Auburn Edge Jalen McLeod drafted No. 194 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Multi-year starter at edge for Auburn, Jalen McLeod has been drafted in the 6th round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. McLeod is the No. 194 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

McLeod as a recruit

On3 Industry Ranking (2019 Recruiting Class): No. 2,072 nationally, No. 217 linebacker, No. 15 in Washington D.C.

Jalen McLeod was a three-star recruit in the class of 2020 out of Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C. He signed with Appalachian State out of high school. In three years at App State, McLeod recorded 76 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

As a transfer, McLeod committed and signed with Auburn in May of 2023.

McLeod at Auburn

McLeod was a two-year starter for the Tigers from 2023 to 2024. In 2023, McLeod 48 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. He broke out once again in 2024 playing much more stand-up linebacker. McLeod elevated his numbers to 57 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. He also had 2 forced fumbles.

Strengths and Weaknesses

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Scouting Report: Strengths

• Exhibits rare positional flexibility – can rush off the edge with his hand in the dirt or drop into coverage from a two-point stance with equal effectiveness
• Natural leverage player who consistently gets under offensive tackles’ pads, using his compact frame to establish a powerful anchor against the run
• Possesses an explosive first step off the edge that catches tackles off guard, particularly devastating when utilized in twist and stunt packages
• Shows advanced processing speed when reading blocking schemes, rarely takes false steps and maintains proper gap discipline
• Brings controlled violence as a tackler, consistently wraps and drives through contact with excellent finishing power in the box
• Demonstrates impressive spatial awareness in zone coverage, understanding route combinations and carrying receivers through his zone
• Relentless motor that never quits – fourth quarter production matches first quarter intensity, especially as a pass rusher
• Quick-twitch athlete who can redirect in space, showing excellent change of direction skills when working through traffic

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Undersized frame raises concerns about holding up against NFL offensive linemen, particularly when working against double teams in the run game
• Can get engulfed by longer-armed tackles who catch him cleanly, needs to develop better counter moves when initial rush is stalled
• Shows some hesitation when diagnosing complex run schemes, occasionally getting caught in no man’s land against RPO concepts
• Tackling technique in space needs refinement – tends to duck head and lunge rather than breaking down and securing form tackles
• Pass rush arsenal still developing – relies heavily on speed and effort rather than refined hand usage and technical sophistication

Scouting Report: Summary

After breaking down McLeod’s tape, I’m convinced he’s going to make defensive coordinators very happy at the next level. The film against Texas A&M and Alabama showed exactly what makes him special – the explosive first step off the edge that gave five-star tackles fits, combined with the spatial awareness to drop into coverage and take away crossing routes. That’s not something you see every day from a 236-pound defender.

The Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles immediately come to mind as perfect landing spots. Both defenses love to create chaos with pre-snap movement and hybrid players, and McLeod’s film screams scheme versatility. Watch his game against Arkansas – three sacks coming from three different alignments. That’s the kind of flexibility that turns good defenses into nightmares for opposing offenses. His ability to win with speed off the edge while also having the hip fluidity to cover in space gives him intriguing developmental upside.

While his size limitations and tweener status might push him down draft boards, I see McLeod as a day three gem waiting to happen – likely in the fifth-round range. The production against SEC competition (8 sacks, 13.5 TFL in 2024) proves he can hang with elite competition, and his versatility makes him an ideal special teams contributor from day one with the potential to develop into a valuable defensive piece. Some size-obsessed teams might overlook him entirely, but in the right system, he has the tools to outplay his draft position significantly.