutinized for the next […]
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings didn't do himself any favors at the NFL Draft combine.
Jennings, who has never been known as a burner, ran a 4.72 in the 40 yard dash.
Analytics are a huge part of professional sports these days, which means Jennings' 40 time will be heavily scrutinized for the next two months.
But just how important is Jennings' 40 time? And does it tell us anything about what kind of career he'll have?
I don't think we should totally dismiss 40 times. Speed is important. But I also don't think it should be the measuring stick for a wide receiver. There are plenty of examples of extremely fast wide receivers who failed in the NFL (Jacoby Ford/JJ Nelson), and wide receivers who ran "slow" that ended up being perennial Pro-Bowlers (Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin).
Anyone who has watched Jennings play at Tennessee knows he isn't a guy who is going to stretch the field. He's never going to be a guy streaking down the sideline for an 80 yard touchdown (unless Teez Tabor happens to be covering him).
Jennings' value comes in his ability to catch the ball in traffic, break tackles and gain yardage after the catch. Jennings is a chain mover. He's a guy that could finish a game with 7-8 catches for 70-80 yards on a weekly basis in the NFL. Jennings isn't going to have monster games, but I think he'll consistently produce.
The former Vol should also be a reliable red zone target. If the ball is on the ten yard line, flip it to Jennings in the flat and let him go to work. There's a good chance he's scoring.
Assuming Jennings can stay healthy, I see him being a player that catches 60-80 passes a year, averaging around 10-12 yards per catch.
Essentially, I think his floor will be 60 receptions for 600 yards and his ceiling will be around 80 receptions for close to 1,000 yards.
I think most NFL teams would take that kind of production from a likely mid to late round selection.
Jennings might not be a future hall of famer, but his unique skill set should allow him to have a solid/productive NFL career.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
