NFL analyst Louis Riddick explains why he believes Ja'Marr Chase is the can't-miss prospect in the 2021 draft
When the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off from Cleveland, the run on quarterback prospects is expected to begin, but the teams selecting signal-callers early may be missing out on the top overall prospect in the draft.
Louis Riddick would likely make that case as the ESPN NFL analyst was recently a guest on The Dan Patrick Show and was asked to name the “can’t miss prospect” in the draft taking Trevor Lawrence out of the equation.
His answer?
A player that didn’t even suit up in 2020.
“I’m gonna say it’s Ja’Marr Chase,” Riddick answered. “I think you got to remember back in 2019 when this young man was 19 years old, he put together one of the greatest seasons you’ll ever see a wide receiver put together – and it wasn’t simply because LSU was better than everyone else.
“It wasn’t simply because Joe Burrow wound up being the number one overall pick, it was because this guy torched every single SEC defensive back he went up against. And many of them were very good, very good players who wound up getting drafted high in the NFL.”
During LSU’s run to the 2019 national title, Chase caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games. In the title game, Chase caught nine passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns.
The way Riddick views Chase, the receiver has everything you could ask for in a prospect.
“And when you just think when you look at how just how he’s constructed as far as his body type, I mean the guy is rock solid,” Riddick continued. “I mean, he’s a monster and he’s fast, and he doesn’t drop passes. He runs great routes, he can run inside, he can run outside. He can run deep, he can run short.
“He can run after the catch, he can beat you in 50-50 balls. I don’t know what else really you want him to do. And he’s just hyper-competitive. So, I mean, I think whoever takes him is instantly getting the 1,200-1,300 yard receiver.”
Chase may have opted out of the 2020 season just before it began, but that hasn’t cooled the receiver’s draft prospects one bit.