Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy is the fastest to run at the NFL combine. It’s going to be hard to ignore. One team in the first round might not be able to refrain from drafting him.
There’s a pattern of speedy players getting drafted early despite a pre-NFL combine consensus that there are better players available.
The Cincinnati Bengals once drafted 4.22 second 40-yard runner John Ross at the No. 9 pick. The now Las Vegas Raiders once drafted Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs over Dallas Cowboys standout CeeDee Lamb and Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson.
NFL franchises can look at those instances as ones that didn’t work out, but it’s human nature to see what Worthy did in Indianapolis and not be able to pass on the talented receiver.
For teams drafting in the late-first round, drafting the Longhorns receiver should be a no-brainer. You get a potential star in the back half of the first round. But even earlier drafting teams might have a discussion on their hands.
Worthy was a productive player on the gridiron despite being the focal point of game planning for opposing defenses in his senior season. His ability to get separation on routes in the red zone stood out early in his career. His toughness was evident in the way he battled through injury in his final season in Austin.
The Texas receiver is a good prospect, and he’s worthy of consideration late in the first round. But if past draft history is any indication, he could be drafted in the front half of the first round. All it takes for Worthy to get drafted early is one team willing to make the pick.
Outside consensus doesn’t matter. We’ll see which NFL team he lands with once the draft kicks off on April 25.