2025 Draft: WRs

[bakes781]

What versatility do you need from a big tall WR with excellent speed and outstanding catch radius?

Can he beat press man under 200 lbs?

 

[Clonamery]

What versatility do you need from a big tall WR with excellent speed and outstanding catch radius?

X marks the spot.

 

[dliverey44]

If you can't find definitives in a pile of data, you're better off out in the sunshine with your girl.

But I want to be in the sunshine with her

 

[manxman2601]

But I want to be in the sunshine with her

You're a football fan and it's the combine. Suck it up

 

[bakes781]

You're a football fan and it's the combine. Suck it up

It's sunny here but if I go out there I wouldn't be able to feel my hands

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

I am very high on jayden Higgins. I would even draft him in round 2.

 

[bakes781]

 

[PatsFan2]

A faster Jules

 

[dliverey44]

I really like Higgins and think he would be an instant upgrade to the WR room, but I have a question I would like answered if you can or offer an opinion.

I realize stride length impacts the amount of ground covered, but I don't get how Higgins could have a 4.47 and Polk a 4.52. So Polk had a faster 10 yd MPH and that equated to a .01 faster time. It feels like the difference between 18.51 and 17.8 would make the time greater than .01. Maybe I just believe too much in MPH over time, but this just does not make sense in my head.

I would love to be able to find a site that allows you to input data and then get a visual result like the simulcast overlay

Name​	5 yd MPH​	10 MPH​	10 time​	20 MPH​	30 MPH​	40 MPH​	40 time​	Acceleration​	Top speed​
Polk​	13.73​	18.51​	1.52​	20.83​	22.11​	22.52​	4.52​	7.37​	22.67​
Higgins​	13.76​	17.8​	1.53​	20.74​	22.05​	22.16​	4.47​	5.72​	22.28​

 

[VJCPatriot]

You've got to remember that combine 40 is taken from sprinter's stance in shorts.

Those times might not carry over once they put on pads and have to start from a typical formation standing stance instead.

It's interesting stuff to look over but game speed can often be different. Also how efficient is the player at maintaining speed when making lateral movements on routes. That's not quite measured by those numbers alone.

However I am a big believer in Matthew Golden. His quickness on routes shows up on tape and add to that his recent 4.29 combine timed speed. He seems to have it all, the athleticism, agility, explosiveness and route running.



scouting report: The Draft Network

 

[Rdforty2]

Excluding the unicorn My WR(as of 3/2) rankings:

Matthew Golden
Luther Burden
Emeka Egbuka
Tet McMillan(could keep falling)
Tre Harris
Jalen Royals
Isaiah Bond
Savion Williams
Jayden Higgins
Jaylin Noel
Jack Bech
Xavier Restrepo
Pat Bryant

I think you're placing way too much emphasis on the combine. McMillan is everyone wr1(depending on Hunter). He doesn't workout and you think he's wr4 and falling further? I agree that him not working out( and rumors of not working out at pro day) didn't help his cause. But it doesn't drop him that far. It just creates some doubt. I'd say that doubt pushes him from consideration at 4 at this point but it doesn't make him wr4. Still the best wr available to me, and the likely top wr selected. Just more 8-15 now than 4-10.

 

[bakes781]

I think you're placing way too much emphasis on the combine. McMillan is everyone wr1(depending on Hunter). He doesn't workout and you think he's wr4 and falling further? I agree that him not working out( and rumors of not working out at pro day) didn't help his cause. But it doesn't drop him that far. It just creates some doubt. I'd say that doubt pushes him from consideration at 4 at this point but it doesn't make him wr4. Still the best wr available to me, and the likely top wr selected. Just more 8-15 now than 4-10.

When the biggest ? is your speed then yeah its concerning if he won't run. He may think he's above all that but teams at the top of the draft have too many needs to be taking a chance on a guy with questionable speed.

And there was talk of him falling before the combine BTW.

2025 NFL Draft Rumors: Could 6’5”, 28-TD WR Tetairoa McMillan Surprisingly Slip in the First Round? - NewsBreak

Arizona Wildcat’s Tetairoa McMillan is one of the best wide receiver prospects in this upcoming NFL draft. However, one prominent NFL draft expert is pred

www.newsbreak.com

 

[Rdforty2]

When the biggest ? is your speed then yeah its concerning if he won't run. He may think he's above all that but teams at the top of the draft have too many needs to be taking a chance on a guy with questionable speed.

I said it creates some doubt. And it didn't help his cause. But he didn't run a 4.7. He just didn't run. People question his speed so much that everyone ranked him as the wr1.

You have plenty of tape of him cooking guys. You have tape of a supposed generational talent with his speed and quickness not be able to guard McMillan without holding him.

The questions he created impact him from reach his draft potential of being a top 5 pick. It doesn't push him out of the 1st round. The tape clearly tells you he's a top 15 talent in this draft. And to me, still the top wr, whenever wr's start to go.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I said it creates some doubt. And it didn't help his cause. But he didn't run a 4.7. He just didn't run. People question his speed so much that everyone ranked him as the wr1.

You have plenty of tape of him cooking guys. You have tape of a supposed generational talent with his speed and quickness not be able to guard McMillan without holding him.

The questions he created impact him from reach his draft potential of being a top 5 pick. It doesn't push him out of the 1st round. The tape clearly tells you he's a top 15 talent in this draft. And to me, still the top wr, whenever wr's start to go.

I think he was scared to run a 4.6 and really kill his draft stock. We know those guys train the 40. The results must not have been good in private workouts so they decided not to run at all. Guys with his size tend to make an impact but the speed question is a pretty big one to answer.

Even Mike Evans who dominates mostly with size ran a 4.53 combine 40 which is impressive when you consider he's 6'5 231 lbs.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I think you're placing way too much emphasis on the combine. McMillan is everyone wr1(depending on Hunter). He doesn't workout and you think he's wr4 and falling further? I agree that him not working out( and rumors of not working out at pro day) didn't help his cause. But it doesn't drop him that far. It just creates some doubt. I'd say that doubt pushes him from consideration at 4 at this point but it doesn't make him wr4. Still the best wr available to me, and the likely top wr selected. Just more 8-15 now than 4-10.

I've been down on him all year, as have a few others, due to the type of routes he wins/loses on, his lack of consistent release packages against press, and other reasons. I've always considered him more of a mid-to-late-first kind of talent, and not running when I already had concerns about his overall ability to separate makes me consider skipping him entirely in favor of more dynamic options. It's not just as simple as "big number better" (or small number better, in the case of the 40), but rather analyzing the overall athletic profile and competitive spirit that emerges from these events.

Margins between success and failure are razor-thin in the NFL. I want to minimize concerns as much as possible in the first round, particularly when drafting in the top ten. Later rounds, sure, take a shot. Gamble on greatness. But not early, thanks.

 

[Rdforty2]

I've been down on him all year, as have a few others, due to the type of routes he wins/loses on, his lack of consistent release packages against press, and other reasons. I've always considered him more of a mid-to-late-first kind of talent, and not running when I already had concerns about his overall ability to separate makes me consider skipping him entirely in favor of more dynamic options. It's not just as simple as "big number better" (or small number better, in the case of the 40), but rather analyzing the overall athletic profile and competitive spirit that emerges from these events.

Margins between success and failure are razor-thin in the NFL. I want to minimize concerns as much as possible in the first round, particularly when drafting in the top ten. Later rounds, sure, take a shot. Gamble on greatness. But not early, thanks.

That's fine. But all the "experts" had him as a top 10 lock basically, with obvious flaws. He's not regarded as an elite if the elite as a wr prospect. But those concerns have already been baked into his draft evals.

The issue is, in this draft, basically everyone has flaws. Everyone has 2 guys at the top for the most part(and even they have some concerns). After that, there are no elite tackle options, no elite QB options, no elite pass rush options. No elite DT options.

Without the standout players, guys that may be mid to late in a better draft are pushed up. You have Campbell with length issues. Graham with length length issues and measurements were underwhelming. Tet has speed concerns. Then you have. Shemar Stewart who's a freak but didn't produce. All the options at 4 and most of the other prospects have clear flaws. Guys are going to go top 5 or 10 that would've went 15-20 last year.

That's why I'm still on the Campbell train, and still have Tet was WR1. Their film have them at the top of their position. Are they going to be top 3-5 in the league at their position? No. Maybe Campbell but not at a premium position. But i don't think Golden or Burden are going to be elite NFL WR's either. And for the Patriots, I feel like we have a bunch of 2-4 WR types. Size and the ability to soak up targets/catches matters.

Everyone wants a franchise player 4th in the draft. But when those franchise players aren't there, the middle 1st round talents become top 10 talents.

 

[manxman2601]

That's fine. But all the "experts" had him as a top 10 lock basically, with obvious flaws. He's not regarded as an elite if the elite as a wr prospect. But those concerns have already been baked into his draft evals.

The issue is, in this draft, basically everyone has flaws. Everyone has 2 guys at the top for the most part(and even they have some concerns). After that, there are no elite tackle options, no elite QB options, no elite pass rush options. No elite DT options.

Without the standout players, guys that may be mid to late in a better draft are pushed up. You have Campbell with length issues. Graham with length length issues and measurements were underwhelming. Tet has speed concerns. Then you have. Shemar Stewart who's a freak but didn't produce. All the options at 4 and most of the other prospects have clear flaws. Guys are going to go top 5 or 10 that would've went 15-20 last year.

That's why I'm still on the Campbell train, and still have Tet was WR1. Their film have them at the top of their position. Are they going to be top 3-5 in the league at their position? No. Maybe Campbell but not at a premium position. But i don't think Golden or Burden are going to be elite NFL WR's either. And for the Patriots, I feel like we have a bunch of 2-4 WR types. Size and the ability to soak up targets/catches matters.

Everyone wants a franchise player 4th in the draft. But when those franchise players aren't there, the middle 1st round talents become top 10 talents.

I couldn't have said it any better.

 

[bakes781]

We're all victims of recency bias. We just saw guys in shorts running around and we got a chubby. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

but when you have a bunch of mediocre talent to begin with you are looking for anything that will excite you.

 

[manxman2601]

I'm going to go out on a limb, admittedly not that big of a limb, and say that if we don't sign Chris Godwin or Tee Higgins in FA then Jack Bech will be our second or third round pick in the draft.

I've seen him compared to both Jakobi Myers and Chris Godwin, he has the type of character that Vrabel is looking to build his roster with and he fits the criteria that Vrabel has set for a WR with a high contested catch rate and a RZ threat. His versatility lends himself to a McDaniels offense and his skillset as a WR is top notch - he just does everything right. He's not a pure X receiver, but he'll be a high volume receiver for the Pats.

 

[stelfans]

I'm going to go out on a limb, admittedly not that big of a limb, and say that if we don't sign Chris Godwin or Tee Higgins in FA then Jack Bech will be our second or third round pick in the draft.

I've seen him compared to both Jakobi Myers and Chris Godwin, he has the type of character that Vrabel is looking to build his roster with and he fits the criteria that Vrabel has set for a WR with a high contested catch rate and a RZ threat. His versatility lends himself to a McDaniels offense and his skillset as a WR is top notch - he just does everything right. He's not a pure X receiver, but he'll be a high volume receiver for the Pats.

Not Higgins?