STRENGTHS
Ja’Marr is a powerful, run after the catch receiver who can make the chains move as well as go deep and catch the contested home run ball. Because of his size, speed and explosiveness, he is a miss-match nightmare for any size defensive back or hybrid LB/Safety in coverage. His ability to make the contested acrobatic catch, and then come down with the ball and break tackles to gain more run after the catch yardage, is equal to any of the top receivers in the NFL. Ja’Marr runs good routes and he is lethal, when running a double move and almost impossible to stop because of his size and speed once he gets behind the coverage. Ja’Marr has the potential to become a franchise receiver, the type you base your offensive passing game on, and the type of receiver that will make an average quarterback into a great quarterback.
CONCERNS
Because Ja’Marr is so physical he has a tendency, not to explode out of his breaks on every route like he does when he runs a deep route. His slant routes are sloppy until he gets his hands on the ball and then he is a monster to bring down… but I am nitpicking.
BOTTOM LINE 1.56
When Cordelle Patterson came out I thought he was going to be a beast and a great receiver. That has not happened and the truth is to this day, I don’t know why. Ja’Marr is almost a clone of Cordelle when he came out in the draft. Ja’Marr does just about anything he wants to do on the football field just like Amari Cooper did when he was in college and yet Amari got traded. There is no doubt about Ja’Marr’s potential to be a franchise receiver for the team that selects him and yet he still has to prove it and prove it every day. Until he goes to the NFL and proves it I can’t think about comparing him to a Larry Fitzgerald or a Jerry Rice or anyone playing and producing at the next level right now just because he has that talent and potential. I believe you don’t select a receiver in the first round and yet I also believe there are exceptions to every rule… Ja’Marr could be that exception. There will be teams in the top ten of this draft who would be foolish to pass on not selecting Ja’Marr. Last year there were no receivers selected in the top ten but there were six receivers selected in the first round and all of them (when able to play) seem to be impact receivers… so much for my rule! My guess is that Ja’Marr will be selected in the top ten because the potential will be too much to pass on. For me personally, I would need other scouts to convince me to select a WR in the first round because it’s not personal… it’s just business. Nevertheless, there is not doubt about his talent and the fact he is deserving of being selected at any point in this draft and with a need at WR position yes, even in the top ten.
