Xavier Hutchinson 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Xavier Hutchinson was one of the most prolific wide receivers in the country in 2022. He ended the year with 107 catches (third in the nation) for 1,171 yards (eighth in the nation) but only six touchdowns (T-81). The tape on Hutchinson has a lot to like, but also some red flags as well. We will talk about it all here in his 2023 NFL Draft profile.
Let’s start at the combine. Trey’s only note from his NFL Scouting Combine performance was that he looked very good in the gauntlet, which is definitely worth noting. No big negatives to note. His 4.53 40 time is just fine. He also jumped 36” in the vertical, which isn’t bad at all.
Xavier Hutchinson got better every year during his time at Iowa State. He posted 64 catches in 2020, 83 in 2021 and finished with 107 in 2022. His yardage also went up every year, and so did his touchdown numbers. He has a great frame for the NFL, listed at 6-foot-2, 203 pounds. Hutchinson had six games this year with 10-plus catches and had at least eight in every game except the opener. He possesses quick feet that allow him to release from press off the line.
However, there are glaring red flags. First, he had only one TD against Big 12 teams this year. You know, the conference is known for having bad defenses and good offenses. Worth noting. Then there are the drops. He had six drops this season, including a crucial drop of a wide-open touchdown late in the game against Texas that would’ve given the Cyclones the lead. Hutchinson fails, at times, with creating leverage against defenders.
Xavier Hutchinson gets a day-three grade from me. I think he has some tools that you can definitely work with, but the red flags he has made it impossible to take him among the top receivers in the class. He would benefit from being on a team with a top receiver he can learn from and mold his game after. The skills are there, they just need some refining.
