The Miami Dolphins broke out their big guns for the University of Texas Pro Day.
Coach Mike McDaniel joined general manager Chris Grier in Austin Wednesday to get a close look at the Longhorns’ deep and talented draft class.
But there’s one prospect in particular that just screams future Miami Dolphin: Wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who broke the NFL Scouting Combine’s 40-yard dash record earlier this month with a time of 4.21 seconds.
Are Miami Dolphins Targeting Texas WR Xavier Worthy?
Having McDaniel present suggests the Dolphins are keenly interested in the Longhorns’ offensive prospects, highlighted by Worthy and fellow receiver AD Mitchell — both of whom are ranked in the top 30 of the current PFN Big Board.
UPDATE: McDaniel and Worthy met on the field Tuesday, with the former asking the latter why he’s not running the 40 at his pro day.
His response?
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel just asked Xavier Worthy why he's not running the 40 today. Worthy's response:
"I didn't wanna break the record too much" https://t.co/pf7rIMPIg8 #HookEm pic.twitter.com/AoGlSCfByE
— Hank South (@HankSouth247) March 20, 2024
At 6-2 and 205, Mitchell would be the big-bodied receiver the Dolphins currently lack. One out of every five catches he had in his lone season at Texas was a touchdown.
But Worthy — the 6-foot-1, 172-pounder who caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns in 2023 — has the speed that McDaniel loves.
He would join a Dolphins team that had six of the top 10 fastest plays by ball carriers in 2023 (recorded by Tyreek Hill, De’Von Achane, and Raheem Mostert).
Worthy could be seen as an eventual long-term replacement for Hill, who turned 30 earlier this month.
“Few things are more impressive than Worthy’s speed,” PFN draft analyst Ian Cummings wrote in Worthy’s player profile, “but here’s something that is: From Day 1 at the college football level, Worthy was more than just a speed threat. He truly ‘got it’ as early as his freshman season, and he was an instant producer — not just with his speed but his intuition and intelligence as a WR.
MORE: The Miami Dolphins’ Endless Possibilities in the Defensive Backfield
Among 2024 receivers in the draft, Cummings ranks Mitchell fifth (26th overall) and Worthy sixth (28th overall), behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. (first), LSU’s Malik Nabers (sixth), Washington’s Rome Odunze (ninth), and LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. (13th).
Granted, McDaniel’s presence at UT Wednesday could just be a giant head-fake, and the Dolphins are actually there to see Byron Murphy II, the draft’s No. 2 defensive tackle behind Illinois’ Johnny Newton.
Murphy (6-1, 308) was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2023 after totaling five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2023. The Dolphins have a need at the position after losing Christian Wilkins to the Raiders in free agency.
All three should be in play at 21 for the Dolphins, who are set to draft in the first round for the first time since 2021.
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