Falcons safety predicts ‘rare talent’ Jaylen Waddle will be ‘as good as he wants to be’ in NFL

The Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons held multiple joint practices ahead of their preseason matchup on Saturday.

Falcons safety Duron Harmon came away very impressed by Dolphins rookie receiver Jaylen Waddle. Harmon made it clear that he had kept tabs on Waddle throughout his college career.

“He looked like the college football Tyreek Hill,” Harmon said, comparing Waddle to the explosive Kansas City Chiefs playmaker. “You know, just how he was able to run through defenses, and then, when he got the ball, you know, make one cut and then he’s running up the sidelines.

“Just a rare talent, rare ability.”

Waddle reportedly showed out during the joint practices. One of his best plays included shaking off a Falcons defender after a catch.

Harmon went on to heap more praise upon Waddle, explaining what exactly makes him a special talent.

“Not only the speed but the quickness. His stop-start ability; there’s very few people that are that fast and that quick as well,” Harmon said. “Obviously you see all the ability there. It’s just about him getting more and more knowledgeable in the system, getting more and more comfortable.

“Just from practicing against him, as long as he stays with it, he can be as good as he wants to be.”

Dolphins fans will surely love to hear these comments from Harmon. Expectations are high for Waddle, who was selected by the team with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The 22-year-old spent his collegiate career at the University of Alabama, catching 106 passes for 1,999 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was teammates with Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a portion of his college career.

It will be interesting to see just how much of an impact Waddle is able to make during his rookie season. The Dolphins begin their regular season on Sept. 12.