Draft Information by: Years, Teams, Positions

James Hayden () - 1971 NFL Draft Pick #301 by CIN

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Pre-Draft Analysis: James Hayden (1971 NFL Draft)

Player Profile:

• Name: James Hayden
• Position: Defensive Back
• College: University of Colorado

Scouting Report:

• Size: Standing at 6'0" and weighing around 190 lbs, Hayden possesses the ideal size for a defensive back.
• Speed: Known for his exceptional speed, Hayden can cover a lot of ground in the secondary, making him a threat against both the pass and run.
• Cover Skills: Exhibits strong man-to-man coverage abilities, showing good footwork and agility to stay with receivers.
• Ball Skills: Displays excellent hands, often coming down with interceptions and deflections, making him a playmaker in the defensive backfield.
• Tackling: Solid tackler who is not afraid to step up against the run, demonstrating good form and technique.

Strengths:

• Excellent athleticism and quickness, allowing him to match up well against faster receivers.
• High football IQ, capable of reading plays and reacting quickly.
• Experience playing against top-tier competition in college, which should translate well to the professional level.

Areas for Improvement:

• Needs to improve his ability to read and react to route combinations effectively.
• Could work on his physicality at the line of scrimmage to better disrupt receivers' timing.

Overall Evaluation:

James Hayden is regarded as a promising prospect heading into the 1971 NFL Draft. With his combination of size, speed, and skill, he has the potential to become a valuable asset in the secondary for any team. While he may need to refine certain aspects of his game, his upside makes him a player worth taking a chance on in the early rounds of the draft.