Xavier Worthy shows why he's exactly what the 49ers need at receiver with record-breaking Combine
There was history made at the NFL Combine on Saturday, and it came from a player in whom the San Francisco 49ers have shown great interest. Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy showcased his blistering speed in the 40-yard dash, following up his first effort of 4.25 seconds with an even better second run, breaking John […]
There was history made at the NFL Combine on Saturday, and it came from a player in whom the San Francisco 49ers have shown great interest.
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy showcased his blistering speed in the 40-yard dash, following up his first effort of 4.25 seconds with an even better second run, breaking John Ross' record of 4.22 by posting a 4.21.
The 49ers had a formal interview with Worthy in Indianapolis this week, San Francisco doing a lot of work on what is a loaded wide receiver class.
Of course, the Niners are already stacked with weapons on offense. Brandon Aiyuk has blossomed into one of the best receivers in the game, while Deebo Samuel remains a devastating and versatile playmaker at wideout. On top of that, the 49ers have arguably the league's best tight end in George Kittle and the Offensive Player of the Year at running back in Christian McCaffrey.
But what the reigning NFC champions lack is true game-changing speed at the receiver position to punish teams that defend them with tight man coverage as the Kansas City Chiefs did in Super Bowl 58.
Worthy clearly has that. He is a true home-run hitter who can get over the top of defenses on downfield routes but, beyond that, he has a host of other attributes that make him a strong fit for the 49er offense.
"I feel like all them [the 49ers receivers] play with an attitude, like they have got something to prove and I feel like I kind of fit in that also," Worthy said of a potential fit with San Francisco.
"I feel like me playing how I play, me bringing the speed element, I feel like it would fit right."
It is not just the speed. Worthy can win with his route-running. He has excellent stop-start and change of direction quickness and is able to create separation at the top of his route with hesitation moves and headfakes.
Worthy is a hands-catcher who tracks the ball extremely well and has the body control to be able to go up and attack the ball at its highest point, come down with it and then turn upfield to gain yards after the catch.
Making an impact after the catch is obviously a huge part of being a 49er receiver, and Worthy can do so through his speed, his elusiveness and contact balance that is better than expected for a man of his 165-pound frame.
Indeed, Worthy has proven he can both break through arm tackles and even bounce off some big collisions, playing with a determination that extends to the blocking game. While his frame is a limitation in this area, the effort is consistently there on tape.
Between his route-running, his YAC upside and his willingness to stick his nose in as a blocker, Worthy ticks the main boxes of a Kyle Shanahan receiver from a skill set perspective, while adding the one element that has been missing from the 49ers since Marquise Goodwin left the team after the 2019 season.
The problem now for the 49ers is that the likelihood of them being in a position to draft Worthy has now decreased dramatically. If they want to do so, the Niners would have to take him in the first round, and even then it's a question of whether he would last to pick 31.
For a 49ers team with more pressing priorities, they may have to live with missing out on the fastest receiver in Combine history. Still, it's fun to think the impact Worthy could have in a Shanahan offense adept at scheming receivers into wide open space.
A marriage between Worthy and the 49ers is probably a pipe dream but, until his name officially comes off the board, there remains at least a slight chance of what could be a truly devastating partnership.
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