Oregon Ducks' Traeshon Holden NFL Draft Profile, Projection: Pittsburgh Steelers?

Oregon receiver Traeshon Holden was not the Oregon Ducks’ top target on offense, but he could certainly become a leading wide receiver in the NFL. 

Through his pre-draft process, Holden’s athleticism was on full display as multiple clips of his route running, catching ability, and overall athleticism caught the attention of the public and NFL scouts. Reel Analytics rewarded Holden with an IGA (In-Game Athleticism) Score of 90.5. 

The IGA score analyzes game film to provide a numerical value representing an athlete's real-time athletic performance. The score takes into account factors like reaction time, explosiveness, fluidity of motion, and more. 

Holden’s 90.5 IGA score indicates that he performs at a very high percentile compared to his peers and even professionals, further proving his high athletic ceiling. 

According to Reel Analytics, Holden has a max speed of 22.1 mph, placing him in the 98th percentile. Reel Analytics also calculated Holden’s average yards of separation created, which is 4.6 yards, placing him in the 67th percentile. 

Holden’s proven ability to play with great speed and explosiveness isn’t the only factor that makes him a breakout candidate for the NFL. His size is also something that cannot be ignored. 

The former Duck stands at 6-3 and weighs 205 pounds. His size and length give him a distinct advantage in contested catches which make him more effective at securing passes through contact and winning 50-50 balls. 

For comparison, the average height of an NFL defensive back is around 5-11 (71.69 inches), according to an analysis by the University of Idaho. 

This size mismatch could give Holden an advantage in red-zone situations, contested catches as well as make him more effective at securing passes through contact. 

One team that has shown interest in drafting Holden in the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2024, the Steelers struggled in the passing game. Adding wide receivers to its roster could be a focus for the Steelers in this year's draft,  

At the Shrine Bowl, Holden told Steelers Depot that the Steelers had shown interest in him.

Holden’s pattern of improvement could make him stand put to Pittsburgh's front office. The former Duck showed improvement each year in college, and 2024 was his best season yet. He set career highs in touches, yards, and yards per catch, finishing with 45 receptions for 718 yards. 

Despite his impressive attributes, there are some concerns surrounding Holden. Holdens combine performance raised questions, as his vertical jump fell in the 26th percentile, 10-yard split in the 33rd percentile, and 20-yard split in the 34th percentile.  

Holden has also faced some character concerns as he was ejected from the 2024 Ohio State game for spitting on a cornerback.  

Regardless of any potential concerns, Holden’s consistent improvement, combined with his athleticism, speaks for itself. His ability to perform at a high level and continue developing makes him an interesting option for Pittsburgh as they look to add more weapons to their offense in 2025.