Rookie Spotlight: Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State

Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Hands: 9 3/8″
Arm: 30 1/2″
40 yard dash: 4.45 sec (projected)
2024 Age: 23
NFL Comparison: Dee Eskridge, Marvin Mims
Breakout Age: 22 (SR)

Final Season Team Production Shares

Receptions: 25%
Receiving Yards: 30%
Receiving TDs: 27%
Total Production: 27%

As a high-school prospect: Class of 2020; 3-star

Pros
Extremely shifty with the ball in his hands
Covers a lot of ground quickly
Willing to go up and get the ball
Top tier kick returner
Sees the whole field
Experience as a corner
Maneuvers like a running back

Cons
May be relegated to the slot due to size
Inexperienced as a blocker
Teams may see him primarily as a return man

Scouting Notes:
There’s a dearth of game tape on Griffin, but from the limited action available to view it’s easy to see why he’s an exciting prospect. Griffin is shifty with ample wiggle, but he’s solidly built and builds some steam moving forward – He reminds me of a running back when he’s got the ball in his hands. He’s willing to lay himself out to make the catch too, a welcome trait for a smaller receiver. Griffin’s experience as a kick returner, arguably the nation’s best – his 32.2 average yards per return led the nation – , has obviously aided him in finding the ball in the air, as he is able to track the ball with ease. He’s played corner in his past too, so he has a cogent understanding of what he’s going up against on most plays. Able to stretch the field, he holds the record for most receiving yards(256) in a game for Mississippi State, Griffin plays almost exclusively out of the slot (91% in 2023) so he hasn’t necessarily faced a lot of press – Whether he’ll be able to separate in press coverage will be a major question for Griffin. He also hasn’t been called on to block much. Griffin seems sturdy, but he doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence as a blocker. All in all, Griffin is uber-dynamic and quick to get to top speed. He’s one of the players I’m more excited to get an eye on at Shrine Bowl practices.

Fantasy Outlook:
I fear that Griffin might be seen by most teams as primarily a kick returner. It’s for good reason, as he’s technically unparalleled among rookies. As special as he might be in that department, it’s not going to pay off in most fantasy leagues, unless he’s able to get regular snaps as a receiver. His performance at the Shrine Bowl and subsequent Combine will go a long way in helping determine whether he’s considered a dual threat in the NFL. If he does see the field more than just on special teams, Griffin has the talent to break away for big gains and ultimately big games in fantasy. I think it could be an uphill battle, though.