With the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
When the LSU Tigers won the College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2020, some called the Joe Burrow-led squad the best in the history of the sport. Who was Burrow's favorite target during his Heisman Trophy campaign?
Chase.
Chase opted out of his junior season at LSU because of COVID-19, but frankly didn't have much left to prove after hauling in 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. In an offense that also featured Justin Jefferson and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, it was Chase who stood out the most as a future NFL star.
Had Chase been eligible for the NFL Draft last year, he may very well have been the top wide receiver taken. He'll take that honor home in 2021 instead, as the *** selected him with the *** pick in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday.
Measurables: 6'0"/208 pounds
School: LSU
2020 stats: Opted out due to virus concerns
Accolades: 2019 Unanimous All-American; 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner;
Strengths: Displays tremendous awareness when asked to catch passes near the sidelines or in corners of the endzone...He's 6'0", but he plays even bigger than that...He regularly "Mossed" cornerbacks, which at the NFL level will either continue or lead to opponents drawing spot-of-foul pass interference penalties trying to cover him...he's not as quick as Jaylen Waddle, but his speed will play, nonetheless...after opting out of junior season, he should be very fresh physically, and his 4.38 40-time suggests that he stayed very engaged in his year away
Weaknesses: There is a difference between preparing to play football and actually playing it, so there may need to be a short readjustment period to the speed of the game, which is true for all players that opted out this past year...He's also just played way less football than some of the other top wideouts in this year's class
Expert scout analysis: "His polish shined across those 14 games, where he showcased the makings of a dynamic No. 1 receiver in the NFL that has the skill set needed to produce at all levels of the field," said Joe Marino of The Draft Network.
Tape:
Player comparison: Victor Cruz
Chase (6'0", 208 pounds) is similar in size to Cruz (6'0", 204 pounds) and you see similarities both in how they attack 50/50 balls and how dangerous they can be if given space with the ball in their hands.
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