NFL Draft season is upon us. Every year around this time, Jim Nagy (executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl) rounds up a talented group of college seniors to head down to Mobile to improve their NFL draft stock at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Last year’s crop featured Kenny Pickett, Brian Robinson, and Christian Watson, just to name a few.
Marrying stats and film, I dusted off the prospect notebook and dove into the skill sets for this year’s group of NFL hopefuls. Some players hail from smaller schools, so coming across enough game film to form an opinion on their skill sets is impossible. I included their statistics for reference, so you can see, at least on paper, where they stack up against their peers. Dynasty rookie drafts will be here before you know. Now is the time to get a jump on your league mates and study up on these prospects.
Our Fantasypros team will be providing in-depth coverage all week from Mobile. We’ll have Twitter spaces on Tuesday and Wednesday (7 pm EST on the FantasyPros Twitter account) where you can hop in the room with our special guests and us to hear us chop it up and get your questions answered. Thursday, we will have a live stream on YouTube (7 pm EST) recapping all of the week’s action.
It will be a glorious week of football content to reignite your NFL Draft fires.
- 2023 Senior Bowl Preview: Offense
- 2023 Senior Bowl Preview: Defense
- 2023 Senior Bowl Primer: Dynasty Rookies
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles 
2023 Senior Bowl: Dynasty Rookie Wide Receivers (Fantasy Football)
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 9th
- PFF receiving grade: 7th
- 64.2% of target volume against zone (minimum 25 zone targets)
- PFF receiving grade: 1st
- Yards per route run vs. zone: 1st
- Career
- 82.5-94.6% out wide in three of four years at SMU
- 93.2% slot in 2021
- Never crested 2.1 Yards per route run at SMU until his senior year.
- Didn’t post more than 700 receiving yards until his Senior season.
- 82.5-94.6% out wide in three of four years at SMU
Scouting report:
- Very good in the air. He adjusts well to back shoulder balls and displays solid body control. Good hands on jump balls, but he always has some concentration drops in traffic on film.
- Build up speed. Rice displays some inconsistencies gearing down on comebacks or curls, needing too many steps at times, or losing his balance. His short area separation is better on slants where he can use a good first step of the line and his size.
- Not a good separator. Some decent late separation noted on some routes, but he far too often lets cornerbacks get into his body and jam him up at the top of his stem.
- Good feel vs. zone on when to snap off his route in between defenders. Solid deep ball tracking noted.
Player Comp: Brandon LaFell
Stats:
- 2022 (512 FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 55th
- PFF receiving grade: 18th
- YAC: 55th
- Career
- He had a 24.2% target share during his final season.
- All-American track star at Princeton with a 39″ vertical
- His 6.71 in the 60m was a NCAA Indoor Championship meet record
Scouting report:
- Easy and immediate speed. Explosive second gear. Iosivas has “run away from you type of speed.”
- Good deep ball tracking on go routes noted, but he does have some reps where he catches the ball with his body.
- I can’t shade his hands, though, because he also has reps in his film where he has difficult catches in traffic and contested situations.
- Princeton fed him on crossers, where he wove through the defense and then turned on the jets to daylight. NFL teams should look to do the same against zone coverage and get him involved on jet sweeps.
Player Comp: 2023 Christian Watson
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 2nd
- PFF receiving grade: 2nd
- 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 6th
- PFF receiving grade: 30th
- Career
- 39 carries for 357 rushing yards (9.2 ypc, five rushing scores)
Scouting report:
- He flashes good footwork and a varied release package at the line of scrimmage. Nucaua also adds subtle nuances to his routes with pacing in his routes and head fakes.
- Strong after the catch. Not a jitterbug, but he’s tough to bring down with the ball in his hands. Physical. Good vision in traffic.
- He is a magician near the boundary. His film is littered with tough grabs near the sideline with impressive footwork. Those strong hands have also served him well in contested situations. He ranked 17th in contested catch rate in 2021 (minimum ten contested targets).
- BYU tried to get the ball in Nucaua’s hands any way possible. He was utilized on jet sweets and the ground in 2022 as the fifth-leading rusher on the team, with 8.4 yards per carry and five rushing scores. Nucaua has that dog in him.
Player Comp: Dollar store Deebo Samuel
Nathaniel Dell (Houston)
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 27th
- PFF receiving grade: 11th
- 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 43rd
- PFF receiving grade: 12th
- Career
- Over the last two seasons: 50.4-67.0% slot rate
Scouting report:
- Rail-thin speedster (165 lbs). Utilized in the slot, in motion, and in bunch formations a lot at Houston to give him free releases at the line. He’s best suited for slot usage in the NFL.
- Immediately his speed jumps off the page. Quick feet help him beat many nickels off the line. He drops from fourth to second gear easily on curls and comebacks. An early and late separator.
- He is a precise route runner who is lightning-quick in and out of his breaks. While he can be pushed off his route if corners can get their hands on him, Dell also flashes the ability to separate from the outside with speed releases. His ability to stretch the field is a nice wrinkle. He ranked 11th in passer rating when targeted 20-plus yards down the field in 2022 (minimum 20 deep targets).
Player Comp: Travis Benjamin
Jaylen Wayne (South Alabama)
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 142nd
- PFF receiving grade: 152nd
- Career
- Never crested 2.0 Yards per route run in his collegiate career.
- Worked from the boundary on 83.2% of his snaps.
Scouting report:
- Nephew of Reggie Wayne.
- Game film is unavailable.
Player Comp: Unavailable
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 94th
- PFF receiving grade: 44th
- Career
- Mingo ran from the slot on 35.1% of his snaps in 2022. In 2019-2021, he played 83.3-87.9% from the perimeter.
Scouting report:
- Inconsistent separator. Mingo can gain enough separation to haul in contested catches, but you won’t see Mingo sending anyone to the shadow realm on a route.
- Strong. Upper body strength shows up in blocking, fighting through press, and after the catch. Mingo can make some things happen after the catch with his dense lower half.
- Mingo was utilized on screens for 18.4% of his target volume in 2022. He ranked 11th in YAC per reception (minimum 15 screen targets) on screens last season.
Player Comp: Laquon Treadwell
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 121st
- PFF receiving grade: 210th
- YAC per reception: 4th
- Career
- Last season was his first with more than 55 targets (66).
- 91.4% of his snaps from the slot at TCU
Scouting report:
- Early on, his biggest impact will come as a returner. He excelled in punt returns in 2022, ranking sixth in return average and fourth in overall punt return yards (minimum 15 returns).
- Used creatively by TCU with jet sweeps, screens, and pop passes. The name of the game was to get him in space and let him burn people with his speed.
- Davis also played slot receiver at TCU. He flashes early separation on slants and the ability to stretch the field. A double move or subtle jab step can give a decent cushion for a player with his raw speed.
Player Comp: Jalen Saunders
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 79th
- PFF receiving grade: 152nd
- YAC per reception: 74th
- Career
- 2022 was the first season Tucker eclipsed 500 receiving yards.
- 91.4% slot rate at Cincinnati
Scouting report:
- Tucker profiles as a depth receiver in the NFL. Tucker offers special teams ability for his next prospective home with 67 kickoff returns on his resume, with two returned for scores.
- Tucker is a savvy slot receiver with an innate spider-sense to weave in between zone coverage. He is a chain mover. Tucker can make defenders miss in the open field with his quick feet and acceleration, but I wouldn’t classify him as a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands.
Player Comp: Lance Moore
Xavier Hutchinson (Iowa State)
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 24th
- PFF receiving grade: 4th
- YAC: 25th
- 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 48th
- PFF receiving grade: 27th
- YAC: 21st
- Career
- College Dominator: 69th percentile
- Collegiate target share: 97th percentile
Scouting report:
- He’s a bully with the ball in his hands after the catch. Hutchinson ranked 38th (2022) and ninth (2021) in missed tackles forced over the last three seasons. He was also top-25 in YAC in each of the last two years (minimum 50 targets). Good leg drive and tenacity fuel this man’s contact balance.
- Hutchinson is a versatile receiver who can also work from the slot. He flashes crisp cuts on short area routes ins and outs. I would love for an NFL team to give him a 60% slot rate and let him push around nickel corners all day.
- Patient on screens and in the open field to allow blocks to set up in front of him before he shoots upfield.
- Hutchinson puts some acrobatic downfield receptions on tape. Good tracking and body adjustment on back shoulder and bucket catches.
Player Comp: James Jones / discount Amon-Ra St. Brown
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 35th
- PFF receiving grade: 59th
- YAC: 90th
- Career
- 56.9% career slot rate
Scouting report:
- Not an immediate separator. He needs to hone his releases further. Corners get inside leverage on his routes or remain in his back pocket enough that it’s a familiar trend on film. This leaves him unable to stack corners routinely.
- Bell is a tenacious blocker in the run game. He will be an immediate asset here from the jump.
- If everything gels, he projects as a well-rounded WR3/WR4 for an NFL. He’s solid but not spectacular in and out of his breaks and after the catch. Bell displays good burst and versatility on manufactured touches with sweeps and screens.
Player Comp: Brandon Tate
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 160th
- PFF receiving grade: 134th
- YAC: 176th
- 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 36th
- PFF receiving grade: 38th
- YAC: 57th
- Career
- College Dominator: 72nd percentile
- Breakout age: 98th percentile
Scouting report:
- Special teams versatility. He returned 38 punts in college with a 15.3-yard return average and three scores. Also, two seasons with at least 16 kickoffs returned (20.0 kickoff return average).
- A strong lower half allows him to shed arm tackles. Solid YAC ability with good change of direction. Reed has good burst as soon as the ball is in his hands.
- He drifts on routes at times, leading to miscommunications with his quarterback. Overall a solid route runner that sets up defenders well, especially on deep posts.
- He has enough speed to breakaway in the open field. He won’t be caught from behind with a clear runway.
Player Comp: Markus Wheaton
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 26th
- PFF receiving grade: 13th
- YAC: 30th
- Career
- 74.0% out wide in college
Scouting report:
- Jones is a dependable chain mover. He has the quickness to gain separation on quick hitters and offers a trusty set of mitts. Jones can chew up opposing secondaries underneath on slants and crossers.
- Jones offers little after the catch. He forced only two missed tackles beyond the line of scrimmage in 2022. He only managed 1.6-2.7 YAC per reception on short and medium-depth targets.
- Jones bounced around with Buffalo and Iowa before finding a home with Purdue in 2022. He refused to settle and flashed potential with his big final season. That never quit attitude will serve him well with sticking with an NFL franchise as a depth receiver.
- His extensive resume as a returner (over 122 combined collegiate returns) will help him stick on a roster as he works his way up a receiver depth chart.
Player Comp: Jordan Shipley
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 6th
- PFF receiving grade: 17th
- YAC: 47th
- Career
- 64.8% slot rate over his collegiate career
- Transferred from LSU to Nebraska for the 2022 season.
Scouting report:
- Immediate speed. Palmer is a former five-star recruit who clocked at 10.42 in the 100m in high school. Nebraska utilized him deep and on short crossers to take advantage of his blazing wheels.
- Palmer enjoyed zone coverage in college with most of his usage coming from the slot. I didn’t find many instances on film where he was pressed at the line, so an NFL team could be in for an adventure if they instantly convert his to an outside Z role. This isn’t to say he can’t win in this role, but it’s a projection at best.
- Palmer’s route tree wasn’t immensely diverse in college, so an NFL team would also be asking him to learn new skills on the fly if a full route tree player is the expectation from the jump. Palmer was used on deep posts, flys, shallow crossers, and screens for most of his snaps.
Player Comp: Kenny Stills
Stats:
- 2022 (286 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 160th
- PFF receiving grade: 227th
- 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 162nd
- PFF receiving grade: 158th
- Career
- 79% slot rate in 2022 (66.2% over his collegiate career)
Scouting report:
- Higgins operated as the big slot for Stanford. His height and big catch radius allowed him to highpoint balls over smaller nickels.
- He needs to work on his releases. Higgins faced off coverage for most of 2022. His footwork at the line does little in the way of helping him on many reps. On many snaps, he resembles a hamster on a wheel spinning in place.
- Solid red zone weapon. Uses size to his advantage in the end zone, boxing out corners or gaining inside leverage on slants. Dependable high pointing with late hands.
- He is not a burner, but he does have pull-away speed in the open field. He has enough lateral agility with his size to weave through traffic after the catch.
Player Comp: Juwan Johnson
Stats:
- 2022 (512 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 235th
- PFF receiving grade: 270th
- aDOT: 42nd
- 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 9th
- PFF receiving grade: 47th
- aDOT: 8th
- Career
- Collegiate yards per reception: 85th percentile (17.7)
Scouting report:
- A burner and field stretcher. In 2021, Wicks ranked sixth among all FBS wide receivers in deep targets (37.6% of his target volume), 14th in deep receiving yards, and 24th in deep passer rating when targeted (minimum 15 deep targets, 124.7).
- Immediate acceleration off the line. Consistently stacks corners downfield with speed releases. He does exhibit some body-catching. His ball-tracking downfield has been stellar.
- Drops (many of the concentration variety) cropped up heavily in 2022. He dropped 23.1% of his targets which was the highest among FBS wide receivers with at least 50 targets.
Player Comp: Leonard Hankerson
Stats:
- 2022 (512 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)**
- Yards per route run: 69th
- PFF receiving grade: 123rd
**Only 40 targets in 2022**
- Career
- College Dominator: 62nd percentile
- Collegiate target share: 57th percentile
- Wilson never crested 700 receiving yards in any season.
Scouting report:
- Only limited highlight game film available.
Player Comp: Unavailable
Grant DuBose (Charlotte)
Stats:
- 2022 (512 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 143rd
- PFF receiving grade: 116th
- Career
- College Dominator: 50th percentile
- Collegiate target share: 79th percentile
Scouting report:
- Only limited highlight game film available.
Player Comp: Unavailable
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*All data utilized in this article is courtesy of PFF, Football Outsiders, and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified.*
