The 2019 LSU Tigers offense was stockpiled with NFL talent. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson teamed up with fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase to form the most potent duo in the country. Chase led the nation in receiving touchdowns with 20, while Jefferson was right behind him in second place with 18.
In 2019, Jefferson caught 91 percent of his targets and his 111 receptions were tied for the FBS lead. He played primarily in the slot where he was able to show off his shiftiness after the catch. Jefferson made his living in the middle of the field and was an extremely reliable target for Joe Burrow.
Some have called him a quarterback’s best friend, so, just how well would he work with Drew Lock?
Positives
Jefferson improved drastically from 2018 to 2019, as he saw his production soar in terms of receptions to touchdowns. He also cut down on dropped passes and was a legitimate red zone threat. Last year in the red zone, Jefferson had 17 receptions on 20 targets for 12 touchdowns, leading all wide receivers in the 2020 draft. The Broncos offense struggled in the red zone last season, ranking 28th in the league; the wideout could help remedy that.
To the surprise of many, he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, as he was previously clocked at 4.55. In addition to his decent speed, his ability to slow down, fake one direction and then accelerate is impressive.
Jefferson’s ability to take short passes and turn them into big gains will make him an asset for any NFL offense. Another strong aspect of his game is the excellent job he does of gaining separation at the line of scrimmage.
His willingness to block in the run game will serve him well in the NFL, too, along with his tremendous size for a slot receiver.
Negatives
Jefferson only caught 8.1 percent of passes that came on targets of 20-plus yards down the field. That ranked him behind prospects such as Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Reagor, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and K.J. Hamler.
In college, he played in a spread offense, where often times he had a wide open field and tons of space to work with and that most certainly will not be the case at the next level.
He is not particularly strong in jump ball situations and is fairly limited in 50/50 throws.
Verdict
Although Jefferson played in a buzz saw of an offense and put up video game numbers, he did just that playing against the best competition college football has to offer. His unique blend of athleticism, route running and toughness make him an enticing first-round option. Slot receivers tend to transition quickly to the NFL and Jefferson could provide instant value for the Broncos offense.
Draft Projection: Mid-to-Late first round
Player Comparison: Marvin Jones