Draft Analysis: Michael Wilson

March 30, 2023 /
  • Height: 6’1″
  • Weight: 213 lbs
  • College: Stanford
  • Tape watched: Washington, Oregon, USC
  • College Comparison: Anthony Miller

Pros

  • Explosiveness

The quickness, agility, and short area burst that Michael Wilson plays with is impressive. He excels in short areas and can change directions with the best of them. He has great acceleration to top speed.

  • Release

Going hand-in-hand with his short area quickness, Wilson has a nice repertoire of release moves. He can beat you with speed and deception. There are times when he can be overwhelmed by a stronger corner. He needs to work his hands more to combat.

  • Aggressiveness

Michael Wilson plays with his hair on fire. Every snap Wilson displays his high motor through blocking and route running. He is a prospect that will leave everything on the field each game.

  • Blocking

Wilson is a very attentive, detailed, and violent blocker. He is dedicated to finding a defender to get his hands on. He does a very good job identifying his responsibility and walling off defenders. Wilson consistently sprang large runs by sealing defenders.

Midline

  • Route Running

I thought Wilson was a good overall route runner. I did think he struggles against physical man coverage. He seems to struggle stacking defenders and using his upper body to create separation. Wilson was good at finding holes in zones and comfortably dominates out-breaking routes.

  • Contested Catches

Just average at combat catches, Wilson was not nearly as effective in close coverage as he is in space. He allows a decent amount of throws into his chest and body. Wilson is very good at adjusting to under-thrown and back-shoulder balls though.

  • YAC

For the most part, Michael Wilson is an above average threat after the catch. He is a smooth runner with adequate lateral agility and a knack for making defenders miss. He does lack power behind his pads, however, and can be taken down rather easily on first contact.

Cons

  • Availability

It’s no secret that the major red flag behind Michael Wilson is his inability to stay on the football field. Playing only 14 games in his last three seasons of college, Wilson could struggle to acclimate to the rugged world of the NFL.

  • Route Tree

In a heavy RPO quick-strike offense, Wilson had little opportunities to display versatility. His skill set favors a slot or Z receiver role. At Stanford, he ran crisp routes and benefitted most from off-coverage.

Overview

Michael Wilson is one of the premiere high-risk, high reward receivers in 2023. He fits the profile of what NFL receivers target for offenses. He has great size, adequate speed, and short area burst built for a passing attack. He is a dedicated blocker who can even be trusted to crack linebackers.

Wilson’s medical history and physical at the combine will be invaluable to teams. If he can stay healthy, there are upsides of Michael Thomas. Will a team risk a Day 2 selection on Wilson, banking on his traits? Or will someone get a steal on Day 3 and show the NFL what a full season of Michael Wilson looks like?