2019 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside

Positional ranking: #4

Big Board ranking: #27

 

Overview

Position: WR

College: Stanford

Class: Junior (RS)

Age: N/A (will be updated)

 

Measurables

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 225 lbs.

Arm length: 33 1/4″

Hand size: 9 1/2″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: DNP

Vertical jump: DNP

Broad jump: DNP

Bench press: DNP

3-cone drill: DNP

Short shuttle: DNP

 

Strengths

Elite rebounder with a large catch radius. Excellent timing as a leaper. Strong and physical. Knows how to use body positioning to shield defenders on jump balls. Superb hand-eye coordination. Catches the ball away from his body. Tough in traffic. Exceptional ball tracker that always gets his hands to the catch point. Works back to the ball to draw penalties. Great quickness for his size.  Deceptive as a route runner. Gets his feet down on the boundary. Subtly creates separation when the ball is in the air. Reliable target on quick hitters. Has experience in the slot. Picks up yardage after the catch. Very good downfield blocker.

 

Weaknesses

Long speed is in question. Didn’t run a complex route tree at Stanford. Will consistently face bigger and more physical cornerbacks at the next level.

 

NFL comparison

Larry Fitzgerald – We don’t know if J.J. Arcega-Whiteside has the late-game clutchness and overall ability to step up in big moments like Fitzgerald, but he is otherwise a very similar weapon in the passing game.

 

Conclusion

Overall, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is a prototypical possession receiver that projects as an elite red-zone threat for an NFL team. I think the Stanford product is clearly a top-five wideout in the class and worth considering in the first round.