Jaylen Reed was forced to make a positional adjustment following Kevin Winston Jr.’s season-ending injury, moving from nickel back to his traditional safety spot. He thrived despite the change, keeping Penn State’s defensive secondary intact. On Saturday, Reed’s diligence paid off as he was selected by the Houston Texans with the No. 187 overall pick of NFL Draft’s sixth round.
Reed becomes the fourth Nittany Lion to hear his name called, joining defensive end Abdul Carter (No. 3, Giants), tight end Tyler Warren (No. 14, Colts) and Winston, who was taken No. 82 by the Tennessee Titans on Friday.
Reed had been a consistent contributor at Penn State ever since the program took him in as a four-star recruit out of Detroit in 2021. But this past season was by far his most efficient. Reed led the Nittany Lions with 98 tackles, adding 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and six pass deflections on the way to a second-team All-Big Ten selection.
Statistically, Reed was one of the nation’s top defensive backs in 2024, a campaign that helped define him as a potential draft sleeper.
His draft stock only climbed after posting a 4.49 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, a time that ranked tied for eighth among participating safeties. Reed is quick and plays with an edge that should allow him to become a versatile option across the field at the next level.
