The 2021 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Ja’Marr Chase 2021 NFL Draft profile.
Background
Position: Wide Receiver
Size: 6-foot, 208 pounds
Class: Junior
2019 stats: 84 receptions, 1,780 receiving yards, 20 touchdown catches, 21.2 yards per catch
Although the SEC chose to play this fall, Chase has decided to opt-out of the 2020 college football season. He sat out and started preparing for the 2021 NFL Combine and NFL Draft.
Chase was one of the best players in Louisiana coming out of high school and decided to stay in-state to play for the Tigers. As a freshman, Chase received playing time and put up 23 receptions for 313 receiving yards and three touchdowns. His play helped LSU win 10 games including the Peach Bowl over UCF. During the 2019 season, Chase broke out and ended up winning the Biletnikoff Award. He recorded 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. Chase was a major factor on the team that went 15-0 and won the National Championship.
There wasn’t much more that Chase could do to improve his draft stock at the college level, which is why he opted out. He is currently projected to be taken very early in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Strengths
Chase may be just 6-foot, but he is incredible on 50/50 balls. He has good hands under normal circumstances, but really is excellent at coming down with contested catches. Throwing in his vicinity gives Chase a chance to come down with the ball, as he adjusts his body well to make the play. He has an enormous catch radius for his size because of his ability to high-point the football and come down with it. This is what makes him a valuable deep threat and helps show off his athletic ability.
He is also a great route-runner. Chase was able to run a lot of different routes from a lot of different spots on the field at LSU, as he played inside, out and even lined up at running back for a few plays. He will not be the fastest receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he gets out of his cuts quickly and creates separation. Chase will need to keep fine-tuning his route-running to make all of his routes crisp, but he has a great starting point for the next level.
His physicality and strength is very apparent. He is best when corners play off of him, but when they do press, he has the strength to beat it. This also comes into play when he is fighting for position on jump balls. After catching the ball, he runs very hard and is tough to bring down because of his physicality more than his elusiveness.
Weaknesses
Chase’s speed will come into question at the next level. He is quick and creates separation, but doesn’t have the speed to consistently run away from defenders in the open field. Chase won’t be slow by any means, but he is not a burner and shouldn’t be used as such.
He has the strength and physicality to be a great blocking receiver, but sometimes comes up short. Chase could improve his blocking form, as he stands straight up and looks like he is just trying to hold defenders off rather than clearing holes. On blocks when he is in the slot, defenders were able to shed his blocks and make the play.
Like any receiver, Chase does have some drops. He had a few focus drops and at other times he had trouble with throws that were behind him. Against Texas, Chase had a touchdown possibility, but the ball was thrown over the wrong shoulder and he couldn’t come down with the ball. Most of the time he can come down with incredible, crazy catches, so he easily makes up for the few drops he had at LSU.
Projected Draft Range: Top 10 Pick
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