Titans Xavier Restrepo a “lucky charm player” according to national analyst: “only good things happen when you throw him the ball”
Nate Tice weighs in on the magic of Xavier Restrepo
The Tennessee Titans added three notable rookie receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft, and in an unusual twist of fate, the one taken last is the one everybody wants to talk about so far.
Of course, that’s because the receiver in question—UDFA Xavier Restrepo—is a pretty unique story.
“I love Xavier Restrepo,” began Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice in my discussion with him that concluded the 2025 A to Z Sports Draft Interview Series. “I started watching him three years ago when I was scouting (Miami QB) Tyler Van Dyke, who I thought might've been a nice quarterback prospect. That's how long Restrepo has been in college. He's just ole’ reliable.”
Restrepo was one of the biggest “fallers” in the draft based on media consensus. He was one of the most electric receivers in college football the past couple years. And he was new Titans QB Cam Ward’s number 1 guy in Miami.
“I do think the dude's a football player. He's a baller. He catches everything. I've tweeted this now… it's been a running bit for three years: only good things happen when you throw the ball to Xavier Restrepo. He's just a lucky charm player.”
It’s true, Nate’s been tweeting about it for years at this point. Here in 2023:
And a couple more times in 2024:
So why did he go undrafted? Is he just not an NFL player based on his size and speed limitations? Well, his testing was certainly a part of it. And Nate also hinted at hearing some things about how Restrepo’s intense and unique personality may not be everybody’s cup of tea, based on things he heard throughout the draft process.
Clearly there’s at least one very important person who doesn’t feel that way, and his name is Cam Ward. Nate went on to say, though, that there’s just something to the guy that you can’t quit when you evaluate the tape.
“Like he…I don't know, there’s something about it. Some of these guys, the ball comes their way and good things happen. And undrafted? Why not?! He has chemistry with Cam Ward. Go for it. You're not taking this guy in the top three rounds. I like him.”
Now that this dynamic duo has been reunited, Restrepo finds himself with… the highest expectations in Titans UDFA history? All of UDFA history? Perhaps that’s a bit hyperbolic and shortsighted. But there’s no doubt he’s one of the only UDFA’s in memory who fans already expect to see make the roster before Rookie Minicamp.
It’s unfair, but that’s his reality: he has the expectations of a draft pick despite not being one. So what are his odds of making the final 53 in August?
“I could actually see him making the team because he just has these kind of qualities that if he’s reliable, and if he's smart enough and he kind of keeps his nose down, he'll be fine because I think he's just another kind of quarterback's-best-friend type of player.”
That's what's so annoying about him, I told Tice during our discussion, and to no fault of his own. When people ask me for a summary on him, it’s hard to explain. Does he have NFL size and speed? The reality is that he’s a below-average athlete by professional standards.
But he does have these unquantifiable things about him that Nate sees on tape, and I see on tape, and you will too if you watch it: things just work when you throw him the ball. And he has this magical connection with Cam Ward that is clearly a real thing. What should we make of that from an evaluation standpoint? Hard to say!
He’s the kind of prospect that makes you throw your hands up and say “I don’t always know why it works, but it does” I told Tice.
“Yeah, I know. I know. And then Cam Ward's probably going to take every individual period with him. He'll get his reps and everything. I shouldn't say I'm glad he went undrafted, but I actually thought that was good for him because now he goes to a spot that he can maybe make it.”
There simply wasn’t a better landing spot for him than in Tennessee, where there’s as much opportunity on the WR depth chart as anywhere in the league. Not to mention, reuniting with the QB he has proven chemistry with.
Tice wrapped up his thoughts on Restrepo with an anecdote:
“It's one of those things where I'm bigger than most people on traits, traits, traits, traits, traits, traits. The NFL is a traits league, but there is something to just being a ball player. Like there are these guys where it's hard to quantify. They just figure it out somehow. And I've watched this guy for three years now… just figure it out. He just makes plays no matter what.”
There was an old receiver from Oregon State. I think the Saints drafted him in the 6th Round: Mike Hass. He had a great line, and his offensive coordinator was Paul Chryst who was my OC at Wisconsin. And Paul, he's one of the greatest storytellers ever. He said ‘he ran like a 4.68s 40 yard dash, or something like that. And he just goes, gotta be one step faster than the DB! Just gotta be one step faster than the DB.’ And it’s like… that’s a good point!”
Let’s see if Restrepo can win with that approach once he’s up against NFL vets and the pads come on. If he can, Tennessee may very well have the steal of UDFA on their hands.
Cam Ward confirms narrative around teammate Xavier Restrepo, but may have helped Titans find diamond in the rough in UDFA
It’s shaping up to be the summer of Xavier Restrepo in Nashville
