Buccaneers Draft Trey Palmer: Dynasty Rookie Outlook (2023 Fantasy Football)

The 2023 NFL Draft is here! After months of waiting, we finally know where the 2023 NFL Draft class will land. This information shapes the outlook for rookies in 2023 and beyond. We’re going to have you covered throughout and following the 2023 NFL Draft to help you prepare for your fantasy football leagues. Next up for many will be dynasty rookie drafts. To help you prepare to make your dynasty rookie draft picks, let’s dive into Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Draft profile as well as Pat Fitzmaurice’s dynasty rookie draft outlook for Trey Palmer.

Dynasty Rookie Picks & Predictions: Buccaneers Draft Trey Palmer

Let’s first see what NFL Draft expert Matthew Jones says about Trey Palmer.

Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Draft Outlook

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.

2023 Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook: Trey Palmer

A rare WR prospect with decent size (6-0, 192) and game-breaking speed (4.33), Palmer could eventually develop into a dangerous vertical threat. He had an impressive final college season at Nebraska, with 71 catches for 1,043 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Palmer is an unpolished receiver whose route-running and catching technique need work. He had trouble earning playing time during his three years at LSU before transferring to Nebraska. It’s possible Palmer never becomes anything more than a kick returner in the NFL.

The Buccaneers spent a sixth-round draft pick on Palmer and will probably use him primarily as a kick returner early on, assuming he makes the roster. Obviously, playing behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will make it difficult for Palmer to become a meaningful contributor to the Tampa Bay passing game, but Palmer is going to need some seasoning anyway, so it seems pointless to worry about who’s blocking him in his rookie year.

Palmer is worth considering in the final round of your rookie draft, but realize that he is a developmental prospect unlikely to contribute anything as a rookie.