There’s a lot of discussion about the Las Vegas Raiders wanting to draft a quarterback, cornerback, and offensive lineman this year, but not much attention has been given to their need for a wide receiver. The team released Hunter Renfrow during the offseason and DeAndre Carter is still a free agent.
The Raiders haven’t shown much interest in free agent wide receivers this offseason and could decide to address the position in the draft. Derrik Klassen of Bleacher Report believes that Texas’ Xavier Worthy is a good fit for Las Vegas.
“There’s not much explanation needed for someone who breaks the 40-yard dash record,” Klassen wrote in a March 28 column. “Even though he is small, Xavier Worthy is very fast and also explosive. He also shows promise as a route-runner. He falls somewhere between Mecole Hardman and Jameson Williams in terms of skill level.”
Worthy recently made waves at the NFL Scouting Combine by running a 4.21 40-yard dash, breaking the previous record of 4.22 held by John Rosssomeone else Tre Tucker .
Which Round Will Xavier Worthy Be Drafted?
In the past, fast wide receivers have been drafted too high due to their speed and have not lived up to expectations. However, it seems that teams may have learned from the past as not many mock drafts feature Xavier Worthy being selected in the first round. In a recent mock draft from Josh Edwards of CBS Sports, Worthy fell to the middle of the second round.
However, there is reason to believe that Worthy can be successful in the NFL. He has had over 700 receiving yards in each of his three seasons at Texas so he can make plays. There could be a team that’s impressed by his speed and decides to use a late first-round pick on him, but he’s still likely to drop to the second round.
Draft Profile on Xavier Worthy
One concern with Xaiver Worthy is his lack of size. He only weighs 165 pounds, which is very lean for an NFL player. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com detailed why this could be an issue for teams.
“Worthy’s draft slotting could come down to draft-room debates weighing his elite speed versus his thin frame,” Zierlein wrote in a scouting report. “Worthy will find separation if allowed to explore vertically or across the hashes against man coverage, but he lacks play strength and release quickness to defeat a quality NFL press. His quick-strike potential adds an element of danger over the top and should open wider windows for teammates to work into. He lacks the physical tools to catch when contested and needs to prove he can hold up to a more physical brand of football. Worthy is a niche prospect for teams looking to add a legit field-stretcher, but areas of concern could create a wider gap between ceiling and floor.”
