The discussion surrounding the exceptional talent entering the professional ranks from the Texas Longhorns in the 2024 NFL Draft has largely centered around Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jonathon Brooks, and a pair of exceptional defensive tackle prospects.
Yet, the name Jordan Whittington seems to go unmentioned during the vast majority of these conversations. Does Whittington’s scouting report suggest he is a wholly overlooked receiver prospect entering the NFL?
Jordan Whittington’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 205
- Length: 30 3/8”
- Hand: 10”
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Texas
- Current Year: Senior
Whittington comes from an NFL bloodline as the nephew of former Oakland Raider Arthur Whittington, who contributed to a stacked Longhorns after a transition from running back to wide receiver during his redshirt freshman year in 2020.
During his career at the University of Texas, Whittington caught 141 passes for 1,757 yards and five scores. One big knock against his scouting profile is the lack of a true breakout year.
Steal of the 2024 #NFLDraft will be Jordan Whittington🤘🏽#ThisIsTexas|#Hookem
pic.twitter.com/Hz6nUVPAS1— Chuy Vasquez (@loslonghorns) April 25, 2024
Whittington’s final year in a Longhorns jersey saw him catch just 42 passes for 505 yards and one score in 14 games played in a highly productive offense.
Sure, context is required when looking at Whittington’s numbers last year, seeing that he was competing with four other potential Day 1 or Day 2 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Still, the lack of production is certainly a bit troubling.
Does Whittington’s scouting report quell those fears?
Whittington’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Strong hands catcher who attacks the ball and can play a bit of bully ball at the catch point with nearby defenders; good focus and finishing ability even as contact is coming.
- Former days as running back definitely show up as a YAC threat; Plus-level play strength and contact balance to shed smaller defenders and work upfield quickly as a ball carrier.
- Flashes the ability to snap down successfully when approaching the breakpoint; Does some of his best work on outside breaking routes after fainting to digs or crossing route concepts.
- Displays some patience/route-running detail when trying to close the gap between him and his defender before engaging in his break to carve out more space at the breakpoint.
- Flashes of tempo variation and deception in his stem work.
- Majority of work came out of the slot, but he does offer some ability to contribute in the screen and quick game due to his capabilities as a YAC threat.
- Has good field vision against zone defenses; settles into green space, and then immediately turns upfield to create after the catch.
- Willing and effective blocker in the run game.
Weaknesses
- Durability concerns dealing with multiple injuries early in his collegiate career.
- Lack of suddenness and burst are a concern when trying to operate out of the slot against NFL nickelbacks.
- Doesn’t possess the top speed to threaten teams on the vertical plane.
- Despite some flashes of route-running detail, still lacks the overall refinement to be classified as a great route runner.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
To say Whittington had a difficult path to generating a healthy stat line of production last season would be a big understatement. Four other skill-position players who were significant contributors in the Longhorns’ passing attack made it difficult for anyone to post huge numbers, much less the fourth or fifth option in the passing game.
Whittington’s contributions as a big slot producer in one of the most explosive offenses in the nation last season shouldn’t be overlooked or dismissed, but to say he likely benefited significantly from the other NFL-caliber playmakers on the roster is certainly a valid thought process.
Whittington’s NFL bloodline and high football IQ are there, but his top-end athletic traits leave room for concern when trying to project his game to the professional level.
Whittington has the intangibles — toughness, physical, willing blocker, high motor prospect — that could be useful to an NFL roster. Yet, his contributions as a separator, playmaker, and vertical threat could be less appealing to an NFL team.
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