Ja’Marr Chase, LSU 6′ 0″ 207 lbs
Strengths
- Physical receiver with Alpha mentality
- Climbs the Ladder to snag ball at highest point
- Exceptional balance, making him hard to tackle
- Nice speed
- Fights for every contested catch
Weaknesses
- Route running needs refinement
- Not a great blocker in run game
- Hips tight in and out of breaks
NFL Player Comparison | Calvin Ridley
2021 Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection | Top 5 pick (assume 12-team league)
Bottom Line
Ja’Marr Chase is a complete receiver that many predict will be taken as the first WR off the board. There are a lot of things to like about Chase, and some things to improve on. He has excellent hands and is aggressive in going after the ball. Chase thrives in contested catch situations. He has elite footwork, and is able to run excellent stop/go routes that can break ankles. What is most notable for me on tape though, is his physicality and athleticism.
He performs best when corners stand off him, but he also has the strength to beat them when they do press. There are some questions about how his strength will translate into the next level, but a good strength program will keep him in the upper tier. Chase also has deceptive speed. No one will confuse him with Tyreek Hill but as seen above, he has the wheels to get by corners.
It’s not all roses though. His route running can be cleaned up, as he is not the most crisp coming out of breaks in the intermediate and deep area of the field. Cleaning that up will push him up the WR1 category in the pros. Another thing that could do well is downfield blocking. A little more effort could break a RB for a big gain. He doesn’t have to be the next Hines Ward, but some improvement should be expected.
Overall, the team drafting Chase will get a WR1 for their team, a guy with the complete toolbox both mentally and physically to become an elite option in the NFL.
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