Terrace Marshall Jr. is a 6’3" 201-pound WR from LSU. Marshall has had a very productive college career that included winning a national championship in 2019 with the record-breaking 2019 LSU offense. Despite Marshall’s outstanding play, he has been overshadowed by other star WRs in the offense like Justin Jefferson and Jamarr Chase, and LSU’s lackluster season in 2020. Because of these factors, I think that Marshall may end up being another 2^nd round steal at the WR position like AJ Brown and DK Metcalf.

 

Terrace Marshall Jr. proved on his pro day that he has the speed to compete at the next level. When watching Marshall’s tape, he didn’t jump off the screen as a true speedster, but at his pro day, Marshall put up a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash and put all of the skeptics in their place. His speed combined with his smooth release package and route running ability is incredibly impressive, and something that can translate well to the NFL. His release package was something that really stood out to me. Marshall has an outstanding feel for his defenders’ leverages, and he uses stutter steps, hesitations and slight balance shifts to gain a couple of steps on his defenders straight off the line. Once he gets into his routes, he has an excellent ability to use over exaggerated head and shoulder movements to blow past defenders. He has great hips and has that wiggle that reminds me a lot of WR Stefon Diggs. He is incredibly tough to stick with, and he also has a bigger frame which makes it easier for him to make plays when he’s closely guarded.

Marshall can win 50/50 balls and goal line fades as well because he has impressive jumping ability, ball skills and a solid catch radius. I wouldn’t consider him to be a consistent winner at these types of plays in the NFL like Deandre Hopkins, but he at least has the frame and skillset to win at an above average rate. He wins by being an all-around wide receiver who has the ability to win at all phases of the game. He isn’t going to be the player to make the jaw dropping play every week, but he can win his matchups and contribute to an offense every game.

One of the main concerns I had when watching Marshall’s tape was his tendency to not catch the ball away from his body, and his tendency to drop routine passes. It doesn’t matter how great you are at getting open and making plays with the ball in your hands if you can’t make the catchThis issue can certainly be fixed, and it isn’t something that makes me overly concerned about his future in the NFL, but it is something that could slow his acclimation into the league. He is often times so focused on getting downfield and beating the next defender that he doesn’t concentrate on securing the ball first. He also didn’t show a lot of acceleration and burst on the field. He looked like he could run, but I didn’t see anything the really made me think that he is an electric player, but his pro day proved that he can run with the best of them.

 

Marshall reminds me a lot of Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen. They both have great releases off of the line, they can win 50/50 balls with outstanding catch radiuses and ball skills and they are well-rounded and consistently find ways to make plays. Thielen and Marshall are both faster than they seem, and they are outstanding route runners. They both aren’t the flashiest players, but when it comes down to it they know how to win their matchups and provide an outstanding source of production for their teams. Thielen wasn’t a highly recruited player and had to work incredibly hard to find a spot in the NFL, while Marshall was a 5-star recruit, but these players both have been overlooked in their own respective ways. While Thielen had to overcome so many obstacles to get a chance in the league, Marshall has to overcome the large shadow that has been cast over him by his former teammates Justin Jefferson and Jamarr Chase. I think that these smooth route runners and well-rounded play makers show a lot of resemblance.

 

WR Davante Adams and QB Aaron Rodgers put on a show last season, and the duo shows no signs of slowing down, but the team is still in need of more help on the outside. They have some solid role players at the position, but I view them more as No. 3 options. Marshall could step into this team and be a great No. 2 option for Rodgers out wide. His ability to win in single coverage while Adams deals with coverages shifted towards him would be an outstanding addition to this offense. If Marshall were to land in Green Bay, I think he could be a WR2 in fantasy football. With a quarterback like Rodgers, in a high-flying offense like Green Bay, Marshall would have plenty of targets and opportunities to put up consistent numbers for fantasy managers.

 

With the loss of WR Corey Davis, the Titans will certainly be looking to bolster their WR core this offseason. WR AJ Brown is blooming superstar, and RB Derrick Henry is one of the best RBs in the entire league, but QB Ryan Tannehill could still use another weapon on the outside now that Davis has signed with the New York Jets. Marshall could provide this offense with a playmaker that can take a lot of the pressure off of Brown, as well as being a deep threat to stretch out defenses that often times stack the box to focus on Henry. If Marshall were to land in Tennessee, I think he would be an interesting option for fantasy players. He has the ability to make plays, and the Titans have been one of the most efficient offenses in recent memories. I would project him to be a borderline WR3 in this offense as a rookie.

 

Now that WR Emmanuel Sanders is no longer on the roster, the Saints will need to find some help for their new starting QB whether it be Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston. Marshall would offer another great option for the team opposite of Michael Thomas, and could really help their new starter transition to the NFL. For fantasy purposes, I wouldn’t be incredibly enthusiastic about this landing spot for Marshall as WR Michael Thomas and RB Alvin Kamara demand such a high target share. I would project Marshall to be an undrafted or late round ticket in fantasy drafts in New Orleans.

Terrace Marshall Jr. is an all-around player who can win at all aspects of the game. He isn’t a player to jump out at you as freak athlete, but can provide an NFL offense with a solid route runner and play-maker out wide. I have him as my #6 WR in this draft class, and if he lands with a team with a lot of target share for him to receive he could impress fantasy managers all over with his refined abilities.

 

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