Redskins: Five 2020 NFL Draft prospects to watch in NCAA championship
By Ian Cummings
No. 5 – LSU WR Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson is my second-favorite wide receiver in the 2020 NCAA Championship game, only to Clemson’s Tee Higgins. But I see Jefferson as being a more realistic target for the Redskins, as Tee Higgins will likely go somewhere from the mid-first round to the mid-second round.
If the Redskins were to trade back, then Higgins would be a more realistic possibility, but more likely than not, they’ll sit at No. 2 and select Chase Young. Thus, other options need to be sought. Luckily for them, Justin Jefferson provides just as good, if not better value.
I peg Jefferson’s round value from Round 2 to Round 3. There’s an off-chance he could sneak into Round 1, given the depth and particularly subjective nature of this receiving class, but there are some minor questions surrounding his game that could hold him back.
Higgins and Jefferson are similar prospects in a sense. Both flourish at the catch point with innate flexibility and focus, and both have the ability to create after the catch with agility and elusiveness. Higgins’ edge comes from their physical comparison. Higgins is bigger; he’s 6-foot-4, 215, while Jefferson is 6-foot-3, 192, and Higgins has a better overall size-to-speed ratio.
That said, Jefferson is a dynamic player in his own right. He’s a very solid athlete who can create at all phases of the catch, and he offers some versatility with his alignment, with the ability to go on the outside or in the slot. It’s unclear if adding weight would sap some of his dynamism at the next level, but even as is, he’s a tough, exciting complimentary threat to an offense.