The NFL Draft saw a trove of wide receivers splash new depth charts plus hint at the future of the position for franchises. Here are the most significant stories at the position coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft.
10. Johnny Wilson Falls to Round 6; Any Future at Tight End?
Wilson is one of the unique skill position profiles of the entire draft class as a supersized wide receiver or potential future tight end in the NFL. After running firmly in the 4.5s and with legitimate Day 2 buzz, Wilson did not have much chatter about a move to tight end in the closing weeks before the NFL Draft. Wilson proceeded to fall to Round 6, where wide receiver prospects typically stumble to a chronically low hit rate and never recover to prominence in the NFL. The Eagles landing spot is one where they have taken shots on positional converts before. With A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith both locked up on new contracts for the foreseeable future, tight end for Wilson makes more sense in Philadelphia than most of the other potential landing spots. Dallas Goedert has leveled off in recent years without elite upside, and Wilson projects as an elite tight end prospect compared to merely good and/or unique if branded a wide receiver. Wilson is undraftable in typical rookie drafts if viewed as a wide receiver, but is an intriguing stash player in Rounds 3-4 if a strong tight end premium format with the timeline of the roster spot to stash a talent and projection like Wilson.
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9. Jermaine Burton Lands as Tee Higgins' Future Benefactor
Burton landed in a blocked situation for now with Cincinnati. However, Tee Higgins' future status is firmly up in the air, specifically beyond 2024. Burton will have time to groom as the WR3/4 but ultimately be an incumbent benefactor if/when Higgins moves on. Burton occasionally slips to Round 3 of Superflex rookie drafts but is more centered in the later 2nd if considering him as a target player.
8. Patriots Double Up on Notable Profiles
Quarterback was the massive need and target for New England at 1.03, and they stayed put to secure Drake Maye. The big question of the draft was how the Patriots would build around Maye, as Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, and Hunter Henry were the notable veteran incumbents on the roster. Round 2 saw Ja'Lynn Polk added, Round 4 was Javon Baker, and Round 4 was intriguing offensive chess piece Jaheim Bell. At a minimum, Maye has a better supporting cast than at any point in his North Carolina collegiate career. At a maximum, the Patriots got a steal with Baker on Day 3 and Bell nearly falling out of the draft. While power ranked as the worst landing spot for a quarterback pre-draft, Maye officially has a shot, considering the improvement of his supporting case after his selection.
7. Troy Franklin Slumps to Day 3
Franklin was largely a Round 2 lock during the pre-draft process but fell to Round 4. The good news is Denver was aggressive in trading up for Franklin, and he landed with his college teammate Bo Nix. Tread lightly with overt enthusiasm for Franklin with the new data point of Round 4 pedigree as even stronger profiles (like Franklin) are 20%(ish) bets coming from Day 3. Also, Franklin's market cost did not move as much as is warranted with Round 2 vs. Round 4 pedigree. Franklin is still going in the mid-2nd of Superflex drafts and is gone before Round 3 begins in basically every draft. Having Franklin over so many higher-drafted rookies, especially Round 1-pedigreed wide receivers, is historical malpractice.
6. Adonai Mitchell Falls Out of the Top 50
Mitchell had Round 1 buzz throughout the pre-draft process. As a flawed prospect, securing Round 1 pedigree was key (more on this in the No. 2 takeaway near the end of the article) for Mitchell. Not only did Mitchell fall to Round 2, but he was behind a clump of Round 2 options, landing with Michael Pittman Jr already secured to a big contract in Indianapolis. On all three fronts, this was a sub-optimal outcome for Mitchell, yet he is still being drafted ahead of Round 1 options in Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette.
5. George Pickens a Draft Winner as Steelers Pass on an Early Wide Receiver
The Steelers passed on a wide receiver in Round 1 and Round 2 before nabbing Roman Wilson in Round 3. The departure of Diontae Johnson was a win for George Pickens' upside probabilities for 2024, pending how aggressive the team was in replacing Johnson. Pickens is a winner, but Pat Freiermuth is also a central figure in Pittsburgh's passing game, considering Wilson's Round 3 pedigree.
4. Ladd McConkey Corrals Strong Chargers' Landing Spot
The Chargers were a glaring landing spot to monitor, with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams' departures leaving a wealth of uncertainty entering the draft. They passed on Malik Nabers at No.5 for the offensive line but circled back to Ladd McConkey in Round 2. McConkey is going a bit early in rookie drafts (late first in Superflex) for historical Round 2 wide receivers, considering his flawed profile. The opportunity is obvious and connection to Justin Herbert is a long-term plus.
3. Xavier Worthy to Kansas City
The Chiefs not only drafted a wide receiver in Round 1, but they traded up to do so and found the fastest wide receiver in NFL Combine history still available in the later 20s of the draft. Rashee Rice's legal situation is still up in the air and Worthy will have a golden opportunity on an exploitable depth chart to splash immediately. The concerns about Worthy against physical press coverage can be mitigated by using motion (see Tyreek Hill in Miami), and Andy Reid will be a perfect fit to optimize Worthy's strengths and get his speed into space. Worthy not only landed in Round 1 with Patrick Mahomes II but also has an elite production profile and record-setting athleticism for the position.
2. Three Flawed Profiles Find Round 1 Pedigree
Brian Thomas Jr., Ricky Pearsall, and Xavier Legette all have production red flags in their profiles, which is highly concerning if they do not go in Round 1. However, all three landed in Round 1, which historically softens the concern level of their sagging production traits. All three have lower career yards-per-route-run than ever seen in recent years among Round 1 wide receivers, to outline one unique trait within their profiles. The good news is Thomas and Pearsall landed with good quarterbacks, and Legette landed in Carolina, a situation that could break wide open for him by 2025 (Diontae Johnson on a one-year deal, Adam Thielen in erosion mode in his mid-30s). The best news is specifically Pearsall and Legette are highly affordable compared to their NFL Draft pedigree and regularly available in the mid-second round of Superflex rookie drafts.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. Secures Top 5 Pedigree with an Elite Profile
Landing in the top 5 of the NFL Draft with an elite profile (no size, athleticism, or program concerns) is one of the very few blue-chip assets in all of fantasy for an incoming rookie. There was some buzz that Malik Nabers could be rising to WR1 or land top-five pedigree as well, but Harrison went wire to wire as the WR1 and a top-five player in the class. Harrison provides an auto-draft player at 1.01 in 1QB rookie drafts and is a superior profile to draft at 1.01 in Superflex drafts as well. Profiles like Harrison are strong bets to not only hit but hit early and be a long-term dense hit for a drove of fantasy starter seasons.
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