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Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Xavier Worthy

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Tom Kavanaugh | Last updated Jan 20, 2024 3:31 PM ET

Xavier Worthy NFL Draft Profile

College: Texas
College Position: Wide receiver
Ideal NFL Position: Wide receiver
Height/Weight: 6'1", 171 lbs
Year / Age: Junior / 20
Draft Projection: Late first/early second round
Where I’d Take Him: Second round

NFL Combine/Pro Day Results

TBD

Background

Xavier Worthy was born and raised in Fresno, California. At Central East High School, he played football and competed in track and field. He was a sprinter on and off the football field.

Worthy committed to Michigan as a four-star recruit before flipping his commitment to the University of Texas. He blazed onto the scene in his first season with the Longhorns, breaking Texas freshman receiving yards and touchdown records.

For his efforts, Worthy earned Freshman All-American, Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, and first-team All-Big 12 honors. The wideout never quite built on his freshman season but still earned another first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2023.

Texas WR Xavier Worthy will be vying for the fastest player in the 2024 draft class. He has true take-the-top-off speed paired with instant acceleration. Teams will always have to respect his speed and he can take advantage of that with his rare stop-start ability underneath.… pic.twitter.com/HVUVgp51M5
— Goodbye Ben Johnson (@TommyK_NFLDraft) January 15, 2024

Strengths

Blazing speed that defenses must respect, instant gas to blow past defenders if they allow him free passage
Controls his gears, can stop on a dime at full speed and change directions
Warrants manufactured touches, can make things happen in space
Should fit in seamlessly in a pre-snap motion NFL world, ideal skill set to be the move man

Weaknesses

Slight frame at 171 pounds, looks every bit of it
Lacks physicality, is a different receiver in close quarters with defenders
Releases need work, raw off the line of scrimmage

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Xavier Worthy

Worthy is a burner who can be effective stretching the field and near the line of scrimmage as a gadget player. Teams will always need to account for him because of his big-play ability.

He's a perfect motion receiver as getting him going before the snap is the best way to maximize his top-gear speed. Worthy is a nightmare to cover when defenders are backing off him, and motion allows him to see these matchups.

That said, Worthy isn't a physical receiver at 171 pounds. He struggles in contested situations (34.1% career contested catch rate, per PFF) and is inconsistent on the line of scrimmage.

He flashes separation potential against press when he can shake freely from defenders. However, reps are over if defensive backs get their hands on him. His releases must improve to consistently be relied upon on the line of scrimmage.

Worthy is at his best when can move all around the formation and exploit space with his speed. His landing spot will matter because of this — the more creative the offensive coordinator, the better.

There are a lot of parallels between Worthy and Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney. They're similarly sized speedsters who lack physicality. However, Worthy seems to offer a little more juice and "make you miss" ability after the catch.

Ideally, Worthy could be a No. 3 receiver who isn't relied upon for every down. Yet like Mooney, he could be a capable No. 2 if need be.

Pro Comparison: Rashid Shaheed

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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