Here is a former LSU wide receivers Justin Jefferson’s scouting report and potential fit with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Fresh off of winning a National Championship, former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson enters the 2020 NFL Draft with some well-deserved hype. The 6’3” 192 pound pass-catcher ended his magical 2019 season with an impressive 111 receptions, 1,540 yards, and 18 touchdowns.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be scouting the wide receiver position hard this offseason and Jefferson will be a fun evaluation for them. In a recent mock draft, we had the Eagles taking Jefferson in the 2nd round following the Eagles’ Wildcard playoff loss.
Here is a scouting report and breakdown of Jefferson’s strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths: If you love route-running technicians, you will love Jefferson. There is something about the way he gets open that is so appealing. He is so crafty and creative. He can run every route there is, but his best may be the option route LSU let him run a ton. Jefferson would release off the ball slow and either breaks out, in, or deep. He dominated defenders off of it because he is so deceptive with his cuts and body movements. What I loved the most about him running this route was his understanding of where to be to help his QB make the easiest throw.
His hands are awesome. He had a few drops over the course of the year, but it isn’t an issue at all. If the ball is thrown to him and touches his hands, 99% of the time he is catching it. There were countless times when he snapped his head and the ball was already on him, but he plucks it out of the air with his hands.
Jefferson has great quickness while running routes. He pairs his quickness with his route running and can easily get open. At a bare minimum, he will have a successful NFL career as a slot wide receiver just based off those traits.
He makes contested catches and battles when the ball is in there air. He also makes plays when the ball is in his hands. He always tries to pick up the first down and once he secures the first down; he is trying to score. He had some “wow” plays after the catch this year.
Jefferson is also dominant in the red zone. If they are passing in the red zone, Jefferson is working to score touchdowns, and he scores a lot of them in the red zone (12 out of his 18).
He also steps up in big games. Against Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Clemson he averaged 9 receptions, 136 yards, and 1 score.
Weaknesses: I do not think he is the fastest guy on the field, but he isn’t slow. He just doesn’t seem to have that game-changing speed that some receivers do. He relies more on his craft than his speed, but that is okay.
He predominantly played in the slot at LSU, so he will need to show he can be more than a slot wide receiver in the NFL. He may never be a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL and that will be a big factor in where he is drafted. You need to hope he can succeed on the outside.
In the run game, he is very inconsistent with his blocking. Sometimes he just likes to be a spectator too soon instead of working. He does have great technique leading up to the block, but doesn’t always finish well as a blocker.
Overall Impression: Slot wide receiver or not, Jefferson is a dude. The guy is 7-Eleven; he is always open. I think he has the tools to succeed in the NFL on the outside, but I also think he is best suited to be a dominant slot receiver. Jefferson can easily be a 100-catch guy from the slot in today’s NFL.
He can also plug in Day 1 as a dominant red zone target. His weaknesses are not too worrisome, mainly because he is an ‘A1’ route runner. The speed will be a turn off for some, but his quickness and competitive nature will be more than enough to compensate for it.
Grade: First Round (Picks 24-32)
Fit with the Eagles: One of my favorite things about him is his ability to keep working and understanding when you have an elite quarterback, the play is never over. He would give Carson Wentz a target he can trust every single down and a guy that will finally create separation. He may never be a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but he could easily be the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver. There is a lot to love about his game and he would do wonders in Doug Pederson’s offense.
Picture him playing in Nelson Agholor’s role, but actually catching the ball and competing every single play. He would be everything the Eagles wanted in Agholor and then some. Wentz is elite in the red zone and so is Jefferson. Jefferson on the Eagles would be a match made in heaven.
I think if the Eagles want him, they can trade down in the first round and still get him. However, Jefferson should be a high on the Eagles’ draft board and a priority for them on Draft Day.
