Alabama football: Potential landing spots for Jaylen Waddle in 2021 NFL Draft

Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jaylen Waddle, Alabama football
Jaylen Waddle, Alabama football, 2021 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Tuscaloosa News Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr. /

Alabama football will be at the forefront of the 2021 NFL Draft, especially the first round, so which teams could select wide receiver Jaylen Waddle?

The first round of the NFL Draft is often littered with numerous Alabama football prospects and 2021 will be no different. Fresh off a dominant run to another Crimson Tide National Championship, there could be as many as eight members of that team taken in the first 32 picks. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is pretty much a lock to be one of those players.

While teammate DeVonta Smith put forth a campaign that earned him the Heisman Trophy, Waddle actually spent much of the season sidelined due to injury. He suffered a broken ankle on the opening kickoff against Tennessee and didn’t return — except for a few snaps in the National Championship Game.

Before the injury, though, Waddle was even more impressive than Smith in the Alabama offense. He’s not the same level of route-runner as his Crimson Tide peer but his speed and athleticism are a cut above. He’s a big-play threat with the ability to win as a vertical threat and with run-after-catch ability. Not to mention, he’s also a potential star as a returner.

Taking all of that into account, it’s hard to think there are many teams that wouldn’t like to have the Alabama football wideout on their roster. Having said that, these five teams are realistic and ideal landing spots for Jaylen Waddle in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Jaylen Waddle 2021 NFL Draft landing spot No. 5: Miami Dolphins

NFL fans are going to be fixated on the Miami Dolphins throughout the offseason and for good reason. If they stand pat, they have two first-round picks in the 2021 draft coming off of a 10-6 season and can add the assets to possibly contend. However, they also stand as one of the most likely landing spots for Deshaun Watson.

Whether Watson or Tua Tagovailoa lines up under center in Week 1, though, the Dolphins wide receiver group is lacking. They have pieces with DeVante Parker starting to see his potential in addition to Preston Williams and Jakeem Grant emerging as role players. But they lack a true game-breaker.

That’s what Waddle does perhaps better than anyone in the 2021 class at wide receiver. The third-overall pick would be too early to possibly pair him with his former Alabama football teammate in Tua but, if they trade down or if he slips to No. 18, he should be seriously considered by Miami.