The Bucs have decided to trade up with the Seattle Seahawks to select WR Jaelon Darden with 129th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Bucs traded picks No. 137 and No. 217 to the Seahawks in exchange for their 129th pick.
Seahawks trade: Pick 129
Bucs trade: Pick 137, 217
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 1, 2021
Darden hails from the University of North Texas. He was the Mean Green’s starting wide receiver for three years before declaring for the NFL Draft in 2021.
Darden joins Joe Tryon, Kyle Trask, and Robert Hainsey on the list of prospects the Bucs have decided to draft this year.
Below is Darden’s scouting report, per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler:
“A three-year starter at North Texas, Darden played the A wide receiver position in head coach Seth Littrell’s spread system, lining up inside and outside. He leaves Denton as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38) and is attempting to be the program’s first draft pick since 2004 (and the first wide receiver draft pick in school history).
Darden has electric feet to win off the line. He separates out of his breaks and can create with the ball in his hands. Only DeVonta Smith and Amari Rodgers had more yards after the catch (576) in 2020. He relies more on speed than seasoning as a route runner. Darden will struggle to be a ball winner in tight windows at the next level. Overall, Darden is obviously undersized, which will limit his role potential in the NFL. But his foot quickness and home run gear will leave defenders in his dust. He projects similar to Jakeem Grant when he was coming out of Texas Tech.”
How do you feel about the Bucs deciding to trade up in order to select Jaelon Darden? Let us know in the comment section below!
