Xavier Worthy Wows at Combine; Eagles' Replacement for WR Quez Watkins?

Texas Longhorns receiver Xavier Worthy met with the Philadelphia Eagles at the NFL Scouting Combine before he set a 40-yard dash record.

Whenever Nick Sirianni was asked what he liked about Quez Watkins, his answer was always the same. It had to do with speed, taking the top off of a defense, and his ability to stretch the field for a deep shot or to open up other receivers underneath.

If he liked that, he would love Xavier Worthy.

The University of Texas receiver wowed the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday by setting a record with a 40 time of 4.21 seconds. That’s a faster time than the once-fastest man in the world, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who was once clocked on the track at 4.22.

Perhaps Worthy wowed the Philadelphia Eagles, who reportedly met with him in Indianapolis.

He also tested well in other areas, jumping 41 inches in the vertical and 10 feet, 11-inches in the broad jump. He did not participate in position drills but is expected to do so at Texas’ Pro Day later this spring.

Of course, you have to take the Combine tests, and mix them with many other ingredients to discover if you think a prospect is right for you.

Xavier Worthy on his way to setting the NFL Scouting Combine record in the 40-yard dash at 4.21 seconds / USA Today

Take John Ross III, who owned the record until Worthy came along, running a 4.22 in 2017. The ninth overall pick of the Cincinnati Bengals that year, he struggled with injuries and consistency, playing just 37 games over five years and making 62 catches for less than 1,000 yards.

Worthy’s size – 5-11, 165 pounds - probably wouldn’t frighten the Eagles, who didn’t back away from drafting DeVonta Smith back in 2021, who was 6-foot tall and less than 170 pounds. Smith was a more accomplished college receiver at the University of Alabama and won the Heisman Trophy.

Worthy is expected to be a second-round pick, and the Eagles have two of those – Nos. 50 and 53 overall – as well as a compensatory pick between the third and fourth rounds. They also need a vertical threat with Watkins’ contract set to expire with the arrival of the new league year on March 13.

There goes that man 🤘 pic.twitter.com/zGWdtZHOzZ

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 17, 2023

Worthy confirmed he met with the Eagles and when asked how it went, revealed that he grew up a fan of former Eagles burner, DeSean Jackson.

“All I know about them is they had Desean Jackson,” he said. “It was a really good meeting with them. They showed me their offense and made me break down my film. It was good vibes in there.”

Then Worthy did something the Eagles’ brass usually do in their meetings. They shot baskets on a basketball court, something that head coach Nick Sirianni loves to do to see the competitive nature of a prospect.

At Texas, Worthy had 197 catches for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns. There was some unrest, however, with rumors that he wasn’t happy during his three years there and might transfer. It never came to that, though.

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He also struggled with drops. He had three of them in the national semifinal loss to the University of Washington this past year.

“I feel like I had really good hands,” he said. “I feel like it’s just kinda focus drops for me. It’s not a technique thing or a hand thing. I feel like it's focus.”

Speed helps, but hands are a big factor in playing his position, too. Watkins had speed, but sometimes his hands let him down in big moments, too.

It’s something the Eagles will have to factor in as they begin building their draft board.