The 2024 NFL Draft has a very strong class of wide receivers, and some mock drafts have as many as six or seven WRs going in the first round. Xavier Worthy, who spent the last three years as a Texas Longhorn, is among the group expecting to hear their names called on Thursday night.
Worthy had three excellent seasons as a Longhorn, grabbing over 900 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021 and over 700 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. In his most recent season, he led the Longhorns with 1,014 receiving yards and grabbed five TDs. Here’s where Worthy could end up as he prepares to head to the next level of the sport.
Xavier Worthy: Scouting Report
Worthy is expected to be a first or early second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein highlights Worthy’s speed — he ran a record-breaking 4.21 40-yard dash at the Combine — as a major selling point for teams.
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.
However, Bleacher Report points out that Worthy’s small size may lead to challenges in the big leagues. He stands at 5-foot-11 and just 165 pounds and will be expected to bulk up in the offseason.
In the NFL, Worthy will be an auxiliary pass-catcher used to stretch the field and stress defenses horizontally at the line of scrimmage. However, given Worthy’s lack of size and overall inconsistency (especially with his hands), he has a high-risk, high-reward profile that may not be for everyone.
Mock Draft landing spots
Mel Kiper has Worthy headed to the Chargers, who need a fast receiver on their depth chart. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman sends Worthy to the Panthers with the first pick of the second round. NBC’s Mike Florio sees Worthy landing with the 49ers in a late first-round pick.
Fantasy football implications
As a first-rounder or, at the latest, early second-rounder, we can expect to see Worthy get plenty of action on the field as he plays for a team with clear openings at his position. The Panthers would likely use him alongside Diontae Johnson as one of two top targets, although they have some major needs to address at the offensive line.
The Chargers would be a spot for Worthy to truly make some significant fantasy impact — Justin Herbert would be a perfect pair for a receiver who can speed downfield and create separation in the secondary. The 49ers would be an interesting spot for him as well, and while he would lose out on targets to their more veteran receivers, last year’s injury issues in San Francisco could pop up again and create an opening for Worthy to become a top target.
No matter where he ends up, Worthy is certainly a good dynasty target among a receiving group in this draft class that is not short on talent.