Buffalo Bills 2024 NFL Draft top-30 visit: WR Xavier Worthy

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 02 Big 12 Championship Game - Texas vs Oklahoma State
Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Will the Bills bite on the fastest player of the NFL Scouting Combine era?

The Buffalo Bills are meeting with Texas wide receiver prospect Xavier Worthy on a Top-30 visit. The speedster became all the buzz of the NFL Draft world after he set a new NFL Scouting Combine record for the 40-yard dash this year. Speed is a trait that you can’t teach, but is Worthy more than just a track star? Let’s find out!

College Career

2021: Led the team with 62 receptions for 981 yards and 12 TDs; First-Team All-Big 12 Conference, Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-American

2022: Led the team with 60 receptions for 760 yards and 9 TDs; Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference

2023: Led the team with 75 receptions for 1014 yards and 5 TDs; Third-Team AP All-American All-Purpose; First-Team All-Big 12 Conference at WR and Returner; second in the FBS with 16.9 yards per punt return (22-371-1TD)

NFL Scouting Combine

  • Height: 5’11”
  • Weight: 165 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.21 seconds (Combine record)
  • 10-yard split: 1.49 seconds (First)
  • Vertical jump: 41” (Fourth)
  • Broad jump: 10’11” (Fifth)

Worthy’s speed is undeniable, but he also tested well in the other athletic events. His 41” vertical is off the charts, proving he can play bigger than his listed height. His weight is a little concerning though — 165 pounds is light. However, no one is drafting Worthy for his physicality.

Highlights

This Xavier Worthy return for a TD is a prime example of how dangerous he would be as a returner in the NFL, especially with the new kickoff rules.

Worthy’s game-changing speed doesn’t have to come in the form of a deep ball. He can be just as effective with a pass caught behind the line of scrimmage. Get him the ball and let him make a play.

This was an absolute nasty whip route at the goal line by Worthy.

Worthy showed out with an excellent over-the-shoulder catch for a TD.

Pros

  • Elite speed; he not only has long speed but has the ability to adjust his throttle to maximize the effectiveness of getting in and out of his breaks, making him an effective route runner
  • Can take a short pass from anywhere on the field and turn it into a TD
  • Can create separation on comebacks or hitches by stopping on a dime after selling his go-route
  • His speed and elusive running style make him a good return man

Cons

  • Lacks the weight and play strength to compete at the line of scrimmage with physical corners
  • Deep-ball tracking has been spotty but better in 2023
  • Lack of physicality is a problem when trying to win contested catches

How he fits with the Buffalo Bills

If history tells us anything, Worthy’s record-breaking NFL Scouting Combine performance will likely get him drafted higher than expected. It only takes one team to fall in love for him to go in the first round. The last 40-yard dash record holder, wide receiver John Ross, found himself drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals ninth overall in 2017 — and I think Worthy will be a better pro than Ross ever was.

In my mind, Worthy should be around at pick 28 when the Bills are on the board, but I won’t be surprised if another team selects him earlier than that. If the Bills were to draft Worthy, he would be an immediate contributor. I think Worthy would be a chess piece in Buffalo’s offense, but not a high-volume 100-catch guy. The Bills would design plays for him and he certainly would give their offense an instant upgrade in their deep passing game. They would also feature him on quick screens, crossers, and iso routes to give him a chance to make a play.

An underestimated part of Xavier Worthy’s game is that he can be a dynamic returner, and with the NFL’s new kickoff rules, I would venture to guess Worthy would be a good candidate to claim a returner role for the Bills.

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