2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Trey Palmer (WR – Nebraska)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Trey Palmer.

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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Trey Palmer (WR – Nebraska)

Trey Palmer (WR – Nebraska)

6’1″ – 190 lbs.

Background:

Was a five-star recruit (Rivals) who played receiver and safety in high school and originally attended Louisiana St., where he spent all but the last season of his collegiate career. Barely played in 2019, finishing with just one catch, then worked into the offense a little bit more in each of the two following seasons, catching 10-108-0 (10.8) in 2020 and 30-344-3 (11.5) in 2021 before following former Louisiana St. receivers coach Mickey Joseph to Nebraska this past year and breaking out this past season to the tune of 71-1,043-9 (14.7), primarily playing in the slot for the Cornhuskers.

Positives:

Made 2022 by far his most productive season and has an encouraging development trajectory overall. Has adequate size for the outside and good size for a slot receiver, with a strong build. Took snaps both inside and outside in school, lining up in the slot on 67.3% of snaps this past season. Ran routes to all three levels of the field, mostly posts downfield, ins and outs at the intermediate level, and screens on shorter throws. Smooth accelerator who’s fast enough to eat up cushions quickly and threaten downfield on patterns like posts. Knows how to use releases to sell routes. Legitimate deep threat who changes speeds to lull defenders into a false sense of security. The team clearly thought he was a threat with the ball in his hands, as they often designed plays for him to get the ball with room to work (screens, reverses, etc.) Generally pays some attention to detail at the stem, sinking his hips and giving defenders something to think about before breaking. Shows a solid ability to track the ball over his shoulder when working downfield. Sideline awareness looks solid. Has experience returning kicks and punts.

Negatives:

Has essentially one year of high-end production, which came when he was playing in the slot; output is somewhat padded by a high percentage of screens (twenty of his catches this past season coming behind the line of scrimmage), and struggled in several conference games in the second half of the season. Route tree at school was relatively limited. Doesn’t consistently sink his pad level at the stem. Drops have been an issue throughout his career, with eleven this past season and nineteen overall versus 71 and 112 catches, respectively. Struggled to come down with contested catches this past season (caught 30.4% of contested throws). Not a particularly powerful runner after the catch or blocker in the run game.

Summary:

A toolsy upside-based pick, Palmer emerged as a viable deep threat from the slot this past season, using some nuance as a route-runner to provide opportunities for big plays down the field, often on post routes. While he’ll have to expand his route tree and increase his focus as a receiver at the next level to eliminate drops, he has the look of a potential starter who could draw some second-day interest, especially if he tests well pre-draft.

Projection: Round 3-4