2023 NFL Draft Player Preview: K.J. Jefferson

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K.J. Jefferson, 6-3/236 Quarterback Arkansas

K.J. Jefferson 2023 Preview
By Charlie Campbell

Career Recap: Arkansas was one of the surprise teams in the SEC and nation in 2021, and Jefferson was the catalyst for the Razorbacks. The first-season starter showed impressive dual-threat ability in 2021 and put up a lot of points against SEC defenses. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,676 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, he racked up an additional 664 yards and six touchdowns. Jefferson led Arkansas to a 9-4 record on the season, and the Razorbacks came close to being even better given that they only lost by a touchdown to Alabama and had a one-point loss to Ole Miss.



2022 Season Outlook: Arkansas plays in the toughest division in college football, so Jefferson will see some tough challenges against talented defenses like Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU. He also has quality non-conference opponents on the schedule, including Cincinnati, BYU and Liberty. Jefferson will be challenged by losing his No. 1 receiver, Treylon Burks, to the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Skill-Set Summary: Over recent years, the NFL has gone away from traditional pocket-passing only quarterbacks in search of more dual-threat quarterbacks with the ability to make plays with their feet. Jefferson definitely possesses that kind of ability. He is dangerous threat who can hurt defenses with his arm or his legs.

As a passer, Jefferson shows the ability to throw accurately downfield. Throughout 2021, Jefferson tossed some beautiful passes vertically, lofting in touch passes to receivers for big plays. With impressive precision and ball location, Jefferson did a nice job of airing out passes and dropping them into his receivers over defensive backs. Jefferson showed advanced ball security and decision-making to avoid interceptions.

Along with passing with good touch, Jefferson stood tall in the pocket and would not panic with the rush bearing down on him. Jefferson has quality size, which helps him see the field well, and he would regularly work beyond his first read to work through his progressions. When pressured, Jefferson does not automatically look to run. Instead, he will keep his eyes downfield to see if a target breaks open.



Jefferson’s dangerous running ability makes him a special prospect who is very tough to defend. As a runner, he has plays that are reminiscent of Cam Newton at his best with the way he dodges defenders and runs through tackles using his powerful frame. Like Newton, Jefferson is tough as nails, showing the ability to take take hits and keep coming downhill on a defense. Jefferson is a tremendous weapon who can make big plays with his feet when everything is covered because he has a second gear to accelerate downfield and his speed will take defenses by surprise. Jefferson is a quick, elusive, and natural runner who can carve up a defense with his feet.

The junior has things to work on for the NFL still to become a more highly graded prospect. Overall, he has to become a more polished pocket passer. Jefferson throws some passes a little late, and he needs to throw with more anticipation. Those issues could easily improve as Jefferson gains experience. His footwork could stand to improve and grow more consistent as well. While Jefferson has a quality arm to loft passes, it will be interesting to see if he can drive some fastballs into tight windows to beat tight coverage. If Jefferson continues to develop as a pocket passer, he could really take off as a prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft.



2023 NFL Draft Expectations: Entering the 2022 season, Jefferson has the potential to be an early-round prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft.

2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern Jordan Addison, WR, USC Will Anderson, DE, Alabama Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State Steve Avila, G, TCU Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland Micah Baskerville, LB, LSU Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU Brian Branch, S, Alabama Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson Chase Brown, RB, Illinois Sydney Brown, S, Illinois Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisvile Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina Max Duggan, QB, TCU Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Notre Dame Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon Derick Hall, OLB, Auburn Jaren Hall, QB, BYU Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU Broderick Jones, G, Georgia Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa Will Levis, QB, Kentucky Quan Martin, CB, Illinois Cody Mauch, G, North Dakota State Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford Kendre Miller, RB, TCU Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss Cam Mitchell, CB, Northwestern Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Mike Morris, DE, Michigan Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Zion Nelson, OT, Miami B.J. Ojulari, OLB, LSU Demarvion Overshown, LB, Texas Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame Clark Phillips, CB, Utah Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas Chris Rodriguez, RB, Kentucky Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, USC D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

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