The New York Jets selected Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore with the 34th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The class of wide receivers joining the NFL in 2021 is said to mirror a shift in the game -- and few players exemplify this better than Moore.
The relatively undersized athletic dynamo broke out in a big way last season, forcing his way into a first-round discussion already littered with several other pint-size wideouts looking to make their mark on the league and change perceptions about what the prototypical receiver ought to look like.
While generally considered by most scouts to occupy the second tier of wide receivers in his class, Moore's impressive 2020 production and game tape had many thinking he'll be ready to contribute meaningfully as a pro right away.
Here's what you need to know:
Measurables: 5’9”/178
School: Mississippi
2020 stats: 8 games, 86 receptions, 1,193 yards, 8 TD
Accolades: 2020 Associated Press First-Team All-American, First-Team All-SEC, Bilentnikoff Award finalist
Strengths:
- Elite speed and quickness, and plays bigger and faster than he is
- Lethal with the ball in his hands
- Played against top competition in SEC
- Very good route runner
- Can line up at running back
- Good hands
- Reads defenses well and adjusts routes accordingly
- Improved every season
- Productive in the return game on special teams
Weaknesses:
- Undersized -- outside receiver's skill set in a slot receiver's frame
- Questionable blocker
- Takes plays off
Expert scout analysis:
- "Ultra-competitive slot target with the talent and mindset to handle a heavy amount of targets and shine in the process" - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
- "His speed makes him a mismatch nightmare" - Laurie Fitzpatrick, Yahoo Sports
- "The potential is off the charts" - Doug Farrar, USA Today Sports
Tape:
Player comparison: Antonio Brown, Tyreek Hill
We don't lightly compare incoming rookies to All-Pros, but Moore's combination of raw talent and production in the SEC warrant serious attention. His game is more akin to Brown's than Hill's, but projecting Brown-like volume production for a hybrid receiver in a slightly undersized frame is obviously difficult. Whether he's more of a gadget player or an every-down beast, Moore is a strong bet to make an impact early on.
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