Last year, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur explained what his offense looked for in the slot, highlighting a need for consistent separation – like any receiver – and the intelligence to handle everything that goes into playing inside.
In the slot, a receiver must understand coverages and leverage and always be on the same page as the quarterback. Most routes inside have choice options built-in, allowing the slot receiver to adjust on the fly to the coverage. As LaFleur noted, it takes a special kind of athlete with a special understanding of the game to thrive in the slot.
LaFleur might as well have been talking about LSU’s Justin Jefferson, who would be the perfect slot receiver for the Packers if he’s available to GM Brian Gutekunst in next month’s NFL draft.
“I think a slot, especially with what we want to do, has to have some good instincts, and really you want a smart player that you can call choice routes with and it takes smart players to do that,” LaFleur said in March of 2019.
Jefferson, the favorite target of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, led college football in total catches and catches from the slot. He then impressed at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds and hitting 37.5″ in the vertical leap at 6-1 and 202 pounds, quieting all worries about his speed and explosiveness and cementing his status as a first-rounder.
The Packers will especially like Jefferson’s experience and intelligence from the slot.
“In the inside, it’s not easy to be an inside receiver,” Jefferson told Bucky Brooks of NFL.com. “Just to pick the defense apart, knowing exactly what they’re running, and then running my routes off their defense. Just being a smart player.”
Jefferson also talked about his versatility to also play on the outside, and his desire to continue improving both on the perimeter and in the slot.
His production in the short to intermediate areas of the field was silly in 2019.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jefferson caught 80 of 93 targets and scored 11 touchdowns on passes thrown between 0-19 yards (not including screens). He caught over 90 percent of his contested targets, averaged over 6.0 yards after the catch and forced 23 missed tackles.
It’s certainly possible, maybe even likely, that Jefferson won’t be available when the Packers come on the clock in April. His collegiate production and pre-draft work might’ve boosted his stock into the top-25 range. But if Jefferson is available, it’ll be hard for the Packers to find a better prospect capable of filling a bigger need. He’s a perfect match for what LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers need in the slot.
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