Speed kills, and absolute speed kills absolutely. Texas receiver Xavier Worthy has absolute speed.
It was easy enough to diagnose that from watching his game tape, but when Worthy went to the 2024 scouting combine and set the record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, that was the clincher. And it was the only instance in which Worthy put up preposterous numbers.
Now, the height/weight profile could be a problem. There are other smaller speed receivers who have succeeded in the NFL, but the guys who have done it in the modern era generally check in a bit heavier — more on the 180-pound scale.
So, will Worthy’s NFL team stick with his weight as is, or try to beef him up a bit without losing any of that explosive potential? We can but wait and see.
PLUSES
— Record-breaking speed shows up on the field; Worthy can house a handoff or a quick screen, and he’s very adept at gaining separation in a straight line downfield.
— Has a nice sense of foot feints to get off press at the line of scrimmage and will then head into Acceleration Mode.
— Turns into his routes with little need to slow down and re-accelerate.
— Wins with late hands to the ball as it’s coming in.
— His ability to get open and up to top speed out of motion could make him a terrifying target in the right NFL offense.
— Not just a go/post/seam guy, Worthy will stick his foot in the ground to re-direct, and he’s got a pretty diverse route profile.
MINUSES
— For all his explosive potential, Worthy had just six catches of 20 or more air yards last season on 23 targets for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
— Focus drops are a legitimate issue; Worthy doesn’t have much of a catch radius, and he isn’t excited about heading into traffic.
— Blocking is more performative than effective.
— Creates YAC with speed as opposed to any sort of physicality; he’s not a contested catch player in the traditional sense, and his after-contact potential is iffy.
Worthy is more of a nuanced receiver than the speed numbers would have you believe. On the other hand, he isn’t as explosively effective as you’d like for a guy with his rare traits. A lot of that can be worked through with NFL coaching, but 5′ 11¼” and 165 pounds is what it is. Worthy’s NFL team had best have a clear plan for his schematic success.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
PLUSES
— Record-breaking speed shows up on the field; Worthy can house a handoff or a quick screen, and he's very adept at gaining separation in a straight line downfield.
— Has a nice sense of foot feints to get off press at the line of scrimmage… pic.twitter.com/xXMPdgSHI6
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 9, 2024
