Braylon Staley WR Tennessee |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #14 ROLE: Slot Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.34 seconds (94%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #14 | |
| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.34 seconds (94%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.7 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 110.3 | |
| Hands: |
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67% |
| Short Receiving: |
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74% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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80% |
| Deep Threat: |
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80% |
| Blocking: |
|
51% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#87
Position rank:
#14 (WR)
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| College Games: 16 College Snaps: 830 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
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247 RATING: 96/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Williams - Washington State |
|
91% |
| Skyler Bell - UConn |
|
90% |
| Jalen Royals - Utah State |
|
89% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Braylon Staley grew up in Aiken, South Carolina, where he starred at both Aiken High School and Strom Thurmond High School. A standout multi-sport athlete, he won three South Carolina state titles in track and field, including two in the triple jump and one in the 200-meter dash. On the football field, he posted 69 catches for 1,116 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior, earning Class 2A Upper State Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State recognition.A consensus four-star recruit ranked as a top-300 national prospect by the major services, Staley chose Tennessee over more than 25 Division I offers, including Clemson, Miami, and North Carolina. He enrolled early in January 2024 and redshirted that fall, appearing in four games with three catches for 21 yards.
The breakout came in 2025. Starting all 13 games at slot receiver, Staley broke Kelley Washington's Tennessee freshman record with 68 catches for 837 yards and six touchdowns. He led all SEC freshmen in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, and ranked second in the conference overall in catches. The performance earned him SEC Freshman of the Year honors from both the coaches and Associated Press, making him just the third Vol to win the award after Jamal Lewis and Peyton Manning.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Elite slot speed that pulls away from coverage on option routes
- Weaponized catch-and-run, manufactured 389 yards after the catch in 2025
- SEC Freshman of the Year production, 843 yards and six scores
- Sudden release that uncovers instantly against inside leverage
- Balanced deep and intermediate work, went for 109 on Arkansas
- Instinctive feel for zone windows, sits down and works to the ball
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Slight 190-pound frame gets muscled by bigger nickel defenders
- Struggled in traffic, won only four of thirteen contested targets
- Nearly a pure slot, limited experience winning outside the numbers
- Route tree is still narrow, leans on speed to separate
Scouting Report: Summary
Only the third Vol to win SEC Freshman of the Year, after Jamal Lewis and Peyton Manning, Braylon Staley announced himself as one of the more explosive slot receivers in the conference. He caught 68 balls for 843 yards and six scores from the slot at Tennessee, turning short throws into 389 yards after the catch with elite timed speed and a sudden release that uncovers him before defenders can settle.The concerns are the ones that follow smaller movement receivers. At 190 pounds he gets muscled by bigger nickels, he won only four of thirteen contested targets, and his route tree is still narrow, leaning on speed rather than nuance to separate. He also has little experience winning outside the numbers, which narrows the early role.
He fits a spread offense that motions him and attacks the middle of the field on option routes and screens, letting his speed manufacture yards without asking him to win contested reps. That he posted this as one of the youngest starters in the SEC, against real coverage every week, is the strongest point in his favor. Overall, the production and separation are ahead of most slots his age, and Staley projects as a starting movement slot with real upside if he adds strength and expands the route tree.
How other scouting services rate Braylon Staley (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
124.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
17.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.