Fans who follow the 2024 NFL Draft may already have a clear idea of which players will go to which spots once Roger Goodell steps on the podium. The body of work prospects have shown throughout the past college football season has pretty much sealed where they will end up.
But if there’s one thing that can instantly change the perception of teams and fans, it’s the NFL Combine. The week-long test gives everyone a better idea on the skills of the top prospects of the draft as the drills specifically target specific parts of their game.
Xavier Worthy is one of the players who stood out during the combine for his performance in the 40-yard dash. The former Texas Longhorns WR broke the NFL Combine record with his incredible 4.21-second dash, putting the eyes of the league squarely on him.
Xavier Worthy thinks NFL teams were ‘shocked’ by his impressive 40-yard dash record
The Spun’s Hunter Hodies reported Worthy’s opinion on what NFL teams thought of his draft stock after displaying lightning speed during the 40-yard dash.
In his opinion, he thinks that his performance more than impressed teams who are looking to acquire a speedy wideout who can create space with their feet alone:
“I feel like a lot of teams were shocked,” Worthy said, via On3. “Some teams were trying to tell me that they had me running a 4.35 and (they were) like, ‘What are you trying to run?’ and I was like, ‘4.2’ and they were all shocked. They were like, ‘You know that’s fast, right?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah.’”
His blazing pace makes it easy to see why he was such a standout performer throughout his three-year stint as a Texas Longhorn. Worthy became a top NFL Draft prospect after putting up a solid season with Texas, catching for 1014 receiving yards and five touchdowns. His average yards per catch is also at an impressive 13.5.
Is Xavier Worthy a worthwhile gamble in the NFL Draft?
While it’s undeniable that Worthy’s impressive 40 time boosted his draft stock, there still lies the question as to whether he has what it takes to thrive in the NFL. There have been plenty of speedy wideouts who burned out of the league after failing to make the right adjustments to the pros.
There are huge question marks when it comes to Worthy’s capability as an NFL wideout. His slight 6’1″, 160-lb frame would struggle to battle against the league’s most powerful corners. He also makes unnecessary drops and has questionable effort.
However, he has explosive athleticism that could easily leave secondary defenders if given enough spage. He’s also showcased exceptional ball-tracking and route-running capabilities to make him a problem assignment for corners and safeties.
If he manages to work on his weaknesses, it wouldn’t be weird to see Xavier Worthy become one of the 2024 NFL Draft’s most talented players.
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