Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson accepts NFL Combine invite

Auburn senior safety Jaylin Simpson has been invited to the NFL Combine and has accepted the invite. Simpson will perform and be tested at the best showcase for the NFL on Feb. 29 – Mar. 3.

Simpson, who started his career as a corner, will work out as a safety after having 4 interceptions at the position this season. He was generating draft buzz during the season, and now will have the chance to test well ahead of the draft.

Simpson draft stock

Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy spoke to On3’s Andy Staples about the draft stock of Jaylin Simpson back in September.

“He’s not the biggest guy, he’s like 5’11 and a half, about 180 pounds, but a high end athlete,” Nagy told On3‘s Andy Staples. “I posted some of those video clips of him dunking today. Someone on the staff up there, a good buddy of mine, Trovon Reed, we got him as a free agent when I was with the Seahawks and man he’s like a son to me. I love him, and he sent me those pictures of Jaylin dunking.”

Nagy believes Simpson has a rising draft stock going into the senior bowl.

“So you’re talking about a guy that’s gonna blow up the combine,” Nagy said. “You see the range. He’s got true centerfield skills, and probably athletic enough to play some nickel. I think that’s what a lot of teams right now are looking for, that nickel/free type of player, and they’ve got so many good ones.” 

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths and weaknesses provided by nfldraftbuzz.com

STRENGTHS

• Does a good job getting his head around in time when playing with his back to the line of scrimmage. Has the ability to cover quickness underneath.
• Reads the QB and gets good breaks on the ball. Bigger hitter than his slight frame implies. Closes quickly and generates explosion.
• He’s tall-framed with long arms to match. With his powerful hands, straight-line speed, and fluidity in his hips, turning and chasing downfield shouldn’t be a problem.
• He’s tall-framed with long arms to match. With his powerful hands, straight-line speed, and fluidity in his hips, turning and chasing downfield shouldn’t be a problem.
• Has the change-of-direction ability to mirror underneath but did solid work out of press and off coverage.
• In coverage, Simpson has the fluid hips and speed to turn and run with athletic tight ends. Simpson also shows tremendous awareness and an understanding of routes when sitting back in zone coverage, with the twitch and speed to close on the ball quickly.

WEAKNESSES

• Has tense ankles and hips with choppy footwork when attempting to redirect and doesn’t always look natural changing directions.
• Susceptible to the big plays as a gambler at the catch point and as a catch-and-run victim. He’s also too reluctant to come up and make hits in run support, often focusing on the strip more than the tackle. 
• He’ll draw plenty of flags early on with his playing style. Simpson is hesitant when facing the action in zone coverage.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.