It’s fitting that the four participants in the College Football Playoff have an abundance of future NFL draft picks on their rosters. This year’s final four is especially loaded at one particular position.
There will be many wide receivers who will be selected in the 2024 NFL draft on the field when Michigan faces Alabama and especially when Washington and Texas face off.
The Huskies have three draftable wide receivers. The headliner is Rome Odunze, a likely first-round pick with his blend of size, strength and downfield ability. Ja’Lynn Polk currently projects in the 75-125 overall range with his sticky hands and ability to win at any range of the field. Jalen McMillan is one of the top slot threats in the draft, if he declares, though he’s also capable of playing outside and is hyper-effective out of bunch sets.
Texas has a duo in Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy that appears capable of each being top-40 overall picks. Worthy’s incredible speed is a great trump card; he had the fastest GPS-timed speed of any player in college football at 22.7 MPH. At just 172 pounds and plagued by drop issues and injuries, Worthy won’t be for everyone, however. Mitchell offers great size and thrived down the field after transferring from Georgia. He’s also a handful as a blocker.
Michigan’s Roman Wilson quietly improved his all-around game, enough that the speedy Wolverine is in the 3rd/4th-round conversation. His ability to work with QB J.J. McCarthy on broken plays will be mighty appealing for NFL teams with improvisational-type quarterbacks. Cornelius Johnson offers good size and the ability to make tacklers miss, and he projects as a Day 3 weapon.
Alabama is young at the wideout spot, but Jermaine Burton has the potential to be a middle-round pick if he declares for the draft.
Enjoy the games!