At the end of the season, the Jets signed several players to futures contracts for the 2021 season. We’re going to take an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses for each of them over the next few weeks, continuing today with wide receiver Jaleel Scott.
The 25-year old is listed at 6’5” and 210 pounds and was a fourth round pick out of New Mexico State in 2018. Scott has only two catches in his NFL career so far, most of which was spent with the Baltimore Ravens.
Background
Scott was originally set to attend Maryland but ended up having to attend Ellsworth CC because he was academically ineligible. In his third year at Ellsworth, Scott caught 45 passes for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns and then transferred to New Mexico State at the end of the season.
In 2016, his first year with the Aggies, Scott caught 23 passes, including five touchdowns, and then had a breakout senior year with 76 catches for over a thousand yards and nine scores. He was a first team all-Sun Belt selection at the end of the season.
Scott attended the senior bowl and scouting combine and was eventually selected by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. However, he spent his rookie year on injured reserve after getting hurt in preseason.
In 2019, he had a good preseason and made the Ravens’ roster. However, he only played in three games and didn’t see any offensive reps until the Ravens were resting starters in the season finale. He caught one pass.
Scott spent training camp with the Ravens again this season but was released in final cuts and got signed to the Jets’ practice squad a few days later. He remained on there all year, although he was elevated for the Seattle game during which he caught one pass. Scott signed a futures deal at the end of the season.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Scott brings to the table, based on in-depth research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
The main thing Scott brings to the table is terrific size. He has a long-armed 6’5” frame, big hands and a huge catch radius.
He ran a 4.56 at the scouting combine, which isn’t bad for someone his size, and posted solid numbers for the broad jump and bench press. His other numbers were below average although he did improve his agility numbers at his pro day.
Usage
Scott primarily lines up as an outside receiver but did show some ability to produce when lined up in the slot during his final year at New Mexico State.
Deep threat
Scott isn’t the kind of player who will run behind the defense for a long touchdown and didn’t actually have any 50-yard plays with the Aggies.
However, his is a good downfield threat because of his size. You can just throw it up to him and he can go up and get it over the defender.
Scott tracks the ball well down the field and his size gives him a natural separation advantage on back shoulder throws and high passes.
Routes
As you’d expect for a bigger receiver, Scott runs a lot of go routes and crossers and has decent acceleration once he gets going.
Scott has been working hard on his route running and actually gets off the line and breaks down pretty well for a guy his size.
Hands
Scott’s draft stock took a hit after there were reports of him dropping multiple passes at Senior Bowl practices, but his hands weren’t an issue in college. In fact, he went viral with this incredible one-handed grab.
He displays good body control and an ability to make contested catches and stay inbounds near the sideline.
In preseason action, Scott dropped a couple of catchable balls and his overall catch rate in preseason and regular season action with the Ravens was below 50 percent.
Red zone
Scott had 23 touchdowns in his last three seasons of college ball and obviously has the tools to be a good red zone target. Here’s a play in preseason where they just threw it up for him to go up and get.
The Ravens ran the same play for Scott in the 2019 season finale but it got broken up by the cornerback.
After the catch
Scott doesn’t offer much after the catch. Although he’s big and strong, he doesn’t break tackles or drag defenders for extra yardage very often. Here’s a third down play where he probably should have had the first down but got cut down in the open field.
Blocking
As a college player, Scott graded out well as a blocker, which is hardly surprising because he was so much bigger than his man most of the time. At the NFL level he hasn’t had much of an impact but he seemed to at least make a good effort and play to the whistle with no obvious errors.
Physicality
A player like Scott needs to be strong at the catch point, but he learned in his first ever preseason game that he has some work to do in this area.
His size gives him a natural ability to box out defensive players and makes him difficult to re-route down the field.
On one preseason play, he had a 27-yard catch on a back shoulder throw negated because he pushed off.
Special Teams
Scott didn’t really play much special teams in college, but John Harbaugh praised his work in practice. The Ravens mostly used him as a jammer on the punt unit and also gave him some work as a punt gunner.
He also briefly saw some action in kick coverage and was a blocker on the kickoff return unit.
According to his college stats, Scott also punted four times in a 2016 game against Appalachian State. However, this was just a charting error.
Instincts and Intelligence
Scott didn’t get many chances to showcase his instincts with the Ravens, but he did make himself available underneath for a checkdown on this play.
Attitude
Although Scott had to go through the junior college route, he developed a strong work ethic and prepared well off the field. Coaches at the Ravens praised his efforts.
His on-field discipline has been good, with only five penalties in two years at New Mexico State, and he has no off-field concerns.
Injuries
Scott spent the entire 2018 season on injured reserve after suffering what was described as a severe hamstring injury. However, in 2019, the 13 games he missed were all as a healthy scratch.
Scheme Fit
A tall receiver who can catch passes downfield and be a red zone threat is a weapon most teams lack, so that’s how Scott will be aiming to establish himself with the Jets.
He was a teammate of CJ Mosley while he was with the Ravens.
Conclusions
As they say, you can’t teach height and that’s something Scott obviously brings to the table that other receivers generally don’t have. This gives him a chance of being retained as a reserve if that’s the kind of weapon the Jets’ new staff feels like they need at their disposal.
Since he doesn’t have a lot of experience as a special teamer, it might be difficult for Scott to prove himself worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster unless he has a productive preseason. However, a player with his skill-set always has a chance to remain in the system if they can show that they are capable of making contributions.