Ricky Pearsall projected just outside first round of PFF mock draft
Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to school for the 2023 season to boost his draft stock as a senior. After 1,027 yards of offense, six total touchdowns and a huge week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Pearsall’s stock is soaring ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Pro Football Focus released a mock draft on Monday and projected Pearsall just outside of the first round. PFF has him coming off the board as the top pick in the second round, going to the Carolina Panthers with the No. 33 pick.
During the 2023 season, Pearsall reeled in 65 receptions for 965 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers in the catches and yards column marked career highs. He also averaged 20.7 yards on three rushing attempts, while scoring on two of his three carries.
Pearsall finished with 98 receptions for 1,626 yards and nine touchdowns during his two years at Florida after transferring from Arizona State. In his final season with the Sun Devils, he led the team with 48 catches for 580 yards and four touchdowns.
According to Lance Zierlein and Eric Edholm of NFL.com, Pearsall was one of the standouts from Day 2 of the Reese’s Senior Bowl practices.
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“When it comes to my tape study of this year’s draft class, it’s hard to find a wide receiver who is more consistent than Pearsall,” they wrote. “He is performing at that same level this week, no matter who is guarding him. He’s shown off his route-running ability and consistent hands during one-on-one drills. There might be some debates in draft rooms this spring about how to value Pearsall versus Georgia’s Ladd McConkey — one of the stars of Tuesday’s practice here in Mobile — as slot receivers in the 2024 draft. Both can uncover at a high rate. Pearsall has the advantage in terms of size, but McConkey is the faster player.”
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid also singled out Pearsall and McConkey as the top two receivers after the first day of practices in Mobile, Alabama.
“Everyone points to the terrific catch against UNC Charlotte, that was the catch heard around the world,” Reid said of Pearsall. “That’s some of the catches he was able to make in Mobile today. You saw a very fluid route runner. He played some slot and then also played some outside as well, but the route running ability is something that jumped out right away. And you saw from the first snap that he took all the way through the team period of where he’s just able to create separation.”
