STRENGTHS
DJ has excellent athletic talent and a high football IQ to impact for the team that selects him the day after the draft. He shows on film excellent quickness and his body type shows power and strength in both his lower and upper body. DJ has excellent soft hands to catch the ball and excellent eye/hand coordination to make the difficult contested catch. He has running back size and abilities to gain yards after the catch and move the chains. DJ ‘s ability to adjust to the ball in the air and get open with quickness in and out of his breaks makes him an impact player in the right offense. In short, DJ is a weapon and a match up night mare for defensive coordinators.

CONCERNS
DJ is a slot receiver with running back skills very much like Randall Cobb. He will struggle if used as an outside receiver because of a lack of height and pure speed. He has good speed but he is more quick than fast and unless he is matched up with a strong armed QB who can get the ball into tight areas DJ’s impact position will be on special teams and as a slot receiver.

BOTTOM LINE
There is no doubt in my mind that DJ is an impact offensive player for the team that selects him but, he has to be in the right offense with the right play calling coach. Jarvis Landry is a perfect example of the impact DJ could have with the right team. He is strong and quick and with his running back size and strength and will gain yardage after the catch very much like Jarvis has. On the other hand he also has the same athletic talent as Randall Cobb and Randall has struggled to impact consistently because of injuries and the offensive system that he is in. So don’t select DJ if you’re team’s offense and offensive play caller doesn’t respect the impact slot receivers can have for your offense. I do understand the thinking that you can’t run your offense through the slot receiver position for a 16 game schedule. Nevertheless this position is becoming more of an impact, play making position and DJ is a play maker and an impact player and adding him to your team will only open up your offense. Making a defense defend the middle of the field allows for sweeps and screens and the lateral speed receivers on the outside, to be in more single coverage situations. Safeties and linebackers will be a step late helping out on these types of plays when their priority becomes defending the middle of the field. Of course when they do spread out to help out that leaves the middle of the field open for those pass catching tight ends and slot receivers like DJ who can run inside or outside and catch quick passes on the inside or outside and gain that all important yardage after the catch to move the chains. Like I said with his athletic talent DJ is match up nightmare.

Drew Boylhart   FEB.2018