Big 12 Wideouts Could Be Mid-Round Finds For Saints

TCU's Quentin Johnston is not the only physical Big 12 wideout that could attract the attention of New Orleans in this year's draft.

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas reworked his existing contract this offseason to remain with the team for at least the 2023 campaign. Thomas is one of the league's best and most physical receivers when healthy. The problem is that he's played in only 10 of his team's last 50 games because of foot injuries. 

The Saints signed big-bodied wideout Bryan Edwards in free agency, but could also hedge their bets on Thomas' health by adding another big receiver in the draft. Here are a couple of former Big 12 stars to keep an eye on in later rounds.

WR - Xavier Hutchinson 

Iowa State (Sr.)

6'2" 203-Lbs.

Iowa State Cyclones receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) catches the ball against Baylor Bears defensive back Mark Milton (3). Mandatory Credit: Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune-USA TODAY

A junior college transfer to Iowa State, Hutchinson led the Big 12 with 64 receptions and finished second in the conference with 771 receiving yards in 2020. Catching passes from future 49ers QB Brock Purdy, he was even better in 2021. His 83 catches again led the conference, while his 987 yards brought up second place.

Even with Purdy moving to the NFL last season, Hutchinson showed that he was still among the elite producers in the NCAA. He caught 107 passes, tops in the Big 12 and third in the NCAA. His 1,171 yards also led the conference on his way to 1st Team All-American honors and three consecutive years of 1st Team All-Big 12 accolades. 

Hutchinson put on a solid performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, posting a 4.53 40, 1.55 10-yard split, 6.91 in the 3-cone drill, 4.35 20-yard shuttle, and a 36" vertical jump. 

Some scouts had concerns about Hutchinson's speed and athleticism, but he may have quieted some of those doubts at the Combine. He'll still have to show it against NFL corners on a weekly basis. He's still unlikely to be a consistent deep threat and will have to excel on underneath routes. 

While possessing a good frame for the position, Hutchinson will need to improve his strength for his physical style of play at the next level. Since he's not an elite athlete, his best chance for success will be to use his frame and develop a physical advantage. 

Iowa State Cyclones receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) reaches for a pass against the Kansas Jayhawks. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Hutchinson is used to a high volume of targets and runs a variety of routes with savvy and precision. He shows good footwork and upper body movement to slip press coverage at the line. His crisp route breaks also create adequate separation against man coverage. 

Hutchinson uses his body well to shield defenders in traffic and shows excellent awareness against zone concepts. He provides his quarterback a big catch radius with long arms and willingness to extend for a throw. 

Defenders that sleep on Hutchinson's speed will find themselves looking at the back of his jersey. He has the speed to get downfield, with the ball-tracking skills and body control to match.

Xavier Hutchinson will probably hear his name called in the third round, but could slip into the early portion of Day 3. He doesn't come from a big-time program, but has shown big-time production and the prototypical skills of an ''X-receiver'' with the open field ability to develop in the slot.

Another Big-12 talent enters this draft with similar stature, but a different set of skills. 

WR - Bryce Ford-Wheaton 

West Virginia (Sr.)

6'4" 221-Lbs.

West Virginia Mountaineers receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (0) runs after a catch against the Kansas Jayhawks. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Ford-Wheaton continued a family tradition of WVU football, with his grandfather and uncle both former running backs with the program. This generation's star was a four-year contributor for the Mountaineers with increased production each season. 

As a freshman, Ford-Wheaton caught 12 passes for 201 yards and two scores. That production rose to 27 catches for 416 yards and 3 touchdowns as a sophomore, then 42-575 and 3 scores as a junior. In 2022 he totaled 675 yards and 7 touchdowns on 62 receptions. He was second in the Big 12 in scoring receptions while ranking third in the conference for catches. 

Also a track star in high school, Ford-Wheaton blazed a 4.38 40 time at the Scouting Combine. He also turned in impressive numbers in the 10-yard split (1.54) and 20-yard shuttle (4.15) with a 10'9" broad jump and 41" vertical leap.

West Virginia's system doesn't call for a variety of routes, so Ford-Wheaton is still relatively raw as a route runner. He's not a ''quick twitch'' athlete with good change-of-direction, posting an unimpressive 6.97 3-cone drill at the Combine. Therefore, his routes tend to be rounded off and tight-hipped.

Despite his size, Ford-Wheaton can get hung up by physical press corners. He presents a big target for defenders to jam and must improve his footwork and fakes to slip by them. The lack of separation at the top of his route leads to a lot of contested throws.

Ford-Wheaton has a combination of size and athleticism that's easy to fall in love with. His stride and straight line speed will cause him to eat up cushions quickly and pull away from defenders. He has long arms and will extend for a throw, giving him an incredible catch radius exaggerated by his great leaping ability. 

In traffic, Ford-Wheaton has strong hands and excellent concentration. He'll high-point a ball and absorbs contact well to secure a reception. His height and leaping ability gives him a great upside as a red-zone target.

West Virginia Mountaineers receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (0) catches a touchdown pass over Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Woodi Washington (0). Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY

Bryce Ford-Wheaton is a probable Day 3 selection because he's raw, but could sneak into the third round because of his measurables. His game-breaking speed and physicality could make him an immediate deep threat and red-zone target with the upside of being a regular contributor with a developed route tree.

Quentin Johnston of TCU is a physical Big 12 receiver that will be drafted in the first or early second round. Oklahoma speedster Marvin Mims could be another Day 2 option, but doesn't offer great physicality. If the Saints want a big-bodied target for depth behind Michael Thomas, then both Xavier Hutchinson and Bryce Ford-Wheaton are intriguing prospects for the later rounds.