LSU Football: Ja’Marr Chase is first WR off the board in 2021 mock draft

LSU football’s Ja’Marr Chase will be a hot commodity in the 2021 NFL Draft.

LSU football‘s Ja’Marr Chase, a rising junior, isn’t just one of the best wide receivers in the nation — he’s one of the best players in all of college football.

The Louisiana native, who was a four-star recruit in the 2018 signing class, exploded last season for 1,780 yards 20 touchdowns on 84 receptions.

Chase was so good in 2019 that he likely would’ve been the first wide receiver selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

So it shouldn’t be a surprise that Chase is currently projected as the first wide receiver off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The latest mock draft from USA Today’s Draft Wire has Chase being selected by the New York Giants with the No. 4 overall selection.

Ja’Marr Chase’s draft stock can’t improve in 2020

Chase is in a weird spot where he can’t really improve his draft stock in 2020. In fact, his main objective in 2020 (aside from winning another national championship at LSU) is to not hurt his draft stock.

While I have no idea if Chase will land with the Giants like Draft Wire’s prediction suggests, I feel pretty confident that the LSU standout will be a top-five selection.

I think the only thing that could keep Chase from being a top-five pick is a significant injury or a serious drop in production.

Injuries are impossible to predict.

A drop in production, however, is likely for Chase in 2020.

LSU’s offense isn’t going to be as prolific in 2020 as it was in 2019. I have a lot of faith in Myles Brennan, but he’s not Joe Burrow.

But will Chase’s drop in production be enough to make him slide in the draft?

I doubt it. A drop in production for Chase in 2020 could still leave him with one of the best stat lines in the nation.

It’s hard for me to envision Chase not being the top wide receiver selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.