2025 NFL Draft: WR Rankings:
1
Matthew Golden
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 191 lbs
Strengths:
Golden is a speed demon who can threaten at any level of the field. He has the ability to take the top off deep, and has the ball tracking skills to make those tough catches over the shoulder. His hands are generally pretty reliable. When he does drop a pass, it is more an issue of concentration. Of course, with the speed he possesses, Golden is a big threat after the catch. He can make people miss, and if the defence can’t contain him quickly, he is off to the races. This skill set was on display on special teams too, where he was given some opportunities to return kicks. When he is on his game, Golden is a good route runner. His twitchiness allows for sudden movements and quick cuts. You can see how quick he is to stop, as he doesn’t need those extra stutters that would otherwise allow the defender more of an opportunity to make a play. Similarly, when he starts it back up, he gets to full gear fast.
Weaknesses:
Catch radius isn’t something that stands out with Golden. I don’t see him being someone who can consistently go up and make contested catches. Even traffic at a lower catch point can still cause him some issues. He isn’t the biggest guy, so fighting through contact, whether at the catch point or at the line, is naturally an area to improve in. Golden is a good route runner, but can sometimes look a bit relaxed when going through them. NFL coaches will be looking to see the crispness that he is capable of on a more consistent basis. As well, working back to the ball is something I’d like to see more of from him. There were times where the pass could have been less contested, had he worked back a little bit. Concentration drops popped up from time to time. It is something he’ll have to iron out. Golden has some experience blocking, but can be inconsistent in getting and staying engaged. A lot of his successful blocks consisted more of getting in the way and using his quickness to buy enough time, rather than actually engaging with his opponent.
Summary:
Golden has the athleticism and skill set to be an impact player at the next level. Despite some size concerns, he is quick enough, fast enough, and a good enough route runner to still make it on the boundary. He can make plays at all three levels, and also use his legs to pick up yards after the catch. This skill set has also led to some success in the return game, and should translate to the next level. Golden isn’t the best in contested situations, and can improve his consistency in some areas. But still, there is enough in the toolbox for him to be involved early.
| Grade: 86.0 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Travis Hunter
School: Colorado
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 188 lbs
Strengths:
Hunter is the first prospect who I will be doing two separate scouting reports on because he plays on both sides of the ball. This shows a lot of things about him, including his excellent stamina and football IQ. As a receiver, Hunter possesses the ability to elevate to make tough grabs. He is a springy player, who can go up with ease. As well, he is a natural hands catcher, plucking the ball in the air at its highest point, rather than reverting to body catches. His overall athleticism is quite good. Burst is probably his best athletic trait. In a north/south sense, he can get to top speed very quickly. This is good for downfield separation, but also allows him to make plays with the ball in his hands after the catch. Hunter is a smart player, whose spatial awareness stands out. Playing both sides of the ball has definitely fast tracked the mental side of his game. He is great at sorting out zone coverage and finding the soft spots. As well, he is able to recognize when the QB is in trouble and work his way back.
Weaknesses:
Hunter is a very lean player who can have a tough time against players with a size advantage. There were instances where he really struggled against press coverage. As well, making catches in traffic could be tough at times. Filling out his frame and getting stronger will be necessary at the next level. Hunter isn’t a stiff player by any means, but I do think he gets a little too much credit as being twitchy. His overall agility is fine, but I wouldn’t say he is an elite threat to make people miss in short areas. His yards after the catch, more so, are picked up through his elite acceleration. Hunter is very much still raw, and won’t be able to rely on physical traits at the next level. He will have to clean up his route running in order to create consistent separation.
Summary:
Looking at Hunter as a WR, it is easy to see why the hype is substantial. His long speed allows him to be a consistent threat down the field, while his body control and strong hands have led to some highlight reel catches. He isn’t perfect, at this point, and will have some things to work on. Getting stronger will be essential, so he can better handle the rigours of the game. As well, I’d like to see him improve his route running. But overall, the talent is there for him to be an impact player at WR. The question is if he will be playing WR or CB, if not both?
| Grade: 85.9 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
Tetairoa McMillan
School: Arizona
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 219 lbs
Strengths:
McMillan is a massive receiver with the size to give you consistent results in contested situations. He is a mismatch in almost any situation, and his strong set of hands gives him the ability to hang onto the ball through contact as he is coming to the ground. McMillian is much more fluid than you would expect from someone of his size. His build up speed is decent, but his ability to stop/start and make sharp cuts is outstanding for his size. This allows him to get open on crossers. He especially excels on comeback routes and back shoulders along the sideline. Though shots over the top aren’t necessarily his bread and butter, there will be times where he is able to get behind the coverage. As a runner after the catch, I wouldn’t consider him a home run hitter. However, he is shifty enough and big enough to slip the initial tackle attempt, before picking up some speed up field. Obviously, his size makes him an asset as a blocker, and he should continue to improve as he goes on.
Weaknesses:
Though his overall athleticism is good for his size, McMillan, by no means, is a burner. His speed is just okay. He can get loose deep on some occasions, but still, he often finds himself blanketed when working the deeper portion of the field. This puts him into more contested situations, which forces him to rely on his size. From a technique standpoint, he is a solid route runner. That’s not to say he can’t improve, but the bigger thing to me looked like his effort. On some occasions, the motor seemed to be running a lot softer, and it made his opponent’s job much easier when this was the case.
Summary:
McMillan brings great size and strong hands to the table, and is one of the top contested catch threats in this class. Or his size, his athleticism isn’t bad, and he is able to contribute on all three levels of the field. That said, he isn’t this perfect, do it all prospect. McMillan seems to be at his best on comeback routes and back shoulder passes on the boundary. As well, he works well crossing the middle of the field at the short-intermediate levels. As for vertical plays, consistency might not be as easy to come by. While he can make contested catches, and even get behind from time to time, he’ll still get blanked in coverage quite a lot in these instances. In terms of where he’ll line up, I think he is a boundary guy, but he is someone that can move inside as well, operating as a big slot. For McMillan, his floor seems pretty high, and he should be able to make it as a WR2. There are enough limitations to make me hesitant about projecting him as a WR1, but I wouldn’t rule it out either.
| Grade: 85.8 | Round Grade: 1st |
4
Luther Burden
School: Missouri
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 206 lbs
Strengths:
Burden is a quick player, who makes a lot of money after the catch. He excels in the shorter areas of the field, with his ability to create quick separation and then keep things going after the catch. His speed is good, and he can make people miss in the open field. Burden is also pretty slippery when defenders attempt to bring him down. Forcing missed tackles has allowed him to add on quite a few extra yards. Burden is fast enough and a good enough route runner to win on all three levels, even if the usage was a bit inconsistent. He utilizes head fakes to create an extra bit of separation, and has had success doing so. The body control that he was able to show with the ball in the air was one of my favourite parts of his game. He adjusts really well. On top of that, he is a hands catcher. His mitts are usually very sticky, and he doesn’t resort to body catching unless the situation legitimately calls for it.
Weaknesses:
Overall speed is good, but I’m hesitant to say that it is truly in that upper tier. I wouldn’t necessarily call him a burner, even if he can win with speed down the field. Burden has shown that he can be a good route runner, but there are times where he seems a bit lazy in this area. Some routes are rounded off and just not as crisp as they could be. In college, he was primarily a slot guy and did not have to deal with much press coverage. He will likely continue in the slot at the NFL level, but will still face a bit of an adjustment when it comes to the physicality. Burden can handle physicality with the ball in his hands, but it does cause a bit more trouble for him if it comes at the catch point. It can throw him off a little. Concentration drops also show up from time to time.
Summary:
Burden projects as a slot receiver at the NFL level, though I don’t think he is someone that can’t play on the outside. His speed and ability as a route runner could translate there as well. But the shot will probably be his highest and best use. Burden is a threat in the quick game, as he can create separation off the jump, before piling on the yards after the catch. Focus and concentration will be something to work on, so he can have more success coming down with catches through traffic, while also eliminating concentration drops. As well, the extra physicality that comes with the NFL game will be an adjustment. But overall, Burden has the tools to be an impact player at the next level, and could do a lot more damage than he did in college if a team expands his route tree. He should be someone that can contribute right away.
| Grade: 84.6 | Round Grade: 2nd |
5
Isaiah Bond
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 180 lbs
Strengths:
Bond is a silky smooth player who excels as a route runner. The combination of speed and agility is just amazing, and he also has the precision that can make him almost unrecoverable in some instances. Bond is effective at dipping his shoulder as he is getting into his break, and his routes are loaded with deception. Of course, with his speed, he is a vertical threat. But that doesn’t mean he is a one trick pony. Bond can work the middle of the field on all levels, and can run all the routes. He is a playmaker with the ball in his hand. His ability to make people miss is outstanding, and he can draw off pretty quickly. The underrated part about his game, when he is running with the ball, is his patience. Bond won’t turn on the jets just to run into a brick wall. He adjusts his tempo, and will let blocks develop in front of him, when necessary, before taking off. Bond will bring some versatility to an offence. He has the speed to make it on the boundary, but he can also be a dangerous weapon in the slot.
Weaknesses:
Size and strength are the main things when it comes to low points of his game. He has the speed and quickness to elude contact at the line. However, if he doesn’t manage to do so, defenders can throw off his route quite a bit when pressing him at the line. The biggest issue was his ability to hang onto the ball through contact. Even, in some instances, traffic was a nuisance for him. But when he takes a bigger hit at the catch point, he dropped the pass quite often, in my exposures. As well, Bond is not someone who you will rely on to elevate and make high point catches. He is someone that needs to create separation to win. Unsurprisingly, he isn’t a huge factor as a blocker. Bond has a lot of offensive talent, but his usage was extremely low for a highly rated prospect. Despite the talent he shows, this does pose some level of risk.
Summary:
Bond has the dynamic skill set to end up as a high end WR2 in the NFL. He brings speed, quickness, and precise route running, which allows him to win on all three levels. And he can do it on the boundary or out of the slot. As well, his athleticism and vision will make him impactful on end arounds and can even allow him to do some damage in the return game, should be used there. The things that might prevent him from becoming a number 1 are his size and lack of strength. Holding onto the ball through traffic has been an issue, and will continue to be one unless he gets stronger. But overall, the athletic traits will be more than enough for him to be an impact player, who offensive coordinators can manufacture touches for, in order to take advantage of his skill set as much as possible.
| Grade: 83.4 | Round Grade: 2nd |
6
Jalen Royals
School: Utah State
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 205 lbs
Strengths:
Royals has an impressive combination of quickness and strength that makes him useful on several quick routes and screen plays. It is a little tough to describe, but he’s almost got this sort of bounciness in his step. He is a very sharp cutter, and on a dime, can take his route in another direction. On these quick routes, he does well to create the early separation required. Then, with the ball in his hands, he is able to break tackles, and even dodge some, as he goes for some extra yards. Royals is a savvy route runner in general, not just on the quick stuff. He works the intermediate middle nicely, and has the awareness to find the soft spot and put himself in a position where the QB can find him. I also like how he works back to the ball. You do see the odd drop, but overall, Royals displays strong hands and is comfortable plucking the ball away from his frame. He isn’t the biggest guy, but also not the smallest. Royals does alright in contested situations. Traffic doesn’t seem to phase him, and he has the ability to elevate for the ball.
Weaknesses:
Royals is a good athlete, in a general sense. Even his speed is fine. However, he looks like more of a one speed runner. He has enough to get open deep, but maybe the consistency will vary. That extra gear to really gain an extra step just isn’t there. Luckily, his good route running is able to somewhat compensate. However, when running after the catch, he has been tracked down in the open field, after initially creating some space for himself. Overall, Royals is a good route runner. The one main issue is his play against press coverage. It’s not a matter of him getting overpowered, but his technique could improve so that jabs don’t have as much of an impact on him.
Summary:
Royals is a pretty well balanced receiver that brings a high floor and decent ceiling. The main issues are his burst/acceleration and speed. His speed isn’t even a problem, as much as it is a nitpick of him not being at that elite level. But his lack of explosion does prevent him from drawing off in the open field, and can also hurt him a little on vertical routes. Still, his savvy route running and quickness allow him to still make an impact in a variety of ways. He can get open nicely on short/intermediate routes, and he can still make plays with the ball in his hands, even if not a true home run threat. His toughness at the catch point further suggests that his game will translate to the next level. From a technical standpoint, the biggest thing to work on is how he plays against press coverage. At the next level, he should be able to play on the boundary or in the slot. I don’t particularly have a preference. Obviously the boundary is more the valuable position, but if a team already has two starters, there shouldn’t be any issue throwing him in the slot. In time, Royals has the potential to become a quality WR2.
| Grade: 82.7 | Round Grade: 2nd |
7
Tory Horton
School: Colorado State
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 196 lbs
Strengths:
Horton is a speedy wideout with the ability to make big plays vertically, or pick up more yards than he should on quicker routes. He is a good route runner for what he is naked to do. Horton is sharp in and out of his breaks, and combines that with good acceleration to create early separation in his routes. He can navigate traffic nicely as he gets to the middle on a crossing route. After making a catch on said route, his juke is highly effective at making the first guy miss. If he is ever given space, he can definitely be a chunk yardage guy after the catch. But lots of his catches in these situations came against softer coverage, with multiple defenders coming down on him. Still, he almost always made at least one guy miss, and was able to pick up some extra yards. Vertically, Horton can blow by the coverage, and his ability to track the ball over his shoulder is outstanding. He also has the height to go up for the ball if needed. I wouldn’t really call him a contested catch guy, but he isn’t useless in that area, but instead is capable, even if not the most reliable. His hands are very sticky, and you can tell he is a natural catcher of the football. He uses good technique to extend his arms and snag the ball out of the air. You rarely see bobbles or drops, and he can bail a QB out of a bad throw. Horton shows some willingness as a blocker in the run game, despite not being the strongest guy on the field.
Weaknesses:
The biggest worry with Horton is that his route tree was extremely simple. He ran a ton of go routes, crossers, and screens. Not too much else, though. His skill set can translate to a successful diversification of his route tree. However, you can’t just take success for granted when he hasn’t done it at the college level. There will likely be some kind of learning curve. The other main issue is his frame. Horton has height, but is on the leaner side. Press coverage can throw him off a bit. As well, this hurts his chances in contested situations. Although he is willing as a blocker, you can’t really expect consistency at this point. Maybe later on if he can get stronger.
Summary:
Horton has the tools to be a quality receiving threat who can give you a nice amount of big plays. His floor, I think, is that of a fringe WR3/4. That is his ceiling if he can’t diversify his route tree. However, if he can, Horton could potentially become a WR2 or more. His ability to play on the outside or in the slot is a benefit, and his height is a part of his game that sometimes gets overlooked because he is such a good athlete. If he can get stronger, contested catches and redzone opportunities might increase for him. With his high end athleticism and strong hands, he should be able to contribute in some capacity right away, with his usage then increasing based on his development.
| Grade: 79.3 | Round Grade: 3rd |
8
Tre Harris
School: Ole Miss
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 205 lbs
Strengths:
The size and power that Harris brings to the table is substantial. You see it on a play to play basis, as he can be a handful for defenders. His scrappiness works well against press coverage. This ability resulted in teams backing off quite often, giving him many free releases. For a bigger guy, he makes pretty sharp cuts, which allows him to get open on shorter routes, like quick outs and comebacks. He does well to sell these routes, and cut away to create some separation. On vertical routes, enough build up speed is there for him to win down the sideline. Harris utilizes stutters nicely, and can execute the stop and go route and make a play over the top. Given his size, it isn’t surprising to see some tremendous catches in contested situations. At his best, he is winning positioning for himself in the air, and coming down with the ball. Aside from the odd drop, Harris shows strong hands, and plucks the ball out of the air nicely. As a runner after the catch, he is a bus, weaving his way through traffic. Harris is tough to bring down, and his speed can catch you off guard a little, if not careful.
Weaknesses:
Harris is a good athlete for his size, but is lacking enough to likely prevent him from being a complete player. He has enough quickness to open up on shorter routes, and enough build up speed to sometimes win vertically. However, it is the intermediate level where he seems to have the least success. It is too soon for him to separate with speed, and his route running drops off when the route is more complicated. On this note, his route tree was very limited. The amount of catches that were just quick hitches was truly amazing. And he faced so much soft coverage that these pitch and catch type plays worked over and over again. Quick outs and slants also littered his tape. Obviously, things won’t be so favourable at the NFL level, and he’ll have to adjust to things being a lot tougher. Harris makes a lot of his money in contested situations, but I thought his ability to high point the ball was a bit inconsistent. Would like to see some improvement there. Injuries have also been an issue for Harris.
Summary:
Harris has the chance to develop into a WR2 at the next level. He plays with power, and has enough build up speed to win deep on occasion. I think he’ll have a tougher time in the quick passing game than he did in college, but in fairness, he couldn’t have had it much easier, so that doesn’t say a whole ton. Enough quickness is in his game for him to still have success running those kinds of routes. Harris will need to improve his route running to hopefully be more of a threat at the intermediate level, but he might not have the athleticism to run more complex routes. If he can become a bit more consistent high pointing the football, his downfield success should improve at the NFL level. Enough talent is there to be a WR2, if he puts it all together. If not, he might top out as a possession WR3. Injuries will be something to monitor, as well.
| Grade: 78.8 | Round Grade: 3rd |
9
Kyle Williams
School: Washington State
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 190 lbs
Strengths:
Williams brings vertical speed to take the top off the defence, as well as the quickness and agility to win in the shorter areas. His quick feet are evident in his release, which often wins him separation early in the route. On those shorter ones, like crossers or screens, he can be a nice threat with the ball in his hands. The ability to slip and sort of squirm away from tackles had its benefits, and you could identify the moment when he would kick it into high gear as he attempted to outrun the next guy coming. Williams does well to get open on deep shots, and his ability to tack the ball over his shoulder and into the bread basket is appropriately effective. In college, he was used on the outside and in the slot, and was able to contribute from both spots. The versatility can only help his stock. As well, his skill set would project well in the return game at the NFL level.
Weaknesses:
Williams has a lean, lanky frame, which will give him some drawbacks as a prospect. While he does well to sometimes avoid contact at the line, it can still take a toll on him when the strikes do land. He can get thrown off course a bit, which disrupts the timing of the route. As well, there are times where he looks a bit shaky when battling through traffic at the catch point. Contested catches, similarly, won’t at all be his calling card. As far as his hands go, there are times where they look very secure and very plucky. He’ll snatch the ball away from his frame and it’ll stick. However, his consistency in this area is still a work in progress. The ability is there, but avoiding bobbles, concentration drops, and having the ball pop out after a hit are all things that can be worked on. Looking at his route running, I like it better earlier in the rep, than later. The quick stuff is where he really excels, technically speaking. But as the longer ones progress, his technique fades, and his routes aren’t nearly as sharp or precise. Williams got some work as a blocker, but didn’t look great. Not surprising, given his frame, and it isn’t an area where you’d ever expect him to stand out.
Summary:
Williams is a dynamic player whose athleticism allows him to serve as a threat on all levels of the field. He has shown that he can blow right by guys on go routes, and separate quickly on short ones, like slants. With the ball in his hands, the ability to pick up chunk yardage is there. While strength has generally been a bit of an issue in his game, he did show he is capable of bouncing off some tackles as a runner. Williams won’t threaten much in contested situations. But where he can improve is in his route running and his hands. The ability in both areas has shown up in flashes. I want to see more consistency. At the next level, he seems to have a WR4 floor, but with enough development, could be a solid number 2. Settling in the middle at WR3 seems like the safest bet, but even in that role, he’ll be giving you some big plays.
| Grade: 75.4 | Round Grade: 3rd |
10
Savion Williams
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 222 lbs
Strengths:
Williams is just a freak athlete. A size/speed specimen. At 6’4”, he possesses the agility to embarrass people in the open field, utilizing jukes, spins, and an array of other moves that he has in his toolbox. Then, you see the speed that just won’t allow a depender to track him down once he hits the open field. Williams was used often in the wildcat, and excelled. His size made him an ideal option in short yardage situations, and his athleticism led to some home runs, even against stacked boxes. His skill set naturally translates to the return game, and it would not surprise me to see him become one of the league’s best returners before long. Williams has a large catch radius and has some nice high point catches on tape. He can be a threat downfield, whether it is by winning a contested catch, or by creating a lot of separation. On the shorter stuff, he is always a threat thanks to his ability after the catch.
Weaknesses:
For everything that Williams possesses physically, he is almost equally lacking when it comes to polish and refinement. His route running is pretty inconsistent. Fine at times, but there are others where he just relies on his athleticism, with technique going out the window. His breaks can be quite rounded and there is a decent bit of drifting. As well, his hands are not very reliable. Williams will revert to body catching pretty often. And when he does go to pluck the ball with his hands, you see quite a few bobbles and too many drops. This is concerning, especially given that some of the drops were on easier quick passes. On deep shots, Williams can get open, but is also inconsistent when it comes to tracking the ball over his shoulder. He has some trouble centering himself, and sometimes has to extend out to one side or the other at the last second, which can make an already tough catch even more difficult to make.
Summary:
Williams has boat loads of upside thanks to his elite combination of size and athleticism. He is magic with the ball in his hands, and this gives him a floor of being a high end kick returner and gadget man. He should also be able to give you flashes on offence as a receiver, given the amount of separation he can create and what he can do with the ball in his hands. All that being said, there is a lot of work to be done if he is to go from gadget man/returner to actually being a full time starter on offence. His route running will have to improve, and he will need to be a lot more consistent as a pass catcher and eliminate drops. With what he can do as a playmaker, he is someone that could be worth a look late on day 2, even if you end up at a point where you just have to scheme up touches for him, rather than running him out there as a regular. But if he can work on his game and put it all together, Williams can truly be a game changer. His technical consistency will be key.
| Grade: 75.2 | Round Grade: 3rd |
11
Jaylin Noel
School: Iowa State
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 194 lbs
Strengths:
Noel is a speed demon who also possesses elite quickness to create an abundance of separation on his routes. And as good as his athleticism is, I don’t want that to take anything away from his route running. Noel is deceptive, and his sharp cuts make it tough for CB’s to stick. With this kind of skill set, I think it goes without saying that he is a weapon in the short areas. Naturally, he can pile on some yards after the catch, both by making people miss and by winning footraces. But Noel can also work the complicated inside routes to the deep middle, as well as the vertical ones over the top. No matter where it is on the field, he just seems to have that knack for creating space for himself.
Weaknesses:
Noel doesn’t have a big build, and can get thrown off by contact at the line. And really, this is kind of a precursor for his game as a whole. Good in space, not so much in traffic or when more physicality is involved. His effort in contested situations is a lot more respectable than I’ve seen from other smaller/speedier guys. However, the results still aren’t good. I wouldn’t say he looks super natural catching the football. Noel will revert to body catching at times. As well, drops and bobbles were present on his tape more often than I would have liked. These issues seem to be magnified when the pass is thrown into traffic.
Summary:
Noel is like many of the receivers you see with elite athleticism and a smaller build. He excels in space and is able to create separation, but struggles to work his way through contact, and isn’t a threat in contested situations. A lot of this kind of stuff comes with the territory when it comes to these kinds of players. Still, his route running, elite athleticism, and separation ability should allow him to be a big play threat at the next level, as well as an effective decoy. Where I’d really like to see improvement is in his hands as a pass catcher. He’ll probably never be a big threat in contested situations, but eliminating drops is a must, and I’d like to see him handle traffic a lot better, as well. I think his athleticism would allow him to make it on the boundary, but he would still face more hardships there. Therefore, his highest and best use is definitely in the slot, where contact would be less of an issue. Not to the point where it won’t matter, but he will have an easier time off the snap. Noel isn’t someone who projects as a WR1, and probably faces an uphill battle even to be a 2. But he has the potential to crack a top 3, while serving as a home run threat that can make plays anywhere on the field.
| Grade: 73.2 | Round Grade: 4th |
12
Emeka Egbuka
School: Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 202 lbs
Strengths::
Egbuka is a very detailed, precise route runner, which is probably the thing about his game that stands out the most. There were several occasions where he was able to get open down the yield purely by making his opponent bite on something, before making a sharp cut to change his direction. Egbuka utilizes head fakes very effectively, and his ability to drop his shoulder low helps to fool CB’s. He plays zone coverage well, and is able to find that soft spot. I like how he is able to position himself in a way that minimizes the impact of the hit he’ll be taking as he makes the catch. As a blocker, there were some reps where he was really able to make an impact. This should continue to be an area of strength for him at the next level. Obviously this isn’t the be all and end all for WR’s, but it is a little detail in his game that can be appreciated.
Weaknesses:
Speed is definitely the biggest issue on tape. His deceptive route running does work for him. However, on plays where his opponent doesn’t bite, the amount of separation he can create is little to none. CB’s have been able to blanket him pretty easily when it just becomes a foot race. He especially struggled on the outside, and his usage will likely be limited to the slot at the next level. With the ball in his hands, he can shed some tackles. However, I don’t view him as a big play threat. Generally, Egbuka is reliable enough as a pass catcher, but there were instances where he looked a tad bit uncomfortable when forced to pluck that ball away from his frame, as opposed to trapping it against his body.
Summary:
Egbuka has the route running technique and enough short area quickness to have some success and potentially crack a starting lineup in 3 WR sets. However, his lack of speed puts a decent cap on his upside. I view him as a Tyler Boyd type of player. Someone who plays a detailed game and can work zone coverage well. Like Boyd, Egbuka projects strictly as a slot receiver. I don’t think he can be a focal point of an offence, but he is a guy that should reliably be able to move the chains as a possession guy. Can be a good add for a team as a WR3.
| Grade: 73.1 | Round Grade: 4th |
13
Tez Johnson
School: Oregon
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 154 lbs
Strengths:
Johnson is a slippery and athletic WR that uses these traits to make his money. At Oregon, he was often used as a decoy, going in motion. As you see him moving across the formation, you often can’t help but feel like he is involved in the play. His speed naturally draws your attention. But it is not just straight line speed. In fact, his best usage comes in an east/west capacity. He is a crisp route runner, with the agility to handle the complex routes that take him into the intermediate middle. As well, he can get open quickly on crossers, before turning the ball upfield for a big gain. Johnson can make people miss in the open field and also win in a footrace.
Weaknesses:
Size and strength are the glaring issues here. Johnson does not handle press coverage well at all. Sometimes it looks like he just gets engulfed by your average CB. He is a great route runner when he gets the chance to run his route. But hand strikes from his opponent are often able to throw him off track. Down the field, Johnson makes his money by creating separation. However, contested situations are not for him. He won’t win there very often. He doesn’t have the size to win jump balls, even a high amount of traffic at the catch point, even when no elevation is required, can throw him off quite a bit. It doesn’t help that his hands can be shaky. Drops were present on tape, and he often reverted to body catching. Not a great combination. Johnson’s speed looks very good on tape, but his 4.51 40 time did raise some eyebrows.
Summary:
Johnson has an athletic makeup that can make him a big play threat in the NFL. However, his thin frame and inadequate strength also make him a question mark. Press coverage proved to be troublesome, and it is tough to see that changing at the next level. Teams will have to find ways to scheme him open, in order to get the ball in his hands in a position where he can make plays. Screen passes and crossers were the two that worked best for him. Johnson will exclusively be a slot receiver in the NFL. If he can find enough free releases, he should be able to do some damage, in addition to whatever he can get schemed up for him. At the end of the day, it wouldn’t surprise me to see his production being quite volatile on a weekly basis. A more physical, in your face type of defence might stifle him altogether. However, against softer coverages, he can provide some big plays and big production. At this point, I wouldn’t trust him enough to project him even as a WR3, but I don’t want to count him out from cracking the top 3 of a depth chart. His athletic traits will always leave behind lingering upside. But potential inconsistencies caused by his size and lack of strength make a WR5 or WR4 with upside a safer projection. How he ultimately does may very well depend on who drafts him.
| Grade: 70.2 | Round Grade: 4th |
14
Jayden Higgins
School: Iowa State
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 214 lbs
Strengths:
Higgins is a big bodied receiver who is good in the areas where you would expect a player of his size to be good. Contested situations are where he is at his best. With his large frame and massive wingspan, he can extend well beyond where most CB’s would be able to. His hands are sticky, and he doesn’t often drop a pass that he would be expected to catch. Higgins looks like such a natural catcher too. He plucks the ball comfortably out of the air–no bobbles or any kind trouble. As a route runner, he has some salesmanship, which is usually the reason for whatever separation he is able to create.
Weaknesses:
Higgins did surprisingly well at the combine, but his tape tells a different story. He doesn’t look like someone who will be able to create consistent separation at the next level. His route running technique does help, but consistency still figures to be an issue. There are a lot of times that he just looks sluggish out of his release, and then the speed never builds up as the route progresses. Makes it easy for the CB to shadow his route. As well, Higgins doesn’t seem to offer very much after the catch. Not that you would expect him to be outrunning anyone, but some more broken takes, given his size, would be nice. Even against press, he didn’t fare as well as maybe you would expect. Contact really seemed to disrupt his route, which is a bit surprising for a bigger guy. Sticking with this sort of theme, his blocking could also improve.
Summary:
Higgins has a large catch radius, extremely strong hands, and the ability to make contested catches down the field. This skill set should give him the floor of at least a situational contributor at the next level. However, based on the tape, he doesn’t seem to have any standout athletic traits, and his lack of separation ability, even despite pretty good route running, will make it tougher to consistently produce in a starting role. His performance at the combine does muddy the water a little bit. A 4.47 40 time is very good, especially at 6’4” and his other testing times were good as well. It is one of those things where, when the two conflict, I’m going to side with the tape, personally. But perhaps he does have more to offer than what he put on tape. That could be one explanation. Another could be that he altered his training to improve his testing times, which, in this case, would not carry over into the NFL. Given the combine measurables, it would not surprise me to see a team take a shot on day 2. But for my liking, that is far too rich. The size gives him a decent enough floor, but there are too many concerns for me to look before day 3. Regardless of where he goes, he projects as a slot guy at the next level.
| Grade: 69.8 | Round Grade: 5th |
15
Jack Bech
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 214 lbs
Strengths:
Bech is a receiver that brings some dependable qualities. He’s got size, and a nice catch radius, but also the ball skills to win in contested situations. It’s not just that he is able to extend higher than his opponents. He also understands how to position himself to gain an advantage, somewhat boxing out his opponent where he can. As far as the contested catch skill set goes, he has the strong hands to complete it. He is a hands catcher, showing no problems when required to pluck it out of the air, even when in some traffic. Bech’s size also has some benefits when he is running after the catch. He is not a home run threat, but he is a tough runner. If he has picked up a head of steam and is getting close to a 1st down, you know he’s got a chance to pick it up by keeping the wheels turning and forcing some missed tackles.
Weaknesses:
Athletic traits is where Bech falls short. He isn’t super twitchy, but instead more of a linear runner. This made his route tree pretty simple, as he doesn’t have the quickness to consistently separate when running the more complicated ones. Further, his route running leaves plenty to be desired. Even on simple go routes, he lacks the speed to get that extra step consistently. As a result, he gets blanketed quite often. This often forces him to make plays in contested situations. Sure, he generally does well in them, but you still would rather it not come to that too often. Bech has a solid build, but I wasn’t overly impressed with what he brought to the table as a blocker. Looked sloppy and nonchalant. But he has the potential to improve there.
Summary:
Bech has the size and ball skills to make some splashy contested catches. However, his limited athletic traits will put a cap on his upside in the NFL. His strong hands and ability to win in contested situations should allow him to be a good depth guy, and with some technical improvements, he can develop into a solid WR4. I’m not sure if his ceiling quite reaches that of a WR3. Perhaps if all goes well, he can get there. But his athletic limitations make that very tough. He brings enough to the table, though, that he can be a good depth guy.
| Grade: 68.5 | Round Grade: 5th |
16
Dominic Lovett
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 185 lbs
Strengths:
Lovett has a skill set that should bring some upside with him to the NFL. Athleticism is the main draw. He has good speed to threaten at all levels of the field. If not properly tended to, he can quickly blow past the coverage to get open on a vertical route. His route running is very crisp when it comes to the shorter ones. He runs a mean slant. Sharp cuts and quick separation have allowed for some easy pitches and catches. Lovett is someone who can be used on jet sweeps, and if he gets some space, he is pretty solid as a runner. Same thing for after a catch.
Weaknesses:
Lovett has some tools to work with, but his inconsistencies can be frustrating. Drops littered his tape. There were some easy ones that he definitely should have had. But I’d imagine those can be ironed out. The bigger concern is how much trouble he has when contact is involved. Lovett has trouble hanging onto the ball through a hit. Sometimes, he’ll even drop the ball while bracing for a hit. While he isn’t the biggest guy, he does what he can to extend for the ball on errant or high throws. But given his other weaknesses, adding contested catches to his résumé would be a nice bonus sometime down the line, but something I’d have expectations for. Lovett shows potential as a route runner, but the consistency drops on the longer routes. His breaks become a lot more rounded and he can drift a little. But this is something that coaching can improve.
Summary:
Lovett projects as a boom or bust prospect at the next level. He has the speed and agility to get open anywhere on the field. There have been some standout catches on his highlight reel, but his inconsistent hands make him tough to project. As well, his struggles to work through contact, both during his route and at the catch point, are ones that could follow him into the NFL. Ultimately, Lovett could be someone that is loved in a depth role. He can make some splash plays in a limited number of snaps, and play on special teams. However, in a larger role, there is likely to be more frustration. If he can work through those issues, he certainly could be a more dynamic contributor as a starter in the slot. While I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility, it will be easier said than done. For the upside, he is worth a shot in the mid rounds. But the athletic traits may cause a team to reach a bit earlier.
| Grade: 68.0 | Round Grade: 5th |
17
Dont’e Thornton
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 205 lbs
Strengths:
Thornton has a massive frame, and surprisingly elite speed for the WR position. He clocked a 4.30 at the NFL Combine, and this isn’t one of those instances where you look at a time and scratch your head. It shows up on tape. Thornton runs with speed and power, and can hit that top gear pretty fast. He’ll blow by some defenders on go routes, and has the frame to still win a contested catch if the ball is underthrown. His hands are pretty secure, and he is a hands catcher, not a body catcher. Didn’t make a ton of contested catches in college, but I think the skill set is there. As well, he tracks the ball nicely over the shoulder when targeted on a long bomb.
Weaknesses:
Thornton is one of those prospects you want to love, but the question marks are still there. His usage was quite limited, and his route tree was even more limited. Almost everything was north/south. He ran a ton of go routes, with some comebacks and button hooks mixed in. Very, very few in-breaking routes. When he did break inwards, his route would very clearly look sloppy and rough around the edges. I do wonder if he has the twitch to really pull off an expanded route tree at the next level. That is more of a question than a criticism. The sample size was too small to get a great feel. If he is more of a linear runner, that he’ll certainly be easier for defensive coordinators to scheme against, should he start to win over the top.
Summary:
Thornton looks like he’ll be a boom or bust WR at the next level, with his success possibly depending on where he ends up and who can get the most out of him. The size and speed are elite traits. Those two things alone give him a somewhat decent floor for a day 3 guy. At the very least, you can send him out there on a rotational basis to run vertical routes. He won’t face a two high look on every play, and he should be able to connect with his QB on a deep shot from time to time. If he develops his route running and successfully expands his route tree, Thornton has the upside to be a WR2 or possibly even a top guy on the boundary. I wouldn’t set that as the expectation, but you have to acknowledge the possibility when the traits are this good. But if he can’t expand his game, Thornton likely tops out as a rotational one trick pony who can make some splash plays every once in a while. His lack of production and overall refinement suggest that he’ll be an upside swing on day 3 of the draft. That being said, something earlier would not be a total surprise, as teams sometimes do reach for high end athletes, if they truly believe they can help him develop.
| Grade: 67.7 | Round Grade: 5th |
18
Nick Nash
School: San Jose State
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
Nash is a big bodied receiver with an impressive ability to climb the ladder. His tall frame and long reach do not get wasted. On several occasions, Nash has been able to extend for passes you’d expect to see sail well over his head. He can get to heights that make it impossible for DB’s to match. Many of these plays have been made on deep passes down the middle, as well as some that were shots to the end zone. Athletically, Nash’s long speed can be a bit underrated. Once he gets going, he runs with power, and his strides eat up grass faster than it might seem. He ended up separating down the field on go routes quite a bit. Part of it too is the varied tempo that he sometimes uses. Nash does well to ease the pace a little before accelerating again, which can cause a slight bit of hesitation from his opponent, but still enough to gain a step on him. With his big frame, Nash is someone who can be utilized as a blocker. Technique might still need some work, but the potential is there.
Weaknesses:
While his build up speed is fine, Nash is lacking in terms of general athleticism. I don’t see much quickness in his game, he never looked like someone who can be a big factor in the quick passing game. He exploded in a few cases against lesser teams, but had more trouble creating separation against some of the better ones that he faced. It also doesn’t help that his route running lacks precision, and really is just sloppy. Nash was a 6th year senior last season. He started off as a QB, before spending the back half of his college career as a WR. So you are getting an overager who still needs a lot of technical work. At times, his hands seem very sticky, but there are other times where it can be a bit uncomfortable, and he either bobbles or drops the pass. It seems like traffic can sometimes distract him, which leads to some concentration drops. After the catch, Nash is capable of breaking some tackles, but won’t scare teams too much as far as big plays go.
Summary:
Nash projects as a solid depth receiver who can rotate in and give you a down field highlight reel from time to time, as well as someone who can be an asset in the redzone. He has some likable qualities, but I think his lateral agility might be too limited to carve out a regular role as a starter. Nash has a tough time separating on quick routes, but does well on go routes and some simple vertical stuff. I’d imagine his route tree being pretty simple at the NFL level. WR3 is the ceiling, I think, but he has the feel, more so, of a WR5 who might develop into a number 4.
| Grade: 67.4 | Round Grade: 5th |
19
Jimmy Horn
School: Colorado
Ht/Wt: 5’8”, 174 lbs
Strengths:
Horn is a burner, posing as a threat to beat you from anywhere on the field. You have to be careful not to let him win over the top, watch out when he is in motion, and also keep an eye on him on shorter routes. As good as his speed is though, it is his quickness and elusiveness that really stands out. He is a very shift player, and can change directions and make cuts without losing any momentum at all. It looks very seamless. This, of course, helps him as a route runner, making it difficult to shadow on routes down the field. His good technique as a route runner also does not make things easier. Horn is a threat on end arounds and quicker passes. Anything that can get the ball into his hands in space. He is able to win in a phone booth, eluding would-be tacklers, and getting himself to the next level of the field, where his speed will make him tough to track down. This skill set makes him an ideal candidate to return kicks, and he has experience doing it in college. As a pass catcher, he uses good technique, plucking the ball with his hands. He also tracks the ball well over his shoulder on deep shots. For a smaller guy, he has a bit of a nasty streak to him. When multiple defenders have latched on, he’ll attempt to scrap his way out of it, push them forward, or drag them with him. This probably won’t yield much at the next level, but you have to respect the effort. His toughness also shows up when making catches through traffic. He is able to complete the catch process through a hit.
Weaknesses:
Size is the major weakness for Horn. He doesn’t play with the attitude like he is a small guy out there, but sometimes the reality is unavoidable. It was noticeable especially on reps where he was lined up on the outside. CB’s were able to successfully jam him at the line, and in some cases, just guide him out of bounds with relative ease. The size or strength isn’t really there to fight off this kind of contact on the outside. As well, he isn’t a threat to win jump balls. His other main issue is drops. His technique as a pass catcher is good. It seems to be more of a concentration issue. Still not ideal, but better than if he just looked uncomfortable in the process. Nevertheless, it is something he certainly will have to clean up. Horn got his fair share of reps as a blocker, but his impact in this area will be minimal.
Summary:
Horn is an undersized, yet very athletic receiver, capable of giving you a big play from anywhere on the field. He can win over the top, but I especially like him around the line of scrimmage, on screens or jet sweeps etc. Get the ball in his hands in space. Throw him out there on returns, as well. His size does limit the upside. He has enough issues on the outside that I pretty comfortably would consider him a slot only prospect. He’ll have to clean up some drop issues that he had, and facing NFL competition will be an adjustment for him. But I love his skill set. Floor should be that of a gadget guy and kick returner. If his development is smooth, I could see him as a WR3 out of the slot.
| Grade: 66.1 | Round Grade: 5th |
20
Tai Felton
School: Maryland
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 183 lbs
Strengths:
Felton brings good speed to the table, and the ability to make plays on all three levels of the field. He creates early separation, thanks in part to his quick feet. This makes him effective on slants and various plays closer to the line of scrimmage. Felton is shifty enough to run a more complex route tree, and can get open over the middle. On vertical routes, has the speed to win a footrace down the sideline. Felton has reliable hands, for the most part. He traps the ball away from his frame on bullet passes, and is good at tracking it over the shoulder on deep shots. After the catch, he has the ability, not only to make people miss in a phone booth, but also to then draw off in the open field.
Weaknesses:
Describing him as a mover is a little tough. He is shifty, yet at the same time, he can look a little robotic in his movements. Maybe at certain points, he ends up needing an extra few steps, rather than making his cuts with perfect fluidity. For the position, Felton has good enough height, but is lacking in mass. He loses out at the catch point, at times, because he is unable to take the contact and still hold onto the ball. The theme is similar when up against press coverage. His routes aren’t super hard to disrupt, if the defender is able to get his jab in.
Summary:
Felton’s speed is an asset that teams will like. Overall, he is athletic enough to threaten at all three levels, both as a pass catcher, and runner after the catch. Drops have never been a big issue for him, which is good. However, his lighter frame has proven to be an issue when he needs to play with some physicality. Specifically, early in routes as he attempts his release, and later on at the catch point. Despite the issues, he does enough to be a worthwhile selection relatively early on day 3. In his early days, I’m not sure he’s more than a gadget guy/situational deep threat. However, with some development, he has the chance to end up as a WR3, with inside/outside versatility. Though, my preference for him would be the slot.
| Grade: 66.0 | Round Grade: 5th |
21
Isaiah Neyor
School: Nebraska
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 218 lbs
Strengths:
Neyor has a pretty good combination of size and speed. His tall frame and long reach makes him an ideal jump ball target. He tracks the ball nicely and is able to make high point catches and catches away from his frame. Neyor has a strong set of hands, and doesn’t often commit a drop. Even bobbles are pretty few and far between. He isn’t necessarily a mismatch guy, as far as speed goes, but he has enough juice to create some separation down the field. Combined with his catch radius, he was definitely able to make due. There is also enough quickness in his game to win on shorter routes. Things like slants and crossers. I especially liked what he showed on slants, as this is where his strong hands were on display often, compared to crossers, where he might have more space to make the catch. Neyor has the size to be an asset as a blocker, and shows willingness in this area.
Weaknesses:
His athleticism is more of a “good for his size” kind of deal. He can separate, but his effectiveness could vary based on the matchup of the day. There is also some room for his route running to improve. Neyor’s length is an asset in contested situations, but his frame seems to be on the lean side. There are times where he will get out-physicaled, whether at the line against press, or when battling through contact at the catch point. It seems like he’ll need to get stronger to improve in contested situations. With the ball in his hands, Neyor can take the space in front of him. However, I don’t think he is twitchy enough to make too many people miss, or be any kind of big play threat after the catch. He is a willing blocker, but had a few whiffs.
Summary:
Neyor has the makings of a solid receiver at the next level. I wouldn’t say he truly stands out in any one area, but he’s got a healthy combination of height and athleticism, which can help him earn a depth spot early on, with the potential to work his way up. He can create some downfield separation, but might not be a dynamic enough athlete to win consistently in a bigger role. As well, he can make contested catches, but needs to get stronger to improve against contact. While not perfect, Neyor should be able to eventually work his way into a WR4 position, if his development stays on track. Ceiling is probably a WR3 who brings inside/outside versatility.
| Grade: 65.9 | Round Grade: 5th |
22
Arian Smith
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 170 lbs
Strengths:
Smith is a true burner at the WR position. He has elite speed and has shown that he can create a crazy amount of separation on vertical passes. Smith is also very effective on shorter passes and plays near the line of scrimmage. He is a good route runner, with the agility and deceptiveness to complement his speed nicely. Really, he’s someone where you just have to find a way to get the ball in his hands. As a runner, he almost resembles a RB, stylistically. He picks up speed and then just needs one cut to make the approaching defender miss. And he can make that cut without losing any momentum. This ability made him effective on screens and end arounds, as well as an effective decoy. Smith can win on the outside thanks to his athleticism, and is also dangerous out of the slot. His impressive Senior Bowl performance might have improved his stock.
Weaknesses:
Smith is such a great athlete, and can get open consistently. This talent makes his high number of drops extremely frustrating. He is the kind of receiver that some might refer to as a “track star.” At the end of the day, the speed isn’t worth much if you can’t complete the play and hang onto the ball. Smith doesn’t look like a natural catcher when the ball is coming his way. It’ll bounce off his hands or go through them. He also doesn’t seem to track the ball well, and can lose it a bit when it is thrown over his shoulder. Strength is the other primary issue for Smith. His frame is lacking mass, which can allow contact to sometimes impact his routes. The area where it has more impact, though, is when he is going for a contested catch. He stands little chance in these situations, as stronger defenders can play the body. His hands are unreliable as it is, and taking mid-air contact certainly doesn’t help him. As far as things go for him on the ground, I’d like to see his route tree expanded at the next level. His skill set should allow for him to make that change.
Summary:
Smith has the kind of game that you love right up until it is time to make the catch. He has the speed to win anywhere on the field, and is a threat with the ball in his hands. That being said, his hands are way too unreliable to risk an earlier pick on. As a mid-late rounder, you can live with him being a gadget guy or returner. And he’ll likely go later in the draft. If, at the next level, he is able to become more consistent as a pass catcher, he can significantly outperform that. But if those issues follow him into the NFL, he likely tops out as back-end depth with situational deep targets, and schemed up touches near the line of scrimmage. Regardless of any of that, he should be a good returner, if given those opportunities.
| Grade: 65.2 | Round Grade: 5th |
23
Jaylin Lane
School: Virginia Tech
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 191 lbs
Strengths:
Lane is an undersized, but crafty slot receiver who is at his best with the ball in his hands. He has quick enough feet to make people miss in short areas. This resulted in a slot of schemed up touches. Screen passes, jet sweeps, slants etc. His quickness and speed made him a threat to pick up some chunk yardage. But the thing that impressed me the most was his vision. He looked like a RB on a lot of plays, patiently following his blocks before picking the perfect time to accelerate through the lane that was opened up for him. This ability also led to success as a returner, something he can continue to do at the pro level. Lane makes sharp enough cuts and has the speed to create some separation down the field. As well, he works nicely against zone, finding those soft spots. On passes down the field, his hands seem pretty reliable. Does body catch from time to time, but plucks it with his hands more often, and looks comfortable doing so.
Weaknesses:
Lane’s size will likely be something that hinders him at the next level. He is small and has a light frame, making him susceptible to getting pushed around. Going against press coverage isn’t an area where he does too well, and physical CB’s could bully him if given the opportunity. Even in the slot, he might not face as much press, but he’ll have to battle through more contact as he works the middle of the field. Contested situations were not kind to him in college, and it is hard to imagine anything being different going forward. He obviously isn’t a jump ball guy, but even ground contact at the catch point isn’t too good for him. Lane had a lot of touches schemed up for him in college, and producing in a pro style offence may prove difficult, if he is unable to adjust. Overall, he is a good athlete. But at times, when running his routes or carrying the ball, his movements can look a slight bit segmented, rather than fluid. Not a huge deal, but worth noting for someone whose athleticism is such a big part of his game. As a route runner, it is generally his athleticism that helps him, but his technique could use some improving.
Summary:
Lane is a good athlete and sees the field well enough for it to be worthwhile scheming up some touches for him. However, this was a huge part of his college production, and it isn’t realistic to expect it to continue at this rate in the NFL. He has the speed and quickness to separate downfield, and good enough hands to make some plays. However, he’ll need to improve his route running technique. Still, his inability to play through contact may limit his ceiling, regardless of the other stuff. His floor is that of a gadget player and kick returner who can give you a handful of big plays. With some development, he can see more snaps on offence out of the slot, and possibly work his way up the depth chart. A WR3 is likely the ceiling, with a solid complimentary weapon looking like a nice middle ground projection.
| Grade: 64.4 | Round Grade: 6th |
24
Elijhah Badger
School: Florida
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Badger is a decently well rounded receiver who can give you some inside/outside versatility. He is quick enough to create separation on shorter routes, while also possessing enough speed to stretch the field or pick up yards after the catch. Badger, for the most part, catches the ball cleanly, and is comfortable snagging it away from his frame. He is not really a jump ball guy, but isn’t completely useless in these situations. He’ll win some of them. As well, he can hold his own when fighting through contact at the catch point.
Weaknesses:
Badger is decent in most areas, but I wouldn’t say he excels in any of them in particular. Enough speed is there to win downfield, but he is not a true burner. Similarly, he’s got some quickness to his game, but it doesn’t reach that elite level. Even on the flip side of the physical traits, when looking at size/strength, it isn’t much different. Height is decent enough, while strength might be a bit below average. Can hold his own in battles through contact, but it won’t ever be his calling card. From a technical standpoint, I think Badger can run crisper routes, with more attention to the finer details. The motor doesn’t always seem to be operating at full, and a little more intensity could be injected into his game. His hands are generally reliable, but you do see the odd bobble.
Summary:
Badger has enough to be a solid contributor at the NFL level. He can play inside or out, but I think he projects best in the slot. His athleticism isn’t elite, but will be good enough for him to make some plays when he finds space. As well, he has enough body control and good enough hands to complete catches down the field. His route running is a bit lacklustre, and I think his overall average traits will prevent him from having a super high ceiling. This, plus his lack of high level production in college will likely push him down in the draft. But sticking with the theme of “solid” that has been consistent through most of his report, I think this is what he ends up being as a pro. He may over or underperform, depending on where he goes. But with some development to the technical side of things, I wouldn’t rule him out as a potential WR3 that operates out of the slot. If not, he’ll be fine depth.
| Grade: 63.2 | Round Grade: 6th |
25
LaJohntay Wester
School: Colorado
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 163 lbs
Strengths:
Wester possesses a good amount of speed, and the quickness to threaten defences in different ways. He was used quite a lot on shorter passes. His burst and short area acceleration made him tough to cover, and his attention to detail as a route runner makes his projection at the next level favourable. Wester has the ability to separate on deeper passes up the seam, and for a smaller guy, is decent at making catches through contact when working the middle of the field. He is at his best with the ball in his hands, as his shiftiness makes him tough to catch, even in tight spaces. After making the catch, he’s got a good first cut, which is sometimes all he needs before accelerating up field. With his skill set, Wester is someone who will be a candidate to return kicks.
Weaknesses:
Wester is definitely on the light side for the position. He doesn’t play a soft game, but nevertheless, bigger opponents will give him some issues. When on the boundary, press coverage can be a major disruption to his route. There were some contested catches on his tape, but it is tough to project this continuing at the next level. It is more likely that it does not. Although he improved this past season, drops and bobbles have been an issue for much of his college career. Considering that he is more vulnerable in other areas, he will need to show that he can be relied on not to make those kinds of mistakes. There were a couple of passes that went off his hands and led to a turnover. That kind of stuff will have to be eliminated.
Summary:
At his size, Wester will likely be limited to the slot at the next level. When undersized, you typically hope for elite speed, but I think he just falls short of that mark. Even still, his speed and overall athleticism is a positive, and will allow him to make plays when he gets the ball in his hands. Wester’s crisp route running will be appreciated by coaching, and will give him mismatch opportunities when matched up against slot CB’s who have been kicked inside because they aren’t athletic enough for the outside. I’m not sure I see him being much of a threat in contested situations, and Wester will further have to prove that he can handle contact, both at the line and at the catch point. Additionally, he will have to clean up some drop issues that have hung around. His game is not without issues, but Wester has enough in the toolbox to crack a roster as a rookie, before eventually working his way up. WR3 is probably his ceiling, though a safer projection is somewhere in the 4-6 range. I think he can make some kind of impact on a rotational basis, at the very least.
| Grade: 61.8 | Round Grade: 6th |
26
Chimere Dike
School: Florida
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 196 lbs
Strengths:
Dike possesses a good amount of speed and poses as a nice downfield threat. He executes well on vertical plays. He has the speed to create separation down the field, and has shown the ability to track the ball over his shoulder. Dike is able to elevate a little bit, when he has to. I wouldn’t call him a jump ball specialist, or anything like that. However, he is a lot more capable than you see from other similar players. He is tough enough to fight those battles in double coverage, and has enough skill to actually come down with the ball. Dike’s ability to separate vertically is something that defenses will have to watch for. The potential is there for him to be someone that can open things up for his teammates.
Weaknesses:
Dike’s frame is still a bit on the light side, and physical coverage on the outside has looked like it causes some trouble for him. He’ll get less free releases, even from the slot, and will have to adjust. Drops have been an issue for him in the past. At times he looks like a skilled pass catcher. But the mistakes must be eliminated from his game. Dike has good speed, but I didn’t see a whole ton of impact after the catch. Really, on short plays in general, he just looked lacklustre, which I found a bit surprising. It seems though, that he is more of a deep ball specialist than gadget guy. He can still be used on jet sweeps, and similar things, but it might not be his calling card. As a route runner, he does well on the vertical ones, but his routes at the short and intermediate level lack precision, and instead look rounded and dull.
Summary:
Dike projects as a depth receiver at the next level. I didn’t see as much as I expected to in the short and intermediate parts of the field. Perhaps improved route running can improve that. But even on plays that were schemed up to get the ball in his hands, he looked just okay. Dike, at this point anyways, clearly looks at his best when targeted deep down the field. He can make some tough catches, and his speed has done him the most favours on these routes, allowing to create a good amount of separation. He’ll need to cut out the drops as much as he can, but in time, Dike can earn reps as a situational deep threat. If he can round out his game, he could become a WR4, or even a 3 if everything goes well and he finds the right situation. Otherwise, somewhere between 5-7 on the depth chart looks most likely. But in the right place, his skill set can be useful in that role.
| Grade: 60.2 | Round Grade: 6th |
27
Isaac TeSlaa
School: Arkansas
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 214 lbs
Strengths:
TeSlaa is a big bodied pass catcher who is at his best when allowed to use his size to win through the air. Many of his catches were tough, acrobatic highlight reels. His vertical leap is quite good. This, combined with his tall frame and long reach, makes him a threat to win contested catches in any matchup. In addition to height, TeSlaa has the build to make it in these situations. He doesn’t get bullied at the catch point. When he leaps up, it is tough to play the body effectively. As well, he is able to position himself effectively, boxing out his opponent. Even if he doesn’t have to elevate for the pass, TeSlaa can win the battle in traffic. He has made catches through a crowd, and his concentration to hang onto the ball through the duration of the process is impressive. His sticky hands are well suited for his playing style. A natural hands catcher, he traps the ball as soon as it hits his hands. Don’t think I saw a bobble or drop in any of my exposures. With his size and strength, he can be a good blocker at the next level.
Weaknesses:
Despite good testing numbers at the combine, TeSlaa does not stand out athletically on tape. His speed builds up a little, but he isn’t super twitchy and lacks explosion. Separation, whether on quick routes or deeper ones, is hard to come by. Most of his opponents never really seemed to have an issue blanketing him in coverage. His route running technique didn’t help matters, as he didn’t really show any crispness or precision, with many of them being rounded off at the break. Lack of explosion, twitch, and precision is not a good route running combination. His size allows him to battle for some extra yards, but teams won’t fear any big plays in this regard. In college, he was a lower production player, which further leads to some question marks at the next level.
Summary:
TeSlaa projects as a depth player at the next level. His size, strength, and ability to win the ball through the air is a recipe you often see in preseason success stories. He is someone that might give you the odd highlight reel acrobatic catch, and can serve as a weapon in the redzone. That being said, he might lack the athletic qualities to carve out a regular role for himself. Separation was hard to come by, and it is hard to see this changing at the next level, even with improved route running technique. But as a late rounder coming in with low to modest expectations, he may end up gaining some fans, and sticking around for a while because of his reliability as a pass catcher, even if the ceiling is pretty low.
| Grade: 59.4 | Round Grade: 7th |
28
Xavier Restrepo
School: Miami
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 209 lbs
Strengths:
Restrepo is a very quick player. Excels in the short areas, and has served as a consistent chain mover in his offence. It is not only his quickness that allows him to do well in these situations, but also his extremely precise route running. Every step is taken with a specific intention. He implements stutters and head fakes, will dip his shoulder, and make razor sharp cuts in an attempt to shake free and gain a step on his opponent. His hands are generally pretty reliable, and he is able to hold onto the ball through contact. With the ball in his hands, Restrepo has some elusiveness. He is able to make the first few people miss, and can then go for some extra yards. His quickness in a phone booth makes him an asset near the goal line, and he is someone who you can scheme up plays for in clutch situations where you just need a few yards.
Weaknesses:
Not to sound cliché, but Restrepo is a quicker than fast receiver who is limited exclusively to the slot. He can make some plays at the intermediate level, but once you get away from the quick routes, his effectiveness takes a dip. His speed, at very best, is average, and he has trouble creating downfield separation, even with his quickness and precise route running. NFL calibre CB’s will have an easier time blanketing him, and he’ll find himself in more contested situations if his usage down the field is ramped up. And as a smaller guy, contested situations will not be ideal for him. His effort is respectable, but he’ll be outmatched more often than not. Restrepo generally is reliable as a pass catcher, but he is not immune to sometimes unnecessarily reverting to body catching. Restrepo can make some people miss, and pick up some extra yards, but he won’t be drawing off from anyone. Not a home run hitter.
Summary:
Restrepo is a good route runner and has enough quickness to give him a decently high floor, which should allow him to stick in the NFL. The key to his success, however, will be the system he is in. With a game manager at QB who hesitates to push the ball downfield, Restrepo could put up some good production. He gets open in the short areas, and is someone who can move the chains for you. That being said, his ceiling is low. He will be limited to the slot at the next level, and he is lacking the speed to consistently make plays down the field. The positional value typically is low for these kinds of players, but we often see them make it, nonetheless. He has a chance to work as a WR3 out of the slot for a team that values his floor and reliability over the ceiling.
| Grade: 58.7 | Round Grade: 7th |
29
Elic Ayomanor
School: Stanford
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 206 lbs
Strengths:
Ayomanor has the size and strength to make it in the league. I like the way that he is able to use, not only his height, but also his strength, on downfield passes. He does well to win with positioning, boxing out his opponent and creating more space for him to make a play on the ball. Ayomanor elevates well and has put some nice highlight catches on tape, going up over guys to get the ball. Route running technique is solid, and he is able to get CB’s to bite on his fakes. Long speed can be a little deceptive and sneak up on players if they aren’t careful. There were times he was able to run by his opponent on a go route. After the catch, he has the strength to continue forward with tacklers on his back, which can be handy when a catch is made close to the sticks. You know he has a chance to get that extra bit that is needed. Had a huge breakout game against Colorado and Travis Hunter. With strength and technique being big parts of his game, Ayomanor can be an asset as a blocker on running plays.
Weaknesses:
His testing was pretty good at the combine, but I don’t see the same thing at all on tape. The tape shows a below average athlete–both in terms of straight line speed and lateral mobility. It isn’t until later on in some of his deeper routes that he is able to build enough speed for it to potentially be a threat. His route tree is very simplistic because of his lack of lateral agility. He is limited mostly to slants, comebacks, and go routes. Consistent separation is an issue. The biggest issue, however, is his drop rate. While I’d be exaggerating to say he dropped every second target, it sometimes felt that way. And he dropped the ball in almost every way you could–off the hands, through the hands, having it pop out of the breadbasket etc. Ayomanor is not a natural hands catcher. You can see it when he is attempting to snag the ball out of the air. Unsurprisingly, he reverts to body catching a lot.
Summary:
Ayomanor has enough size and strength to make it as a back-end depth guy who gets in on a rotational basis. Flashes have been shown in contested situations, and if he can continue to improve, maybe he can work his way up. That being said, there are way too many concerns to feel comfortable using more than a late round pick. Athleticism isn’t anything special, and he can struggle to separate. And the amount of drops he has is very worrisome. If there were just a couple of concentration drops, it wouldn’t be too bad. However, his technique as a pass catcher suggests that the problem could linger on. At the next level, Ayomanor is a developmental prospect.
| Grade: 57.8 | Round Grade: 7th |
30
Theo Wease
School: Missouri
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Wease brings a big frame to the table, which allows him to win a lot of contested passes that are tossed his way. His reach is long, and his hands are strong enough to complete the process through the catch. I really like the body control that he has shown on some of those high passes. He adjusts well in the air, before then showing the skill and awareness to tap the toes along the sideline, if needed. Wease is surprisingly decent as a runner after the catch. His frame makes him tough to bring down, but it is also the determination and slipperiness that he runs with. He’s got kind of this dodgy way of running when he’s got the ball in his hands, constantly moving his upper body, as not to give a solid tackling target. He also keeps his legs churning, and that constant forward motion has proven effective. That said, by no means is he a home run threat. As a route runner, Wease has made some money working against zone coverage. He does well to find those soft spots and make himself available as a target.
Weaknesses:
Wease flashes some good movement skills after the catch, but overall, he is a mediocre athlete at best. Speed is nothing special, while his agility is not there in enough abundance to create that quick separation. His struggles to separate against man coverage led to modest production, and it is hard to see this issue changing much at the NFL level. More athletic CB’s are able to shadow his routes, forcing the QB to look in another direction. As well, it sometimes takes him a few extra steps to stop when running a comeback route or something similar. For having a big frame, he struggled to fend off press coverage a lot more than I would have expected. On his routes, he can sometimes be a bit too upright, which makes that early contact easier to land for a CB.
Summary:
Wease has enough tools to make a roster at the NFL level and get drafted in one of the later rounds. His size and ball skills are both desirable traits, and he is good at navigating zone coverage. That being said, his mediocre athleticism and inability to do much against man coverage will limit his downfield ability to contested catches, and make him more of a possession receiver in the shorter areas. Enough to work with for a depth guy, but the ceiling might not be too much higher.
| Grade: 56.7 | Round Grade: 7th |
31
KeAndre Lambert-Smith
School: Auburn
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 190 lbs
Strengths:
Lambert-Smith has a tall, well built frame that makes him able to win some contested catches. His timing is good, as he knows when to high point the ball, and can then get the toes down in bounds if the play is along the sideline. Lambert-Smith fights off contact pretty well, can still make a catch, even while battling for position with an opponent. He has sticky hands, as was somewhat touched on already with his highpointing ability. But in a general sense, his mitts are pretty reliable. Bullet passes on quicker routes can be tough for some, but he gets his arms up quickly and traps the ball without any bobbles. He can also snag passes down low, preventing them from hitting the ground. Lambert-Smith has enough build up speed to occasionally win over the top. His high pointing ability is an asset here, especially if the ball is underthrown. He still has a chance to make a play.
Weaknesses:
On tape, Lambert-Smith looks like a middling athlete at best. This does make his sub 4.4 40 time a bit puzzling. Of course, these kinds of things do happen sometimes, and there are a number of possible explanations. But as for the tape, he struggles to create consistent separation, really anywhere on the field. A lot of his quicker catches came against soft coverage. Slants and simple stuff like that. Routes that are more complex prove tough, and he doesn’t quite have the agility to be super effective. As a result, his route tree will probably remain limited at the next level. For his size, I think he could also stand to improve against press coverage. Lambert-Smith doesn’t offer much after the catch. There just isn’t much elusiveness to his game. As mentioned, he has some build up speed, but usually, he is brought down well before he can tap into some of it.
Summary:
Lambert-Smith projects as a back-end depth player at the next level. He brings some size to the table, and his ability to high point the football and win in contested situations will give him a chance to make some plays in the preseason, as he makes his bid for a roster spot. That 4.37 40 yard dash time is one that people will notice. I don’t see it on tape. Maybe it was derived from combine specific training. But showing speed that even remotely resembles that time would help him out a lot. Still, until he shows more ability to separate, he is likely a depth option who will run a pretty simple route tree when/if he sees the field.
| Grade: 55.4 | Round Grade: 7th |
32
Kaden Prather
School: Maryland
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 204 lbs
Strengths:
Prather is a big bodied receiver who’s catch radius could be an asset for a team. He flashed some long speed on tape, occasionally gaining a step against his opponent on the boundary. He has been able to win a couple of times with a double move, which his opponent had bitten on. Prather is pretty good at running routes against zone coverage. He is able to subtly adjust his path to find those softer spots and make himself open for the QB. As well, he has shown that he is able to work with the QB on a scramble drill.
Weaknesses:
Prather is lacking when it comes to athletic traits, despite what some solid testing results might indicate. There is little explosion to his game, and even less twitch. He has enough long speed to win deep from time to time, but I think he will have a tough time separating against man coverage. He will likely be in a lot of contested situations, and his catch radius could be an asset here. However, he has been plagued by drops and many bobbles, making him hard to rely on in contested situations. Many of his catches came on quick hitches and other similar routes, almost always against soft coverage. He won’t have it so easy at the next level.
Summary:
Prather is a developmental prospect who will have to make significant improvements to make it at the next level. His large catch radius is something to work with, and when he is able to catch the ball cleanly, you see some potential. However, his struggles with bobbles and drops could still make him inconsistent in contested situations. And given that he likely won’t be creating much separation and winning that way, contested catches seem like his best path to success. The drops and bobbles must be cut out. Prather could be a practice squad candidate as a rookie, if he doesn’t sneak onto a roster. With some development, he might be able to work his way up into a depth role.
| Grade: 50.3 | Round Grade: UDFA |
2025 WR Rankings:
- Matthew Golden (86.0, Rd 1)
- Travis Hunter (85.9, Rd 1)
- Tetairoa McMillan (85.8, Rd 1)
- Luther Burden (84.6, Rd 2)
- Isaiah Bond (83.4, Rd 2)
- Jalen Royals (82.7, Rd 2)
- Tory Horton (79.3, Rd 3)
- Tre Harris (78.8, Rd 3)
- Kyle Williams (75.4, Rd 3)
- Savion Williams (75.2, Rd 3)
- Jaylin Noel (73.2, Rd 4)
- Emeka Egbuka (73.1, Rd 4)
- Tez Johnson (70.2, Rd 4)
- Jayden Higgins (69.8, Rd 5)
- Jack Bech (68.5, Rd 5)
- Dominic Lovett (68.0, Rd 5)
- Dont’e Thornton (67.7, Rd 5)
- Nick Nash (67.4, Rd 5)
- Jimmy Horn (66.1, Rd 5)
- Tai Felton (66.0, Rd 5)
- Isaiah Neyor (65.9, Rd 5)
- Arian Smith (65.2, Rd 5)
- Jaylin Lane (64.4, Rd 6)
- Elijhah Badger (63.2, Rd 6)
- LaJohntay Wester (61.8, Rd 6)
- Chimere Dike (60.2, Rd 6)
- Isaac TeSlaa (59.4, Rd 7)
- Xavier Restrepo (58.7, Rd 7)
- Elic Ayomanor (57.8, Rd 7)
- Theo Wease (56.7, Rd 7)
- KeAndre Lambert-Smith (55.4, Rd 7)
- Kaden Prather (50.3, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
- Bru McCoy
- Pat Bryant
- Da’Quan Felton
- Daniel Jackson
- Ricky White
- Beaux Collins
Featured Image Via: Maize & Blue Nation (CC)