Houston Texans select Penn State safety Jaylen Reed in 6th round of NFL Draft

Jaylen Reed didn’t take too much time to ponder what was the biggest lesson he learned from coach James Franklin over four years as part of the Penn State football program.

If you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.

“It might seem like a little thing, but if you show up late for anything, you’re job is on the line,” Reed told reporters during the combine early this spring. “So I feel like timing and preparation and having a plan throughout your life and having a plan throughout your football process, that’s the main thing I took from him.”

Reed’s next appointment will be at the headquarters of the Houston Texans, who made him the 187th overall pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. A second-team all-Big Ten honoree last season, the versatile Reed possesses a good combination of size (6-0, 211 pounds), speed (4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and production (team-leading 98 tackles, three interceptions in 2024).

“I really like Jaylen Reed from Penn State, who is 212 pounds and can run and just plays really, really well,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said during a recent media conference call. “Timing and burst as a blitzer. He can play the ball.”

According to Pro Football Focus data, Reed lined up at free safety for 47% of the 902 defensive snaps he played last season. Another 32% were at strong safety and 17% at slot corner. He was sent on the pass rush on 41 occasions, resulting in 2½ sacks and 10 hurries.

During only one of the 16 games he played for Penn State during their run to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season did Reed allow a touchdown reception to a man he had in coverage.