Few draft prospects had a better NFL Combine performance than Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy. The consensus around Worthy entering the four-day event is that he was a good but not great receiver who would probably go off the board in the second or third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Last year, the wideout recorded 75 receptions for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns, and he did it mostly by being faster than everyone else.
His Texas tape made it clear that collegiate cornerbacks cannot handle his speed, but his testing numbers show that he might be too fast for NFL defenders as well. Worthy recorded an insane 4.21-second 40-yard dash, narrowly breaking the record previously held by former top-10 pick John Ross. Worthy’s speed is quite literally unlike anything the NFL has seen before, and some teams are going to hope that game-breaking speed translates to the next level.
OFFICIAL: 4.21
XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
5 Teams That Could Draft Texas Wide Receiver Xavier Worthy
Xavier Worthy boosted his draft stock with that impressive run, but he’s not going to be a top-10 pick. While John Ross ran his way into an early first-round selection, teams have gotten a lot smarter over the years.
Worthy could be a game-changing talent, but there are still a few red flags here. For one, he weighed in at just 165 pounds, making him wildly undersized relative to the typical NFL receiver. While players like DeVonta Smith have proven that smaller guys can thrive at the highest level, it still poses a major risk.
A lot can happen between now and the start of the NFL Draft, but Xavier Worthy will probably go off the board sometime between the back of the first round and midway through the second round. While any team could fall in love with that game-breaking speed, these five teams make the most sense as potential landing spots.
Best Team Fits
Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy could be dangerous in any NFL offense, but he’d be borderline unstoppable with the Kansas City Chiefs. No coach is better at getting players in the open field than Andy Reid, and no quarterback is better at vertically stretching the field than Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs need good wide receivers in the worst way, and while Rashee Rice can handle short and intermediate work, Worthy can be the deep threat this team’s been looking for since Tyreek Hill.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have DeAndre Hopkins and not much else on offense. While Will Levis showed some promise last year, the team will need to surround him with more talent if he’s ever going to succeed. The offensive line is a more pressing concern, so the Titans can draft a tackle with their first-round pick before grabbing Xavier Worthy in the second round. Will Levis has an absolute cannon and should have no problem connecting with the Texas product on explosive plays downfield.
Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young had one of the worst groups of wide receivers in the league last year, and that abysmal talent is a big reason why the Alabama product refused to stretch the field last year. Xavier Worthy would not only be the most dangerous weapon in this passing attack, but his ability to get open on the outside makes him a perfect fit for Young. Back in college, Young was at his best chucking balls downfield to his outside receivers, and Carolina can try to recapture that magic with Worthy.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers will almost certainly move on from Mike Williams in the coming days, and there’s even a chance they part ways with the aging Keenan Allen. Even in the unlikely scenario where both players stick around, Los Angeles needs to get faster at wide receiver. Allen and Williams are both on the slower side and Xavier Worthy will provide a much-needed vertical element for Justin Herbert.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens hold the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which is probably the earliest Xavier Worthy could realistically go. The Ravens have a great possession receiver in Zay Flowers and one of the best all-around tight ends in Mark Andrews, but what they lack is a vertical threat. The team never found a true replacement for Marquise Brown, and Worthy could immediately slide into that role and be the most reliable deep threat Lamar Jackson has had in years.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
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