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The 2024 NFL draft will take place April 25-27.
Texas held its annual Pro Day in front of representatives from every NFL team on Wednesday. Continue reading “LOOK: Best photos from Texas’ Pro Day ahead of 2024 NFL draft”
The Houston Texans were well represented at the Texas Pro Day with Nick Caserio, DeMeco Ryans and several staff members in attendance.
The Houston Texans were well represented at the University of Texas Pro Day on Wednesday.
Six members of the team — including general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans — made the three-hour journey from Houston to Austin to watch some of the Longhorns’ top players work out ahead of the 2024 NFL draft in April. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, defensive coordinator Matt Burke, newly promoted defensive line coach Rod Wright (who’s also an alum of Texas) and wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels were also in attendance.
Texas boasts a long list of potential fits for the Texans, including wide receiver and defensive line.
First, let’s start with the wideouts: Xavier Worthy — who broke the NFL combine 40-yard dash record —and Adonai Mitchell. Worthy is more of the take-the-top-off burner wide receiver, while Mitchell is often compared to the pass-catchers like Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Worthy’s speed is a very interesting aspect of his game, while Mitchell feels like the more natural fit for the Texans given his versatility to play in the slot and on the boundary.
The need for a slot wide receiver is obvious for the Texans, but neither Worthy nor Mitchell could be on the board when Houston picks in the second round after Caserio traded away the No. 23 overall pick to move back to No. 42.
Another area of concern is interior defensive line. Texas has two quality prospects at that position, too: Byron Murphy II and T’vondre Sweat. This duo amassed seven sacks in 2023 and have quickly grabbed the attention of football fans after whose team lacks the talent in their defensive front.
While each player offers a very different skill set, there is no doubt the Texans could benefit from their services after the departure of three of the four starting defensive line members from the 2023 season.
Murphy on paper feels like the more natural fit for the Texans defense, as Ryans tends to keep his front within a certain set of parameters when it comes to physical make up. Murphy is 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds — a similar build to what the other defensive tackles look like on the Texans.
This is an interesting DL build for the #Texans pic.twitter.com/555IzTpFs5
— TexansCap (@TexansCap) March 20, 2024
Murphy could be gone before the Texans make a selection, though. Sweat, meanwhile, could be a very real possibility in the second round. Caserio appeared to watch Sweat’s workout intently, and defensive line coach Rod Wright, who played defensive tackle for the Longhorns, spoke with Sweat after his workout.
Texans GM Nick Caserio was locked in while watching T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy
Houston recently traded their 1st Rd pick to the Vikings
Their first pick won't be until #42 in the second round#WeAreTexans | #HookEm pic.twitter.com/f82QFviNKV
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) March 20, 2024
Sending this type of contingent of staff to a Pro Day doesn’t necessarily mean anything, especially given the short travel time to Austin. However, Texas has a lot of good players at positions of need for Houston.
The trip was warranted, but where the Texans go in the draft is anyone’s guess at this point.
Xavier Worthy has a top-30 visit scheduled with the Colts.
The Indianapolis Colts will host Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy for a top-30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.
After head coach Shane Steichen and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne attended the NFL pro day at Texas on Wednesday, the team will bring Worthy in for an official visit ahead of the draft.
Texas WR Xavier Worthy has Top 30 visits scheduled with the Indianapolis Colts & Arizona Cardinals, a source said.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 20, 2024
Worthy has been a fast riser throughout the pre-draft process with an emphasis on the word “fast.” He set the record at the NFL combine for the fastest 40-yard dash ever recorded at 4.21 seconds.
Worthy checks just about every box the Colts would look for in a wide receiver outside of his weight. He weighed in at 165 pounds, which certainly will give teams pause.
However, he was an early and constant producer throughout his collegiate career at Texas, and he has enough nuance to his route-running abilities to be categorized as more than a simple burner.
Whether the Colts would be willing to spend the No. 15 overall pick on him is a significant question, but there is clearly a strong level of interest in him leading up to the draft.
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Some important Colts’ figures attended the Texas pro day.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne were in attendance at the NFL pro day for Texas ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
While the Colts will have several scouts attending pro days and workouts leading up to April’s big event, it’s noteworthy when a head coach makes a trip.
It’s also notable that Wayne is in attendance considering the Longhorns have two fringe Round 1 receiver prospects in Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.
Sark walking onto the field accompanied by Colts head coach Shane Steichen@Horns247 https://t.co/OT3IBtaYpM pic.twitter.com/bG3Cy9GhdX
— Hank South (@HankSouth247) March 20, 2024
Their WR coach Troy Walters is there fwiw pic.twitter.com/RXgsj2u7Np
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 20, 2024
While the wide receiver prospects will certainly garner the most attention for the Colts, there are several other prospects the team likely had an eye on during the pro day.
Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is considered one of the top prospects at the position and likely a Day 2 pick. Defensive tackle Byron Murphy is expected to go in the first round while fellow defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat is a projected Day 2 selection.
Safety Ryan Watts also could be on Chris Ballard’s radar considering his elite RAS (9.84).
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The Steelers have shown an interest in multiple top receivers this offseason including Floriday’s Ricky Pearsall.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are doing their due diligence when it comes to the wide receivers in the 2024 NFL draft. Pittsburgh sent their wide receivers coach to the Texas pro day on Wednesday to get a closer look at receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell and the team has also had Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in for a predraft visit.
Pearsall put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran a 4.41-second 40 at 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds as well as a 42-inch vertical and 6.64-second three-cone drill. Pearsall’s ability to get open against zone and his freakish athleticism make him a natural fit as a slot receiver at the next level and with a better quarterback, he will thrive.
Florida WR Ricky Pearsall was in for. predraft visit this week with the Steelers, per sources. Pearsall tested carry well at the combine with. 4.41 40 yard dash and a 42 inch vertical.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) March 20, 2024
The Steelers found themselves needing two wide receivers this offseason after trading away Diontae Johnson and releasing Allen Robinson. The team signed Van Jefferson but we don’t feel like this precludes them from drafting at least one receiver in the draft during the first two days. If Pearsall is the target, the team would still need to sort out another boundary receiver to line up opposite George Pickens.
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The Steelers kept a close eye on Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy at the Texas pro day.
Wednesday was a busy one for the Pittsburgh Steelers coaches and front office staff. Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan were in Alabama for the Crimson Tide pro day, Steelers linebackers coach Aaron Curry were at Ohio State to check out their top tandem of Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg and wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni was in Texas to check out the Longhorns speedy receivers.
Wide receiver became a significant NFL draft need for Pittsburgh after the team traded away Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Seeing Azzanni in Texas means the team is considering a receiver in the first round and Texas has two of them in Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy.
Mitchell established himself as a legitimate first-round prospect during the season with his size and speed. His status as a future No. 1 receiver was cemented with an exceptional combine and we expect him to surprise with just how high a team is willing to select Mitchell based on an impressively high ceiling.
But for the Steelers, Worthy might be the player to watch. With George Pickens already in the fold, the record-breaking Worthy could be the perfect player to line up across from him and take serious advantage of single coverage with that elite speed.
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Mitchell is viewed by NFL teams as a potential No. 1 receiver.
Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is one Texas player many NFL teams are eyeing. It appears the dynamic pass catcher has made an impression.
On Wednesday, Mitchell impressed with his showing at Texas’ pro day. The overall body of work of his testing times, football film, work ethic and character has NFL squads viewing him as a future key contributor in the league.
Bleacher Report’s Jordan Shultz shared the following of NFL teams’ impression of the talented Texas wide receiver.
“There is a building buzz with Texas WR Adonai Mitchell. After likely cementing himself as a first-rounder in Indy, one club told me: ‘He’s a future No. 1. Book it.”
That he is perceived as a cemented first-round pick with No. 1 receiver potential speaks to how highly teams view him. The speed, route running, hands and ability to win jump balls all contribute to the positive perception.
Texas hadn’t produced an top receiver in awhile, but in Mitchell, Xavier Worthy and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders it could have three in one draft.
There is a building buzz with Texas WR Adonai Mitchell. After likely cementing himself as a first-rounder in Indy, one club told me: “He’s a future No. 1. Book it.”
Big Pro Day for Mitchell in Austin. pic.twitter.com/PVYomSLWzJ
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 20, 2024
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. makes a luxury pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his latest first-round projection for the 2024 NFL draft
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but would that stop them from spending their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft on another dynamic pass-catcher?
In his latest 2024 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Bucs using the No. 26 overall selection on Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who just broke the NFL Scouting Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash.
Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pick:
The Bucs are running it back from 2023, with quarterback Baker Mayfield, wideout Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David among the players re-signing. General manager Jason Licht has done well with a tough salary-cap situation — Tampa Bay held a $35.1 million dead-cap charge for Tom Brady last year — and his team should challenge again to win the NFC South (though Atlanta is improved too).
So how can the Bucs improve with this pick? I see room for a third wideout to take the top off the defense. And what better way to do that than with the fastest prospect in NFL combine history? At 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, Worthy is small, but he is electric with the ball in his hands. He’ll help Mayfield’s yards-per-attempt average just by running past corners on crossers. He had 26 touchdowns over three college seasons.
There’s no denying that Worthy would bring game-breaking speed and big-play potential to Tampa Bay’s passing attack, but the Bucs already have a budding young talent in Trey Palmer who has a similar skill set. Palmer showed off his own elite speed multiple times during his rookie season, and even had the fastest burst of any receiver in the league last year, according to Next Gen Stats.
Taking Worthy is the first round would be a luxury for a Bucs team that desperately needs upgrades in the starting lineup at multiple spots on both sides of the ball (left guard, center, outside linebacker, inside linebacker).
To check out Kiper’s full first-round mock draft at ESPN.com (subscription required), click here.
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Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy lands at No. 9 overall.
It’s been a strong offseason for Texas draft hopefuls. Several Longhorns dominated the NFL Combine this year to significantly improve their draft stock, a testament to the player development in Austin under head coach Steve Sarkisian’s staff.
Texas could now realistically have 10 players selected in the 2024 NFL draft. Six of those players should hear their name called within the first three rounds.
Trevor Sikkema of PFF recently updated his 2024 NFL Draft Big Board of the top 150 prospects and seven Longhorns were mentioned. Defensive tackle Byron Murphy landed at No. 9 overall and should be the first Texas player off the board on Day 1.
Murphy is a gifted defensive lineman in both the strength and speed categories. He is a versatile three-down player who brings plus abilities as a run defender and a pass rusher, projecting as a first-round impact starter for any front.
Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (No. 30), tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (No. 51), running back Jonathon Brooks (No. 56), wide receiver Xavier Worthy (No. 68), defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (No. 74), and offensive tackle Christian Jones (No. 126) were also included.
The 2024 NFL draft begins on Thursday, April 25 in Detroit.
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Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell are ranked highly in Mel Kiper’s latest draft rankings.
The NFL scouting combine is complete. With that, those that cover the NFL draft are updating their rankings.
In case you weren’t sure, Texas wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell greatly helped their draft cases at the combine. Both receivers excelled in several tests with Worthy setting the NFL combine record for the 40-yard dash running it in 4.21 seconds.
The two receivers’ display has them moving up ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s rankings. Kiper has Xavier Worthy ranked as the No. 5 receiver with Adonai Mitchell right after at No. 6. In a deep receiver class, both players could see their name drafted in the first round.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Rome Odunze (Washington) and LSU receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are all seen as top prospects for the upcoming draft. They make up the top four of Kiper’s receiver rankings.
Texas has a chance to have its best receiver draft in a long while. Worthy and Mitchell will hope to have their names called in the first round.
