Makai Lemon of USC gains a lot of attention and draft buzz due to how much of an elite playmaker he is. However, Ja’Kobi Lane is not that far away from Lemon in terms of what he can do to defenses. He can be an elite weapon, too.
Ja’Kobi Lane may have been the second-best receiver on his team, but I believe Lane was one of the best receivers in the country last season, and should be viewed at least as a top-ten receiver in this draft class. Experts are still wary of their projections of Ja’Kobi Lane.
In a recent analysis, expert Jordan Reid projects Ja’Kobi Lane as the 13th-best receiver in this NFL draft class. He gives Lane a 3rd round draft grade and lists him as the #81st overall prospect in the class.
Ja’Kobi Lane remains a sleeper in this NFL draft and an under-the-radar prospect. His production is really solid for a receiver who shared targets with the Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon. Lane has the size and speed, showing that with a great combined performance. He can be a matchup nightmare in the NFL. Zero character flaws and nothing but good reports coming out about him.
Looking back at this draft class a year later, when experts want to do redrafts, Ja’Kobi Lane will be looked at as a prospect that had no business falling out of the first round, let alone getting selected in round 3. Christmas will come early for whichever team is able to stumble upon Lane.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: NFL draft experts are not convinced by USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane