Stock up: Justin Jefferson flashes elite speed with impressive 40-time
Entering Thursday, a lot seemed to be riding on Justin Jefferson’s 40-time.
Coming off a ridiculous 2019 season with 111 catches for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns for LSU, the expectation for Jefferson was to run in the mid-late 4.5-range. He didn’t just best that mark; he shattered it. Completely.
Jefferson blazed with an impressive 4.44 unofficial 40-yard dash during his workout. Check this out:
LSU WR Justin Jefferson with a 4.44 40-yard dash
FREE DOWNLOAD FROM SDSEnter your email below and we will send you the LSU records graphic to be used for your phone background.
By adding your email address, you agree to receive emails with LSU football related news. You can unsubscribe at any time.
That's a GREAT time for him#NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/iDeW6RysAa
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) February 27, 2020
Route-running and creating separation are the staples of Jefferson’s game, but with elite speed like this, no doubt his stock went up following his impressive 40-time.
Is Jefferson a first-round lock right now?
I don’t know if he is a first round lock, but, he is surely one of the very top receivers in this draft. He has great speed, hands and adjustment to the route to get open and beat the defender to the ball.
I would say this definitely locks him in as a first-rounder. Hoping the saints get him
That’s awesome. Great to see an SEC guy have success at the next level who’s didn’t wear orange.
Probably still angry about being left off All-America teams.
I don’t see how he wouldn’t be a first rounder now. Everyone already knew he had the hands and route running skills. His only question was speed, and he answered that pretty emphatically.
I only watched the first round of WRs, but he looked like the best guy out there during all of the drills. He runs smooth and has great hands.
Stop thinking that what you see on TV is what the scouts are saying in their personnel rooms. The articles, draft shows are entertainment not actual scouting and personnell decisions. If Jefferson wasn’t a first round talent before that sprint, then he wasn’t one after. That being said, I question the aptitude of anyone in NFL personnel circles who felt that one the best route runners with some of the best hands who has also proven to have the ability to play inside and outside positions with elite speed against the best defenses in the country wasn’t a first round talent this whole time.
You certainly underestimate the value of these combines for these players. Guys have come from way down in the draft into the first round just based on these results. That time just made Jefferson some money.
People like Kiper Jr make tons of money with their OPINIONS – odd that none of the NFL teams are throwing MILLION$ at them!! I’m glad the LSU wr’s are gone and Mr. Burrows too – doubt it helps my Gamecocks THAT much this year, but it shouldn’t be as embarrassing as it would have been! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of receivers make catch after catch in traffic or contested situations. Bama’s guys had incredible speed, but LSU receivers seemed better overall.
LSU’s WRs aren’t gone – Ja”Marr Chase Terrace Marshall Jr, and Trey Palmer are back.