Patriots draft profile: Xavier Worthy is the fastest man in football

The Texas wide receiver set a new Combine record in the 40-yard dash.

Back in 2022, New England Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh made a pretty definitive statement about improving his team’s speed: you want fast players, you better draft fast players.

While the circumstances of roster construction have changed over those last two years — mainly because of issues at quarterback and left tackle — speed and the playmaking potential associated with it remains a topic in New England. The Patriots, after all, are in need of upgrading their skill positions in order to improve an offense that was among the least potent in the NFL in 2023.

There are several suitable prospects to do that. When it comes to pure speed, however, there is only one reigning supreme: Xavier Worthy, the fastest man in football.

Hard facts

Name: Xavier Worthy

Position: Wide receiver

School: Texas

Opening day age: 21 (4/27/2003)

Measurements: 5’11 1/4”, 165 lbs, 74 1/4” wingspan, 31 1/8” arm length, 8 3/4” hand size, 4.21s 40-yard dash, 41” vertical jump, 10’11” broad jump, 9.41 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

Career statistics: 39 games (39 starts) | 2,271 offensive snaps, 185 special teams snaps, 1 defensive snap | 336 targets, 197 catches (58.6%), 2,755 receiving yards, 26 TDs | 7 carries, 56 rushing yards (8.0 yards/carry) | 3 pass attempts, 2 completions (66.7%), 66 passing yards, 1 TD | 2 kickoff returns, 38 yards (19 yards/return) | 40 punt returns, 566 yards (14.2 yards/return), 1 TD | 3 fumbles, 2 muffed punts

Accolades: First-team All-Big 12 (2021, 2023), Second-team All-Big 12 (2022), Second-team All-American (2023), Freshman All-American (2021), Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2021)

A football and track athlete at Central East High School in Fresno, CA, Worthy entered the college level as a four-star recruit. While he originally committed to play at Michigan, he eventually joined the University of Texas under head coach Steve Sarkisian and quickly made his presence felt.

Worthy led the team in receiving in 2021 and was voted to the first Big 12 team as a true freshman. He did not look back either, and over the next two seasons also produced at a high level. After three seasons of a combined 197 catches, 2,755 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns — as well as a 33-yard passing TD — he decided to forgo his senior campaign to make the jump to the NFL.

Draft profile

Expected round: 2 | Consensus big board: No. 34 | Patriots meeting: Pro Day

Strengths: Worthy is an explosive athlete who offers a rare combination of long speed and burst. Look no further than his testing numbers: he ran the fastest ever 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine — his 4.21 seconds bested the previous record set by John Ross seven years earlier (4.22) — and also posted top-tier numbers in the vertical jump (41”, 95 percentile) and broad jump (10’11”, 92 percentile).

There can be a difference between workout and in-game performance, but Worthy’s skillset translates very well. He brings game-breaking speed to the equation and looked the part at Texas, effortlessly zooming past defensive backs and forcing them to respect his ability to take the top off a defense. He also made some decisive cuts, and did not lose much speed when going through his routes. In general, he is an advanced route runner who knows how to manipulate defenders to his advantage.

Worthy additionally offers run-after-the-catch skills. Not only is he a consistent threat when given the ball in open space, he also has shown he can bounce off of insufficient tackling attempts. His contact balance even at 165 pounds is impressive, allowing him to survive through initial contact — a skill that comes in handy both on offense, and in the kicking game.

Weaknesses: Worthy makes Tyquan Thornton look like a bulky player. Standing at just over 5-foot-11, he was measured at only 165 pounds at the Combine and 169 at his pro day. His weight is in the 1 percentile for wide receiver prospects, and his play looks the part: he lacks the strength to consistently out-muscle defenders at the catch point, winning only 34.1 percent of his contested catches in college.

When it comes to creating separation, Worthy is dependent on his speed and route running rather than his physical presence. His blocking in the running game also leaves a lot to be desired, and there are questions about his durability.

In addition, Worthy had some issues with ball handling. He let 7.1 percent of his targets hit the floor, in part due to concentration — trying to turn into a runner before securing the catch — and in part due to uneven mechanics. He also fumbled three times and muffed a pair of punts. There also is potential to add to his route tree after Texas used him in a somewhat limited capacity.

Patriots preview

What would be his role? Worthy saw action both inside and outside at Texas, and the expectation is that he will be used in similar fashion at the next level. In New England, he would likely serve as a Z-receiver aligning off the line of scrimmage. Due to his impressive straight-line speed, stretching the field vertically to create space underneath would be one of his main responsibilities early on in his career. In addition, he brings return experience to the table.

What is his growth potential? Worthy’s lack of size might limit his ceiling, but other similarly-built players such as Philadelphia’s DeVonta Smith have shown they can still be productive in the NFL. Ideally, Worthy would follow Smith’s trajectory with the coaching staff mindful of his limitations and how to best use him according to his strength. If that happens, he has starter-level potential.

Does he have positional versatility? As noted above, Worthy aligned both on the perimeter and in the slot for the Longhorns. In addition, he was used as a ball carrier on occasion and even attempted three passes during his college career. He also was a productive punt returner, who elite speed and ability to maneuver the open field might make him a threat under the NFL’s new kickoff rules.

Why the Patriots? The Patriots need all the playmaking they can get, and Worthy’s potential in that regard is significant. His speed is rare, and something that can be a true weapon at the next level — a weapon capable of making life easier for everybody else on the offensive side of the ball, and the quarterback in particular. If the team does not feel confident in Tyquan Thornton entering Year 3, Worthy would be a potential upgrade from Day 1.

Why not the Patriots? The Patriots already have several Z-receiver types on their roster, but lack a true X. Worthy is not that, meaning that the team might prefer investing in other wideouts such as South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, Florida State’s Keon Coleman, or Worthy’s Texas teammate Adonai Mitchell. In addition, the team simply might be concerned about his lack of size and play strength, and the fact that he hovered around the same level of production throughout his college career.

One-sentence verdict: The 34th overall selection might be a bit too rich for a player with Worthy’s limitations, but he could be an attractive target later on Day 2.

What do you think about Xavier Worthy as a potential Patriots target? Is his playmaking potential too big to pass up? Or should the team go after other wide receiver types instead? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.