Longhorns Projected To Have Three First-Round Draft Picks After NFL Combine Success
The Texas Longhorns were the talk of the NFL Combine over the past few days as it seemed every player that was shining or generating buzz, was donning the burnt orange this past year.
Big man T'Vondre Sweat impressed with his 5.27 40-yard dash at over 360 pounds, Byron Murphy II ran a 4.87 40-yard dash and impressed with his insane physique, while Xavier Worthy broke the combine record for the fastest 40-yard dash ever. He and fellow receiver Adonai Mitchell have been borderline first-round picks, but after their combine showing, there is an expectation that they will be joining Murphy II in the first.
Texas Longhorns wide receivers Adonai Mitchell (5) and Xavier Worthy (1) celebrate a touchdown by Mitchell during the Big 12 Championship game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T stadium on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Arlington.
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
In a post-NFL Combine mock draft, 33RD Team's Marcus Mosher projected three Longhorns going in the opening round. He, like many, slotted Murphy to end up with the Las Vegas Raiders. He had a career year for the Longhorns and showcased an ability to make an impact in running and passing situations, and his combine showing only solidified his status.
As for Worthy and Mitchell, this marks the first mock where they have both been taken in the opening around. It typically has been Mitchell, but Worthy had been sprinkled in a few of them. However, Worthy's 4.21 and Mitchell's 4.34 40s are believed to have a made themselves some money. Mosher had Worthy projected to go No. 30 overall to the Baltimore Ravens, while Mitchell was slated to go two picks later at No. 32 to the Kansas City Chiefs. He explained that Worthy's speed would be too hard to turn down for the Ravens who always need more weapons for Lamar Jackson.
"The Baltimore Ravens added a smaller receiver in Zay Flowers during the 2023 NFL Draft, but they do it again here with Xavier Worthy. After running a record-breaking 4.21-second 40-yard dash, Worthy should be a first-round pick. But finding a perfect landing spot for him is tough. The Ravens are always looking for more speed, and Worthy certainly has that," wrote Mosher.
Mitchell is viewed by Mosher as the perfect weapon for the Chiefs who literally just won a Super Bowl, but did so in spite of having one of their weaker receiver corps.
Going a few picks into the second round, Mosher projected that Ja'Tavion Sanders would go No. 36 to the Washington Commanders where he will team up with one of the top quarterbacks in this draft class. Sweat and running back Johnathon Brooks round out the bottom of the second round with Sweat going No. 49 to the Bengals, and Brooks going 59 to the Houston Texans.
Six picks in the first two rounds would be the ultimate recruiting pitch for a Texas program that already recruits with the best of them. It would also mark a sign of things to come as Steve Sarkisian appears to have this program firing on all cylinders.
![The SEC logo in orange and blue colors is painted on the field before the game between the Florida Gators and Arkansas Razorbacks at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 4, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://www.si.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MjA0ODM4MTk5OTQyNDU2OTI2/usatsi_21814695.jpg)
