Our rookie scouting reports combine film and analytics to provide the best possible predictions for player performance. With the 2023 NFL Draft less than a month away, let’s take a look at the scouting report for Arkansas WR Matt Landers.
Matt Landers NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Arkansas
- Year: Sixth-year Senior
Landers was a three-star recruit out of Lakewood Senior High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He received offers from well over a dozen Power Five schools. After numerous visits and interviews with various schools, Landers chose to play college football at Georgia.
Landers’ very first offer came in May 2015, which feels like a lifetime ago. He’s been in college a very long time.
As a freshman, Landers redshirted He was on the scout team and participated in practices but was never close to getting into actual games.
In his redshirt freshman season, Landers saw some real game action. He appeared in four contests but did not record a reception.
In 2019, Landers played in 12 of Georgia’s 14 games. He only recorded a reception in six of them, totaling 105 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches.
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By 2020, Landers was already a senior at Georgia, but he had another year of eligibility remaining. In a COVID-shortened season, Landers appeared in nine games — the highest percentage of his college career. Unfortunately, he only caught two passes for 27 yards.
Landers completed his four years at Georgia with minimal production and no shot at an NFL career. Rather than take his chances at getting signed as a UDFA, Landers transferred to Toledo.
In 2021, Landers had his best season, catching 20 passes for 514 yards and five touchdowns. While he was more productive, the competition was also far weaker at a smaller school. Landers’ NFL prospects still weren’t there. So, he exercised his extra year of COVID eligibility and returned to school for a sixth season.
Landers found his way back into the SEC by transferring to Arkansas. In his sixth collegiate season, Landers finally broke out. He hauled in 47 passes for 901 yards and eight scores.
Overall, Landers appeared in 50 games across three programs. He finished his college career with 79 receptions for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Matt Landers
Strengths: Well-traveled receiver who began his career at Georgia before moving to Toledo and then having a career season at Arkansas in 2022. Tall wideout with soft, reliable hands. Uses his frame to shield away defenders, extends his hands, and makes the reception away from his frame. Shows good route discipline, plays smart football, and consistently finds the open spot in the defense.
Tracks the pass in the air, displays outstanding timing, and comes away with the contested grab. Adjusts to the errant throw, displays eye/hand coordination, and takes a big hit but holds onto the ball. Makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception at full speed. Gives effort blocking downfield.
Weaknesses: Displays minimal quickness in his game and plays to one speed on the field despite his 40 time. Must do a better job coming back to the football out of breaks.
Overall: Landers comes off a productive season at Arkansas where he finally met the expectations of NFL scouts. He possesses a next-level build and comes with enough pass-catching skill to make an NFL roster as a fifth receiver.
Matt Landers Combine Measurements and Results
- Height: 6’4 3/8″
- Weight: 200 pounds
- Arm Size: 32 1/2″
- Hand Size: 9 1/4″
- Bench Press: N/A
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.37
Arkansas WR Matt Landers Current Draft Projection
On Tony Pauline’s Big Board, Landers ranked 179th overall and is projected to be drafted in the fifth round. With a 3.41 grade, he is Pauline’s WR24 in the class.
Landers may have spent a long time in college, but his decisions were worth it. He simply wasn’t getting drafted without his super-super senior year production in 2022.
It also helps that Landers crushed the Combine. His 4.37 40-time at his size puts his speed score in the 96th percentile. He also has incredible burst. With excellent size, speed, and elite athleticism, Landers is at least a project NFL teams can work with.
With that said, college production is the most predictive indicator of NFL success. Landers spent a full four years at Georgia without producing anything even remotely close to NFL-caliber numbers. It took two additional years at two different schools for Landers to emerge as a receiver that could potentially play in the pros.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Special teams experience goes a long way toward earning a spot on an NFL roster. It does not appear Landers has that. He will have to rely purely on his athletic abilities and the improvement of his receiving skills.
It’s always a challenge for Day 3 picks. If Landers is around the 24th wide receiver drafted, he should get a fair shot to make an NFL roster in training camp. The fact that sub-4.40 receivers don’t come around too often, especially with his size and weight, will inure to his benefit.
Landers will be 24 years old before he ever steps on an NFL field. Four-year athletes are already fighting against history to be difference-makers. Being a six-year college athlete that matters at the NFL level would be the ultimate outlier. History is not on Landers’ side, but if anyone can buck the trend, it would be a player with the Landers’ genetic makeup.