Where Does the 2024 NFL Draft's Fastest Man, Texas' Xavier Worthy, Ultimately Land?
Move over, Tyreek Hill, and make way for Texas' Xavier Worthy.
The 20-year-old created a moment for the ages when he broke the NFL Scouting Combine record with an official 4.21-second 40-yard dash to beat John Ross III's previous time by one-hundredth of a second, which was originally set in 2007.
Hill was not invited to the 2016 combine due to off-field issues. But he did run at the Alabama pro day in 2016, where he posted a 40-time ranging somewhere from 4.21 to a more widely accepted 4.29. Those numbers were hand-timed, though.
While the argument will commence about who is actually faster, Worthy proved it on the biggest predraft stage with an official measurement. It was the start of what has turned into a phenomenal build to the 2024 draft.
The two-time, first-team All-Big 12 performer should not be viewed as another undersized speed merchant, whose only redeeming quality is the ability to threaten defenses deep.
"Worthy is a weapon at the line of scrimmage as well," B/R scout Derrik Klassen wrote in the wide receiver's scouting report. "Not only is he super quick and shifty as a screen option, but he is also an extremely effective player to use in motion. The raw speed and twitchiness he brings can be a nightmare for defenses to react to and keep up with."
According to Matt Miller of ESPN, an NFL evaluator said Worthy "put on a show; he caught everything" during the Texas pro day last week.
Another executive told NFL insider Jordan Schultz, "That dude's a video game. Like a 99 speed in Madden! But he's not just a straight line guy. He's twitchy and fluid."
Lastly, the biggest concern around the early entrant is his slight build, but he showed up four pounds heavier at his pro day than when he weighed 165 at the NFL combine, per Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline.
Worthy has all the makings of a first-round pick, with five strongest team options to select the soon-to-be NFL's fastest man.
Indianapolis Colts
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The 15th overall pick may be a tad rich for a sub-170-pound wide receiver, but the Indianapolis Colts appear to have a strong interest in Worthy.
Two indications can be found regarding the team's fascination with the speedster.
First, both head coach Shane Steichen and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne went to Texas' pro day. The Longhorns' pro day was well-attended by every NFL squad, but Wayne isn't a regular on the circuit.
The franchise's second-all-time leading receiver knows a thing or two about playing the position, and his voice was influential in the third-round selection of Josh Downs last year.
If Worthy gets Wayne's seal of approval, the Colts might have found their next weapon.
Steichen attending the event isn't quite as big of a deal, though Indianapolis clearly has a need at outside receiver opposite Michael Pittman Jr., particularly one with downfield speed and the ability to separate to take full advantage of Anthony Richardson's big arm.
The head coach being in Austin certainly doesn't hurt, especially when someone takes into account how much of his passing game is built around creating chunk passing plays.
Secondly, the Colts already set up a top-30 visit with Worthy, according to B/R's Ryan Fowler. He also "met extensively" with the team after Wednesday's workout, per Tony Pauline.
With Pittman being re-signed and Downs working from the slot, another option is necessary after Alec Pierce's disappointing sophomore campaign. Even with Pierce in the fold, Worthy presents a completely different skill set to flesh out the Colts' wide receiver corps.
Furthermore, general manager Chris Ballard loves to deal. A potential trade down could materialize, with the Colts eyeing Worthy after moving down a few slots.
Pittsburgh Steelers
2 of 5
The Pittsburgh Steelers went big this offseason and made significant changes at quarterback. The next step is making sure the position is set up for success.
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are in, while Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph are out.
The team should automatically be better simply by upgrading at the game's most important position, but it also dealt wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who led the team in receptions during four of the last five seasons, to the Carolina Panthers for a sixth-round draft pick.
Calvin Austin III can expect a bigger role this fall, but the Steelers should strongly consider adding another wide receiver. And they are.
As with the Colts, the Steelers sent their wide receivers coach, Zach Azzanni, to check out the Texas pro day, which featured Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittingham. But Worthy appears to have drawn the most interest.
Also like the Colts, Pittsburgh "met extensively" with Worthy after his pro-day work, per Pauline.
Some may look at the current construction of the Steelers' wide receiver room and think Worthy doesn't fit since Austin is another 170-pound target. But Johnson isn't exactly a tank at a listed 183 pounds. The 6'3", 200-pound George Pickens is the squad's traditional X-receiver.
With Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh needs someone to be a serious threat on the deep backside digs as part of his play-action passing game. Worthy could be dynamite in this role, particularly after the ball is in his hands.
An offensive-line prospect should be in the mix with the No. 20 overall pick, whether it be at center or to replace Dan Moore Jr. in the lineup. Otherwise, Worthy can add a different component to a skill-position group that already includes Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
Dallas Cowboys
3 of 5
The Dallas Cowboys passing game consists of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and...
While that sentence is played for laughs, it is concerning that the Cowboys lack a true secondary threat when quarterback Dak Prescott drops back and looks for a target.
Yes, they do still feature Brandin Cooks and tight end Jake Ferguson.
Cooks, 30, did grab eight touchdown catches last season, but his production (receptions and receiving yards) has decreased each of the last two years. He's not going to get more explosive at this point in his career.
Ferguson, meanwhile, finished second on the team with 71 catches and 761 yard in 2023. The 25-year-old isn't the most explosive option, though. Besides, Dallas needs another consistent threat from wide receiver, particularly after it chose to release Michael Gallup.
Granted, Gallup hasn't been the same since he tore his ACL during the 2021 campaign, so the move wasn't entirely unexpected. The Cowboys saved $9.5 million this year by making the move a June 1 designation.
With Gallup gone and Cooks getting older, Lamb needs a different running mate. And Worthy has caught the team's eye.
He met with the Cowboys for a formal interview during the NFL Scouting Combine, according to Nick Harris of the team's official site.
The potential addition of a rookie wide receiver is also important financially since the Cowboys need to sign Lamb to a contract extension. A rookie deal opposite the three-time Pro Bowler for the next three to four years will help offset expenses.
While sitting at the 24th overall pick, the Cowboys may be able to stand pat and select Worthy and give the offense more juice, even after the unit finished among the top five last season.
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Arizona Cardinals
4 of 5
The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in a fascinating position.
As owners of this year's fourth overall draft pick, the assumption is they can stay where they are, watch three quarterbacks come off the board with the first three selections and select the class' top overall prospect, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., when they're officially on the board.
However, the possibility of Arizona trading out of that slot seems to be growing with each passing day. The Cardinals brass haven't been shy about it, either.
General manager Monti Ossenfort told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine:
"There will be a big neon sign that says 'open' and I don't like it blinking, it messes with my eyes, but we're always going to be listening. I think we'll always have the conversation, we may not get to a point where a deal makes sense, whether it's at [No.] 4 or anywhere we're picking, but we're always going to have the conversation and if it makes sense, if it's attractive to building our team, then it's something that we'll certainly consider no matter where we're at in the draft."
The Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders will likely look to trade into the top five and get ahead of the New York Giants, which currently own the No. 6 overall selection.
Why?
SNY's Connor Hughes reported that Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is "the player the Giants want," which places the Cardinals in the driver's seat for a potential trade.
If that occurs, wide receiver still remains a need. With Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore no longer on the roster, the Cardinals will likely add a top target either through the pick they acquire via speculated trade or their second first-round selection, which is 27th overall thanks to last year's draft-day deal with the Houston Texans.
The latter is likely a better option for Worthy. Some of the concerns that once surrounded Brown and Moore, i.e. slight statures, exist for the Texas product, but it's not enough to scare the Cardinals away. In fact, he is set to make an official visit with the organization, according to Fowler.
With more physical targets like Michael Wilson and tight end Tre McBride already on the roster, a faster and more dynamic option may be the right path toward building a better passing game.
Kansas City Chiefs
5 of 5
The Kansas City Chiefs are far better off today at wide receiver than they were six months ago, but they could still be better.
Rashee Rice, who was selected in last year's second round, really began to turn the corner in November. After Kansas City's bye week, he caught 72 receptions for 822 yards and four touchdowns during the Chiefs' final 11 games, including the postseason.
With Rice establishing himself as WR1 during another championship run, the Chiefs had one less concern at the position. The organization helped itself when it signed Marquise Brown to a one-year, $7 million, but it's clear he isn't in the team's long-term plans.
Worthy can be, though, particularly since he shares a similar skill set to Brown. The two can be interchangeable during the 2024 campaign. Yet Worthy can come in after being the 32nd overall pick—if he's still on the board then—and provide the Chiefs with the kind of speed they've lacked since trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins.
Obviously, Kansas City didn't need Hill to win back-to-back championships. But field-tilting speed makes life easier, especially for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has the arm and the playmaking ability to take full advantage of record-breaking pace.
Furthermore, head coach Andy Reid is one of the best at devising plays to take advantage of an individual's skill set. The Chiefs can manufacture touches for Worthy early in his career, as he grows into a full-time role.
More importantly, Kansas City will have a young wide receiver corps—including Rice, Skyy Moore and Worthy—that can develop together and stay on the cheap for at least three years as the Chiefs look to re-sign players such as center Creed Humphrey, guard Trey Smith, linebacker Nick Bolton and cornerback Joshua Williams, all of whom are still operating under rookie deals.
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