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 Xavier Hutchinson.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Xavier Hutchinson (WR – Iowa St.)
Xavier Hutchinson (WR – Iowa St.)
6’3″ – 210 lbs.
Background:
Originally attended Blinn College, where he played two seasons before transferring to Iowa St. Stepped right into a starting role upon arriving, catching 64-771-4 (12.0) in his first season and 83-987-5 (11.9) in 2021. As a fifth-year senior, increased his output to 107-1,171-6 (10.9).
Positives:
Highly productive over the past three seasons, being one of the focal points of the Cyclones’ offense. Big, lanky receiver who lines up both on and off the line of scrimmage and sometimes from the slot. Overall flexibility is above average for a receiver with his frame. Tracks the ball well over his shoulder and shows impressive body control to adjust to throws away from his body; his most impressive plays are those in which the quarterback is able to drop in throws over his outside shoulder when running down the sidelines. He Times his pirouettes well on back-shoulder throws. Executes subtle push-offs well to create late separation. Can be a little bit of a threat after the catch, and the team often tries to get him the ball with a lane by running screens, etc. Frame could make him a dangerous red-zone target. Flashes physicality as a blocker in the run game.
Negatives:
Sort of a glider whose overall speed and explosiveness are just adequate; makes a lot of contested catches in college and probably won’t get a ton of separation at the next level, either. Doesn’t have the most hip sink or explosiveness at the stem. Relatively simple route tree consists in large part of patterns like curls, hitches, shallow crosses, back-shoulder throws, fades, and occasionally a deep out from the slot. Could do a better job of working back to the ball when targeted on curls, hitches, etc. Not the most physical receiver; would like to see better ability to shield defenders from the ball and more aggressiveness at the catch point. Doesn’t have the strongest pair of hands. Tends to throw his body around as a blocker rather than engaging with technique.
Summary:
The best receiver from the program since the likes of Allen Lazard (undrafted, 2018) and Hakeem Butler (fourth round, 2019), his game more closely resembles the former, who has also had by far the better pro career. Executes fades and back-shoulder throws well, routes which could make him a good situational receiver and red-zone target at the next level, although it remains to be seen whether he has the speed, explosiveness, and attention to detail as a route runner to create separation against pro cornerbacks in man coverage, and it would be nice to see him leverage his size a little bit more in contested-catch situations.
Projection: Round 3-4
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