Jayden Reed Comes Off The Board In 2nd Round Of 2023 NFL Draft
The wait is over for Michigan State senior wide receiver Jayden Reed, and Spartan fans will get to watch him multiple times per year in the NFL.
After impressing professional scouts and evaluators throughout the last two and a half months, Reed was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 50 overall selection in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Reed will be part of a new era in Green Bay. The Packers have been led by just two quarterbacks, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, for the past 30 years, but after they traded Rodgers to the New York Jets earlier this week, it's a new day in the Bay.
Green Bay will be quarterbacked by Jordan Love, who they drafted No. 26 overall in the 2020 Draft. Reed will provide Love with a reliable receiving option, as both are practically beginning their NFL careers together.
The Packers are getting one of the more underrated players in the draft in the 6-foot, 185-pounder from Naperville, Ill. After leading the Spartans in receptions (59), receiving yards (1,026) and receiving touchdowns (10) as a junior in 2021, Reed saw his production drop off significantly during last season's disappointing 5-7 campaign to MSU.
But that drop in production had little to do with Reed's ability. The senior dealt with various lingering and nagging injuries going all the way back to fall camp last season, and that was exasperated when he received a large cut on his back after sliding into a metal bench on Michigan State's sideline.
Furthermore, the Spartans' passing game suffered without a reliable rushing attack to keep defenses honest. In 11 games, Reed finished with 55 receptions for 636 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.
When Michigan State's season ended with a 35-16 loss to Penn State on Nov. 26, Reed had a little over two months to get his body right before the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl. The Naperville native dazzled NFL scouts and evaluators. during the week of practice leading up to that showcase event, and got his draft process off to an excellent start.
From there, Reed performed admirably at the NFL Draft Combine and eventually Michigan State's 'Pro Day' in East Lansing on March 15. From there, Reed was considered a sneaky good and underrated wide receiver in this year's draft.
Green Bay will reap the benefits after selecting him on Friday during Round Two.
