Rams draft road leads to Rome? And other Day 3 combine recaps
By Bret Stuter
![NFL Combine NFL Combine](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5362,h_3016,x_0,y_114/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/54/01hr1wgxdbwj6f4j95ws.jpg)
Speaking about WRs
The 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with speed at the wide receiver position.But is speed the end-all attribute for the NFL receiver position? In the past, the Rams have been lured into the belief that speed equals production. The team signed speedy veteran WR Desean Jackson. In that same year, the team selected small but speedy wide receiver Tutu Atwell.
Jackson was cut halfway through the season. Atwell remains on the roster, but his opportunities seem to be very dependant on another receiver suffering injury. That's just not good enough in my opinion to chase down another speedster for this roster.
So, who made the fastest times?
Fastest 40 Yard Dash Times (WRs):
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 2, 2024
1️⃣ Xavier Worthy, Texas: 4.21s
2️⃣ Brian Thomas Jr, LSU: 4.33s
3️⃣ Adonai Mitchell, Texas: 4.34s
4️⃣ Tez Walker, North Carolina: 4.36s
5️⃣ Jacob Cowing, Arizona: 4.38s pic.twitter.com/1GsWUqoSCV
Fast times did not translate into on-filed production automatically. Here are the top college wide receivers in terms of Pro Football Focus' overall grades. You may notice that none of the speedy receivers are listed below.
But you can bet several (if not all) of the fastest receivers will be off the board by the end of Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Highest career grades among draft eligible Wide Receivers🔥 pic.twitter.com/DfyQ3qSSuS
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 28, 2024
One player who I continue to follow and enjoy studying is Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley. Standing 5-foor-11 and weighing a robust 215 pounds, he has become the favorite player for former NFL WR Steve Smith Sr., who loves his toughness.
Had the chance to talk some ball and break down some film with the YAC KING 👑 himself @CorleyMalachi
— Steve Smith Sr. (@SteveSmithSr89) February 21, 2024
📺: https://t.co/1mOfwOKayy#CutToIt✂️ pic.twitter.com/zOTEBUsUWq
Rumored reports from the Combine indicate that some NFL teams want to know if Corley is willing to play at the running back position in the NFL. He has a background at running back, so that makes some sense. But I see his optimal role in the NFL as one who plays a very similar game to San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel.
Malachi Corley is projected to come off the board late in Round 2. I am not sure he falls that far.