NFL Draft 2018: LSU’s DJ Chark is a receiver to be reckoned with
LSU wide receiver D.J. Chark may not have been a name you heard much outside of Baton Rouge. That could change quickly following the 2018 NFL Draft.
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D.J. Chark is a great wide receiver who had an average college career during his three years at LSU. Not bad, mind you–just average for a player of his obvious talents. LSU does have a tradition of producing some pro talent at the receiver position–thus far, the school has had 15 draft picks at receiver.
At the Senior Bowl, Chark blew scouts away–there is simply no other way to state it. In his final chance to showcase his talents, Chark caught five passes for 160 yards scored a touchdown. He was all over the field, and led his team to a 45-16 win. Chark hauled in a 75-yard touchdown pass and another 63-yard grab.
Chark’s play earned him MVP honors at the Senior Bowl. He kept that momentum going at the NFL Combine. Chark’s speed also caught the eye of the marketing team at Nike, no small feat.
Last few days have been unreal and it just became even better!!! Officially a @Nike athlete! ✔️
— DJ Chark (@DJChark82) March 5, 2018
Strengths
Chark has skills. He had a fantastic week at the Senior Bowl, and showed his speed and athleticism at the Combine. Chark had the highest vertical jump and the fastest 40-yard dash of all the receivers.
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He has the right size for a receiver, but what really makes him stand out is his acceleration. The guy is explosive. His versatility and speed leave defenders off-balance and he can get open to the quarterback quickly. He will be a great punt returner.
Weaknesses
In his time at LSU, Chark didn’t have the best stage to show off his talents. LSU’s offense was inconsistent at best and stagnant at worst. Chark was inconsistent, limited on routes and slow to make adjustments, but I have a feeling that was an issue with coaching and lack of strong leadership from the quarterback.
He is a bit narrow for the traditional NFL receiver, but he is young and can easily bulk up. He needs a bit of finesse, but his fierce speed and athleticism should make up for any deficiencies in making adjustments and in ball tracking.
Next: Latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft
Draft expectations
Initially, pundits opined that Chark would be a second or third-round draft pick, but that was before his awesome showing at the Senior Bowl. Now some analysts have him as a first-round pick. He is an acrobatic, hair-trigger runner. He seems like a young Odell Beckham Jr. in his style, particularly in how he handles screens and reverses. He will be an explosive playmaker for the right squad.
Projection: Late first round to early second round