2022 DFF Draft Coverage: Jalen Tolbert

Jalen Tolbert | South Alabama 6’1” 194 lbs. | 02/27/1999 (Age 23)

Jalen Tolbert was drafted 88th overall by the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the 15th wide receiver and 88th overall player in the 2022 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

 Year  Games Played   Receptions   Yards   Yards/Catch   TDs 
 2018 (FR)  5  5  60  12.0   0
 2019 (SO)  12  27  521  19.3  6
 2020 (JR)  11  64  1,085  17.0  8
 2021 (SR)    12  82  1,474  18.0  8

A talented athlete who put together tremendous productivity during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He started to break out during the 2019 season, as he led the Jaguars with six receiving touchdowns. But his real coming-out party came in 2020. In 11 games played, he hauled in 64 receptions for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns. His 1,085 receiving yards were the seventh-most in the nation. He decided to stay one more year, which paid off mightily as he topped nearly every 2020 number. Tolbert ranked sixth in the FBS with 1,474 yards, as he set a school record with 82 receptions to go along with eight more touchdowns. His 178 receptions and 3,140 receiving yards during his collegiate career were also school records. 

STRENGTHS

Stellar body control, high-points the football and showcases outstanding big-play ability. Sinks hips for sharp, quick turns and cuts. Imposes his will on weaker and smaller defenders. Excellent change of speeds and fights through tough, contested coverage. Wins a ton of 50/50 catches. Gains separation with impeccable acceleration off the line of scrimmage. Topped 100 yards receiving in seven games during the 2021 season. 

WEAKNESSES 

Not a great blocker. He gets into position fine but gives up on blocks too early. Witnessed way too many undisciplined drops. Can improve positioning on deep routes and lacks second-gear acceleration. The level of college competition was also weaker. 

ATHLETIC TESTING

At the NFL combine, Tolbert measured in at 6’1” and 194 lbs. Which equates to a BMI of 25.6. He ran a solid 4.49 40-yard dash (70th percentile), equating to a 95.5-speed score (56th percentile). Tolbert also displayed a 122.7 burst score (58th percentile), an agility score of 11.32 (41st percentile), and an impressive college dominator score of 51.2 percent (96th percentile). 

Tolbert shows great speed, as well as decent leaping abilities. He’s not elite in anything per se.  We witnessed some drops at the combine, which is something he did a little too often on the college field. 

DRAFT ANALYSIS 

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Good

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Good

Tolbert was selected with the 88th-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. 

Dak Prescott watched Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson head out of Dallas this offseason. He now welcomes Tolbert to a wide receiver room that already rosters CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and James Washington. 

FANTASY INSIGHTS

Tolbert will more than likely serve as a WR3/4 for his new team. He’s a top-20 receiver out of this class. And he may not make an immediate fantasy impact right away in his pro career. He brings WR3 upside, but he will have to work hard if he wants to see high-volume opportunities this season. You should be a little hesitant when deciding on where to draft Tolbert in any league format. 

Thank you for tuning in to DFF’s 2022 NFL Draft Coverage! Stay tuned as we break down every fantasy-relevant pick during the draft. Please consider becoming our yearly DFF subscription member so we can continue to deliver top-notch analysis and fantasy breakdowns. Our yearly subscription will save you $40 and lead you to fantasy championships. You can also follow me @dirrim23, where I love talking about all things fantasy football! #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLDraft #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeBuilding