Will Xavier Worthy Be A First-Round Pick After Historic 40-Yard Dash? Best Landing Spots For Worthy

Incoming rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy clocked the fastest 40-yard dash time ever at the NFL Combine, even besting a sprinter with worldwide recognition (although Usain Bolt was retired and not wearing proper running shoes or attire when he ran the NFL-style dash in 2019).

While the Bolt headlines are slightly misleading, the 4.21 seconds it took for Worthy to make the headlines is not. The former Texas Longhorns wideout broke the record of 4.22 seconds set by John Ross in 2017. Ross would go on to be selected in the top 10 by the Cincinnati Bengals.

In a deep draft class filled with top-end wide receiver talent, Worthy won’t be drafted as high as Ross. However, his numbers at the combine may have propelled him into the first round.

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Will Xavier Worthy be a First-Round Pick?

Before showing off his record-setting speed in Indianapolis, Worthy was in the mix to be a late first-round pick, although the second round was far more likely. He displayed more than just speed at Texas, racking up 1,014 yards and five touchdowns in his final season.

Xavier Worthy casually jogging passed the safety and tracking a 45-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown. pic.twitter.com/AaCnJJ4g9d

— Alfredo Brown (@ThePretendGM) March 4, 2024

General managers fall in love with speed, which could separate Worthy from the other receivers not named Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze. Those three wideouts are mocked in the top 10 and sit a tier above Worthy.

Worthy lands among a massive group of receivers. Troy Franklin, fellow Longhorn Adonai Mitchell, Keon Coleman, and Ladd McConkey are among the names projected for a late Day 1 or Day 2 selection. Personal preference will come into play for the teams selecting in that range.

Best Landing Spots for Xavier Worthy

The dream for every fantasy football enthusiast is for the Kansas City Chiefs to add a first-round pick to their wide receiver room. Patrick Mahomes was blown away by Worthy’s speed, posting about it on social media.

OFFICIAL: 4.21

XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB

— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024

The last time the Chiefs listened to his lobbying, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was made a first-round pick. Team brass will stick to their opinion this time around and they may have another receiver (say, Troy Franklin) higher on their board.

Two other contenders, Buffalo and Baltimore, require receiver help. The Ravens don’t seem like a great fit, given that sophomore Zay Flowers possesses a lot of similar attributes. Buffalo can replace Gabe Davis’ speed with the faster Worthy.

Arizona, if they don’t land Harrison Jr. near the top of the draft, will need receiver help when they are on the clock with the 27th pick. Marquise Brown is a free agent and Michael Wilson and Rondale Moore can’t be the lead guys if the team wants to compete for the postseason.

Worthy will need an established quarterback wherever he lands. If he slips into the second round, where the likes of Carolina, New England, Tennessee, and the New York Giants are selecting, Worthy’s blazing speed may not be utilized as well as it can be.

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