Mel Kiper lauds Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell after strong showings at NFL Combine

Two Texas Longhorn receivers possibly sprinted their way into the first round of next month’s NFL Draft thanks to their blistering combine performances in Indianapolis.

So add Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to the pile of wideouts who could make the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft the most receiver-friendly, ever. Noted NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper lauded both as he analyzed all the Combine performances.

Worthy and Mitchell also could become the first set of first-round receivers from the same school since Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson repped Ohio State in the 2022 draft.

First, there was Worthy, who ran an NFL Combine record 4.21 in the 40. He dashed to a 4.25 in his first try, before lowering it by .04 to the delight of the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“Xavier Worthy was in the first-round mix before he ran 4.21,“ Kiper said. “We thought he’d run in the 4.3s. He ran 4.21 which is amazing. He’s still running. This kid is still running. So, at the end of the day, he’s not Darrius Heyward-Bey who’s gonna jump into the top 10, maybe he could. … I think he deserves to be in that discussion, I’d say 15-25 range. I thought 25-32, maybe it’ll bump him into the mid to late first-round instead of a late one, early to mid-two.“

The Raiders selected Heyward-Bey, the former Maryland standout, with the seventh pick of the 2009 Draft. His 4.3 time at the NFL Combine pushed him ahead of the likes of Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, who most thought were the top two receiver prospects.

Kiper took note of the hand injury Worthy suffered two seasons ago. “And he played through it,“ Kiper said. “He never complained. And he goes out there this year and he improves in that area. He’s a space guy, he can be the guy down the field making plays. You saw the speed, you saw the big play ability, you saw how dangerous he was after the catch, you saw how he can just leave guys in his wake.“

Meanwhile, if Worthy hadn’t tugged away the spotlight, the NFL Combine crowd would’ve been abuzz about Mitchell, who has size, speed and hands of a first-rounder. Mitchell ran in the first group of receivers on Saturday, posting a 4.34. That time was the fastest until Worthy’s bunch got on the track.

At the end of the day, Worthy was No. 1, with Mitchell third. Brian Thomas of LSU got in between the two Longhorns with a time of 4.33.

But here’s why Mitchell’s athleticism was so appealing. He is a bigger receiver. Only two other receivers, who are at least 6-2 and 205, have run a time of 4.35 or faster. D.K. Metcalf was the last to do so.

Kiper says that Mitchell’s performance at the NFL Combine will “bump him up“ and then “solidify“ his first-round status.