The Tennessee Titans’ final pick in the 2024 NFL draft was Michigan edge rusher Jaylen Harrell, who was taken in the seventh round with pick No. 252.
Harrell actually has an NFL pedigree, as his dad, James, played in the league for eight seasons, seven with the Detroit Lions and one with the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, Jaylen did something his dad didn’t: he got drafted.
“My pops, he was undrafted, you feel me?,” Harrell said. “So, he had that killer mindset, that ‘They have to take it from me.’ Just getting that mindset instilled in me at such a young age, just being able to get drafted.”
Harrell will now look to get his NFL career off the ground like his dad was able to by earning a spot on the Titans’ 53-man roster out of training camp, something we project him to do.
But first things first: let’s find out more about the Titans’ seventh-round pick by taking a look at his scouting reports.
Position rank: 21
Round projection: 6th
Brugler:
“SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Michigan, Harrell lined up on the edge (two- and three-point stances) in defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s 4-2-5 scheme and was part of a heavy rotation (averaged 31.6 defensive snaps per game in 2023). After playing more off-ball while Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo were in Ann Arbor, he moved to edge rusher the last two seasons and led the nation’s top-ranked defense in pressures (31), tackles for loss (10) and sacks (7.5) in 2023. Although a straightline athlete, Harrell rushes with speed and determination. He gives blockers everything he has. He isn’t built the way NFL teams prefer for an every-down player, but he plays disciplined as an edge setter and prides himself on being “one of 11.” Overall, Harrell lacks fluidity and doesn’t fool anyone with his rush plan, but he brings a ton of effort and purpose in all areas. He projects as a subpackage NFL rusher, similar in ways to 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick Quincy Roche.”
Round projection: 6th-7th
Zierlein:“Good athlete but lacking size, play strength and aggression to thrive as an edge defender on the next level. Harrell fails to strike and take command of blocks early on and can be widened out by stronger run-blocking tight ends. He’s fairly talented at ungluing from blocks and darting laterally to get in on tackles. His pass rush will need to become his bread and butter if he is to make an NFL squad. He has a legitimate spin counter but will need to prove he can win around the corner with quickness and hand work. Harrell could be a Day 3 selection, and teams might eventually give him a shot as an off-ball linebacker.”
Round projection: Day 3
Parson: Jaylen Harrell is a stand-up edge rusher with suddenness and a quick first step to be an effective developmental third-down rusher.
Strengths:
Sudden and quick first step
High-effort rusher
Rush and coverage ability
Developmental athletic traits
Concerns:
Pass-rush repertoire
Run defense
Functional strength at the point of attack
Position rank: 20
Round projection: 6th-7th
POSITIVES
Good frame with solid size and good arm length for an NFL edge. Has room to add extra weight.
Quick to get his hands up against the run. Has enough strength to set the edge versus tight ends and is solid versus offensive tackles.
Physical against pullers and takes on blocks with good pad level to create stalemates as the force player. Has a nice wrong-arm move to get under pullers as the spill player in the run fit.
Solid inside spin move that he can win with as a pass-rusher. Clears the lineman’s hands with an impressive ice-pick while spinning.
Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.
NEGATIVES
A little late off the ball and false steps, hurting his get-off/ability to win with speed around the edge.
Doesn’t show great athleticism and isn’t sudden, limiting his pass-rush arsenal.
Lower body looks stiff, which hurts his bend. Doesn’t take good angles when rushing the passer, leading to inefficient paths to the quarterback.
Lack of change-of-direction skills makes it difficult for him to turn speed to power as a rusher.
