Draft Analysis: Xavier Hutchinson

• Height: 6’2″
• Weight: 203 lb
• College: Iowa State
• Tape watched: Iowa, Texas, SE Missouri St, Baylor
• College Comparison: Romeo Doubs

Pros

• Hands/Tracking
  Hutchinson nears the top of this class in terms of tracking the football and making a play in the air. He has excellent body control to react and adjust to off-script passes. Had he completed a few more plays, this would be an elite trait. Contact at the catch point rarely impacts his play.

• Toughness
  Xavier Hutchinson missed 0 games in college. This is more impressive when you see the type of hits he takes and walks away unphazed. There are some hits he should make business decisions on, but all in all this is one tough competitor.

• Blocking
  Plenty of effort, strength, and attention to detail in Hutchinson’s blocking. He is willing to block anyone, often cracking down on linebackers and holding his own. He stalks and sets up his feet well.

• RAC
  Hutchinson just picks up extra yards. He is a hard nosed runner that breaks enough tackles post-catch for RAC to be considered a good trait.

Midline

• Route Running
  His game film was hot and cold, but the route technique and details Xavier Hutchinson displayed at the Senior Bowl was excellent teach-tape. He can struggle at times to work back to the football, both on square cuts and hitch routes. He tends to have stiff hips, and is much more of a hard route break receiver than someone that can turn and stop on a dime. He does an excellent job at using his hands, shoulders, and body to manipulate defenders at his route break. He is a determined route runner and really shows a high motor through each route and play.

• Release
  More good than bad, Hutchinson has enough tools to have a promising outlook in the NFL. He is sometimes eager to pop up out of his stance, allowing defenders to land their press punches successfully and ride Hutchinson off his stem. He showed good jab and head fakes, a great throw-by, and the ability to move press corners with his own punches.

Cons

• Separation
  Overall play speed may be an issue in the NFL for Xavier Hutchinson. He heavily relies on his contested catch abilities. He was much better against zone coverage than man. His overall explosiveness appears lacking.

Overview

Slowly becoming one of “My Guys”, Xavier Hutchinson has traits that you love to see on your favorite football team. He will make the circus catch, while still getting into the trenches to block linebackers. He runs hard with the football and through his routes. Intangibles ignored, Hutchinson is a solid receiver that likely maxes out as a future low end secondary receiver. He projects fairly at all three receiver positions, but his overall athletic ceiling could be limiting. I see Romeo Doubs and Tyler Boyd when watching Xavier Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s consistent production and effort project favorably for a long NFL career.