Ja’Marr Chase 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Ja’Marr Chase didn’t play this past year after opting out of the season, but there’s no question that the former LSU wide receiver is special. Chase is the number one wide receiver on my draft board and for good reason. Let’s dive into the 2021 NFL Draft profile on Ja’Marr Chase.
With Chase, you have to start with that magical 2019 season. It wasn’t just a magical season for LSU. It cemented Chase as the top dog in the 2021 NFL Draft. We all saw how awesome Justin Jefferson was as a rookie for the Vikings. Chase was better as a sophomore on the same college team… Oh boy!
In 2019, Chase recorded 84 receptions, 1,780 receiving yards, and 20 receiving touchdowns. It was one of the best seasons ever for a college wide out. He did all that while Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall were also on the roster. Point being; this cat is special.
I think the number one thing that stands out about Chase is how strong he is at the catch point. He has mits of steal. As a 19-year-old playing in the SEC catching 20 touchdowns, Chase only dropped five balls that year. He was playing against a lot of tough corners too. I wrote this not too long about but the number of excellent corners he slaughtered along the way can’t be ignored.
Chase is sooooo physical. Listed at 6-foot, 205, Chase looks like a running back that’s running smooth routs on the outside while beating you up along the way. What he did to Trevon Diggs in 2019 is borderline criminal. I believe Diggs will be a real NFL corner. Chase went for 140 yards and a score on six receptions while being guarded by Diggs the entire game. For the record, Diggs is also three years older.
Originally tweeted by Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) on August 30, 2020.
Chase has proven he can make big plays down the field. Chase notched a 14.3 average depth of target mark. His 21.2 yards per reception ranked second just behind CeeDee Lamb in 2019. Chase is quietly a very good route runner and does big work on the outside.
Chase ran a 4.38 at the LSU Pro Day which is an excellent time. Look, I don’t want to say the Pro Day times are a little juiced. I see a supped up version of Anquan Bolden with Chase. I expected him to run in the high 4.4 or low 4.5 range. Either way, speed wasn’t a concern. The 4.38 time surely confirms that.
Another thing that stands out with Chase is his route running. Don’t even bother pressing Chase at the line of scrimmage. You’re losing that battle. In terms of pure route running, Chase has the quickness to get where he wants. Chase is just so explosive. The 41 inch vertical wasn’t surprising either.
Originally tweeted by Footballerei (@Footballerei) on March 31, 2021.
With the ball in the air, the LSU product is so good at contorting his body in the air and making a play on the ball. There’s something to be said for the way Chase understands angles and can wall off defenders from the ball. Even after the catch, you can see Chase has an angry streak to him. He can pick up those crucial YAC yards.
Teams shouldn’t worry about turning the card in for Ja’Marr Chase. Especially what Justin Jefferson gave NFL teams a year ago. Chase is special and has all the tools to become a huge success in the NFL.
