I Think LSU WR Justin Jefferson Locked Up First-Round Draft Status

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No one is going to confuse Oklahoma’s pass defense for the New England Patriots or anything, but the four-touchdown performance by Justin Jefferson in the College Football Playoff semifinal should help to make sure he gets drafted in the first round come April.

Jefferson finished Saturday with 14 receptions, 227 receiving yards, and four touchdowns.

Before Saturday, Jefferson was projected to go 28th to Green Bay in the latest CBS Sports NFL mock draft and one spot later at No. 29 to New Orleans by Heavy. Todd McShay in his NFL Mock Draft 1.0, had him going as high as No. 15 to Indianapolis, while others, like Bleacher Report, left him out of the first round altogether and have 10 other wide receivers ranked higher.

After going off on such a big stage, it’s going to be hard to pass up on Jefferson, and I’m certainly not the only one who feels that way.

Several teams likely drafting in the bottom-half need playmakers for their franchise quarterbacks, and the 6-foot-3 receiver certainly fits the bill. Both Green Bay and New Orleans have clear-cut No. 1 wide receivers but little beyond that. Putting Jefferson alongside Davante Adams would be a gift for Aaron Rodgers, and the same can be said if he can line up opposite Michael Thomas for Drew Brees. If nothing else, there will be a lot less collateral damage than if they actually bring AB into their locker room.

Another team that can use a wide receiver is Philadelphia, who could very well find themselves in the postseason and picking in the 20s. They’re ravaged by injuries at the position and using a former quarterback as their No. 1 target right now.

CBS Sports has Jefferson ranked as the 38th-best prospect overall, as well as the seventh-best wide receiver. By the next round of ranking releases, I wouldn’t be surprised if he leaps up a few spots. If he goes off again in the CFP final, it’s a certainty.

With his size and resume, I’d have him ranked over 5-foot-11 Jalen Reagor from TCU — currently the fifth-best WR prospect by CBS Sports. While he didn’t have Joe Burrow throwing him balls, Reagor only caught one ball for nine yards against the same Oklahoma secondary that Jefferson torched. With draft stock, plenty of weight goes into what players have done lately. It is draft stock, after all. By playing on the biggest stage, and performing exceptionally well on the biggest stage, Jefferson is doing nothing but helping himself and his NFL future.