What to make of these controversial NFL Draft prospects?

What questions surround the most debated prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft?

Nothing gets the people going quite like arguing over prospects in the NFL Draft. By this time in the process, fans and analysts alike are locked into their convictions about whether a player is destined for a bust in Canton, or selling paper products out of the office park down the street.

While everyone has their opinions, it is always a good exercise to take a break from the extreme ends of the discourse and get an understanding about why certain players draw more disagreement than the rest of their counterparts. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what makes some of the most hotly contest prospects in this years draft so polarizing, and what key questions the Carolina Panthers must ask themselves when considering putting these players in the black and blue.

Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver, Texas

One of the most discussed players of this draft cycle is Xavier Worthy – and for good reason. He became a household name after setting the 40 yard dash record at the NFL Combine with a blazing 4.21 second finish. That’s not just track speed either, as his explosiveness shows up on the field too, evidenced by a 99th percentile PFF Game Athleticism Score. Worthy could provide difference making speed both down the field and creating yards after catch once he gets the ball in space.

While he’s extremely fast, some of that is due to him being a razor-thin 5’11 and 165 lbs. He didn’t miss any games during his college career, but coming into the NFL with a 1st percentile weight invites concern about his fragility, especially once he starts taking hits over a seventeen game NFL season. Beyond injury concerns, he has little strength and that weakness shows up as a blocker and when he needs fight through contact at the catch point.

Key question: Is Worthy going to be an explosive receiver with consistent enough production to warrant a top 40 pick, or will his size limit his versatility to just being a one-trick pony in the NFL?

Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Florida State

Keon Coleman’s highlight reel is one of the most entertaining in this year’s draft class. Coleman uses all of his 6’3, 215lb frame to his advantage by routinely out-competing defensive backs at the catch point, sometimes only needing one hand to get it done. Coleman also works hard in the run game as a dominant blocker, considered by many to be the best in that department among this years crop of receivers. Coleman’s game speed is commendable and he was the fastest receiver in the gauntlet drill at the NFL Combine. He also returned some punts at Florida State and that skillset shows up after the catch.

While being able to win contested catch situations is certainly a good thing, it should not be the primary aspect a NFL player’s game is built upon. Generally speaking, players who live and die based off winning contested catches do not have a track record of success in the NFL. Even the best receivers in contested catch situations have volatile results, as it is not nearly as repeatable as creating an open target for your quarterback. There are also concerns about his long-speed to outrun most defenders down the field, as his 4.62 second 40 yard dash showed at the combine. Hitting the top speed for receivers in the gauntlet drill is impressive, however he also travelled several yards out of bounds after the last catch before being able to gather and turn up field – another example of his struggles with changing direction.

Key question: Can Coleman improve his below average separation ability enough to be a consistent threat as an outside receiver, or will he have to rely on winning fifty-fifty balls in order to produce throughout his NFL career?

Jermaine Burton, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Burton is as sure-handed as they come, having only four drops over his four year college career. He has been a deep threat, but displays crisp route running at all three levels of the field, when he’s been given the opportunity. He is great athlete who tested well during the combine and his in-game speed scores ranked among the highest in the class, according to PFF. Burton has some fire to him and already has experience playing with Panthers Quarterback Bryce Young during their 2022 season together at Alabama.

On the field, most agree that Burton has a skillset that succeeds at an NFL level and would be an easy selection in the first two rounds. While some may call him a “dog”, others call him “undisciplined” or “a hothead”. He had an incident with a female fan storming the field after a game versus Tennessee and his relationship with coaches has been “up and down”, according to Dane Brugler in his draft guide, “The Beast”. In other words, he is definitely not a choir boy and the team that takes him will hope he matures after joining the NFL.

Key question: Does Burton have the talent to justify the risk of adding a potential headache, or should he be taken off draft boards entirely and enter the NFL already on a short leash?

Chop Robinson, Edge Rusher, Penn State

Chop is a top-tier athlete for the position with elite first step quickness that frightens offensive tackles and has defensive coaches salivating at his potential. Several evaluators have compared Chop to New York Giants Edge Brian Burns, leading to Chop being a common player mocked to the Panthers as a natural replacement for the former Panther. Plus, he got the cool nickname “Chop” because he was called “Pork Chop” after being born weighing over 14 lbs. Chop has game-wrecking upside in his range of outcomes as an NFL player.

With 300 snaps in 2023, Chop Robinson only produced three sacks and did not surpass five during any of his three seasons at Penn State. Chop’s smaller frame profiles him to be a designated pass rusher (averaged less than 2 tackles per game over his career), but his pass-rush production is underwhelming and the production he did have came from “facing inferior tackles” according to PFF draft analyst Trevor Sikkema, in the PFF Draft Guide. While the upside is there, Chop has not shown the ability to consistently turn pass rush wins into production on the stat sheet.

Key question: Do you have faith in your staff to develop a player with elite traits, or will his limited down-to-down versatility and inefficient production at the college level limit his upside?

Payton Wilson, Linebacker, NC State

Wilson profiles as a true inside linebacker in a draft that has few worth taking before the end of round three. A terrific athlete (98th percentile athlete according to his Relative Athletic Score) with the instincts and elite production to match. After racking up 17.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 9 pass deflections and 3 interceptions, Wilson won the Butkus Award for the top FBS linebacker. Born and raised in North Carolina, the home town kid plays with the dog mentality that Panthers General Manager Dan Morgan craves.

When Roger Goodell steps on the stage in Detroit to announce the start of the draft, Payton Wilson will already be 24 years old. Unfortunately for Wilson, his medical history is significant, including numerous knee and shoulder issues that have required Wilson to undergo double-digit surgeries before he ever put on an NFL jersey.

Key question: Is Payton Wilson’s injury history enough to sink his draft stock, or are the significant injuries far enough behind him to not impact his availability at the next level?