Chad Reuter Grades Xavier Worthy, Spencer Rattler Among Favorite Picks from NFL Draft

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy and New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler were among Chad Reuter of NFL.com's favorite picks in the 2024 draft.

Reuter listed his top three picks in each of the draft's seven rounds on Tuesday. Worthy led the way in Round 1 after going 28th overall.

Reuter's explanation was as follows:

"I projected a Chiefs trade-up for Worthy two months before the draft because the fit was so perfect. The team has needed a true difference-making speed receiver since Tyreek Hill was sent to Miami in the 2022 offseason. Worthy's performance at the NFL Scouting Combine confirmed his elite speed and now he's working with offensive guru Andy Reid and two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes. I can't wait to see the results of this collaboration."

The Chiefs traded up four spots to No. 28 with the Buffalo Bills for Worthy, who ran an NFL-record 4.21 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He figures to form a great wideout trio with Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown alongside future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce, giving three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes an embarrassment of riches.

Rattler was Reuter's No. 2 choice for his favorite fifth-round pick after he went No. 150 overall to the New Orleans Saints.

"Adding a talent like Rattler in Round 5 could pay major dividends for New Orleans down the line. With Derek Carr in place, Rattler doesn't have to be 'The Guy' for at least a couple of years, allowing him to mature and learn the pro game at a more developmental pace. It's a low-risk, high-reward selection."

Rattler was thought to be a Day 2 pick in the draft. The B/R NFL Scouting Department notably had him ranked 67th overall on its big board. But he fell all the way to Round 5, with rumors of his negative imagine emanating from the QB1 documentary reportedly helping lead to that drop, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (h/t Awful Announcing).

Regardless of the reason, the Saints got a steal here. He excelled in his final season at South Carolina, completing 68.9 percent of his passes (8.0 YPA) for 19 touchdowns (eight picks) and 3,186 yards. He's not thrust into the spotlight right away, either, with Derek Carr currently in the second season of his four-year deal.

Reuter's other top choices for Rounds 2-7 were as follows: Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard (Round 2), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (Round 3), Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Round 4), Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Round 5), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Logan Lee (Round 6) and Tennessee Titans edge-rusher Jaylen Harrell (Round 7).