2021 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

• Ja’Marr Chase 
• School – LSU (Louisiana State University) 
• Height: 6’1 
• Weight: 205
• Position: WR 

2019 Statistics: 84 rec, 1,780 rec. yards, 20 touchdowns, and 21.19 avg per reception

Ja’Marr Chase is a well-rounded wide receiver who put up outstanding numbers in his sophomore campaign while opting out of his junior year because of COVID-19.

He is sitting out this season so you may not hear his name as often, but make no mistake about it, he will be an early pick in the 2021 NFL draft. One thing that sticks out for me in his game film is he is a natural hands catcher, he will not let the ball travel inside his body, and he displays that he has strong hands to make those tough, contested catches.

He shows unselfishness in his blocking and will fight relentlessly till the whistle. Another great attribute Ja’Marr has is he typically plays bigger than his size. This is mostly highlighted in situations such as attacking the jump ball & grabbing it at its highest point. He is a versatile playmaker as he can line up from the outside and slot positions, and even in the backfield to cause mismatches with the linebackers. Also, he has the ability to make his man miss one on one, but at the same time has a solid body frame that he uses to bounce off the first couple of tackles.

Lots of times, defenses may need multiple defenders to bring him down. On the flip side of things, Ja’Marr showed some struggles when defensive backs would get their hands on him at the line, but he is agile enough that if they shoot their hands & miss, he is an immediate danger downfield.

He is truly a first-round talent who I could see ending up & making an impact on the Miami Dolphins or the New York Giants and/or Jets. Some player comparisons that come to mind when I see him on the field are Robert Woods & Kenny Golladay. I see Woods as a similarity as far as his measurements & as an overall polished receiver and Golladay with the explosive athletic ability that they both share.

When you put into perspective some of the great wideouts to emerge out of LSU, what will help you in believing Ja’Marr Chase is at the top tier of that list is that he is the only wide receiver in school history to surpass 2,000 career yards in only 2 seasons as a Tiger. Also, he’s only missed 1 game in his collegiate career so he seems to be very durable. 

About the Author: Ryan Fernandez was a wide receiver at Becker College. He has a passion for scouting and would love to scout at the professional level. Ryan will be breaking down 2021 NFL Draft Prospects on NFL Draft Diamonds, so make sure you follow him and support him on Twitter @BigDreams_9.