YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul has never shied away from taking shots at the NFL and its stars. Last month, the 29-year-old said he wants to chase an NFL career as a slot receiver after boxing.
“I do have NFL aspirations after boxing. I want to play slot receiver, and so I think to get that experience, college first would be good so I could walk onto the Stanford team,” he said.
However, that idea quickly drew a blunt response from former First-Team All-Pro wide receiver Roddy White, who believes the plan could end badly if Paul seriously pursues it.
Jake Paul’s NFL Ambition Took A Hit As Roddy White Called Out His Disrespect
During an interview with “Hard Rock Bet,” White addressed Paul’s ambitions and questioned whether he has a realistic path into the league.
“I don’t even know what position he would play,” White said. “I know he was a wrestler in high school before taking up boxing. I was also a wrestler, so I know he’ll have a good level of athleticism, which will maybe give him a chance. Maybe he could play linebacker, running back, or tight end, but I’ve never seen him catch.
“But I would say he wouldn’t make it in the NFL at this point in his life.”
Paul, 29, stands 6-foot-1 and weighs around 200 pounds, which fits more than a few positions. But lining up in the slot demands a completely different level of toughness.
Receivers working inside regularly absorb crushing hits from linebackers and safeties closing at more than 20 miles per hour.
Still, Paul believes he can make the jump, and questioned the overall talent level across the league.
“I think there’s a lot of super mediocrity in the NFL,” Paul said. “A lot of not-good athletes, a lot of people dropping passes on a consistent basis. I have better hands than them, I’m faster than them, I’m stronger than them, I work harder than them. Really, all it’s going to take is me after boxing, practicing some routes.
“I have a couple of teams and coaches that I’ve already talked to that are already interested in bringing me on to the team. It’s really going to be quite easy.”
That statement only intensified the reaction from players and fans across the league. Because of those remarks, White urged Paul to think twice before chasing that dream.
“With the things he has said about NFL players in the past, I would advise him not to go out there,” he said. “He’s been disrespectful to football players before, so it would not be good for him if he went out to play in the NFL. It could get really ugly when they put those pads on.”
Absorbing a blindside block from a flying 245-pound linebacker is far different from taking a punch inside the boxing ring. The slot receiver position also demands years of refined technique and instincts that are difficult to develop at nearly 30 years old.
For now, Paul’s NFL pursuit remains only a possibility.
