If the Los Angeles Rams decide not to re-sign Tutu Atwell, the wide receiver room not only loses a body, but a very fast one. Most fans would love to see the L.A. offense become more explosive and letting their one true speed weapon depart makes it one step further from reality.
But wait, this content is not about making a case to re-up Atwell, it’s to provide some capsule reviews on “little” wide receiver prospects. Yes, although “bigger, faster, longer” is the usual mantra when it comes to prospects, the little guys have their place in a well-rounded unit.
The Rams haven’t been shy in adding them either. In the Sean McVay years, he’s brought in over a half-dozen receivers at 5’10”. Add to that number Atwell, Jojo Natson, Brandon Powell, and Xavier Smith. These last three are where I want to concentrate, players with playmaking ability that can add value in the return game as well as offense.
L.A. currently does have the diminutive Smith under contract, but after two seasons, his 33 offensive snaps and 22 total kickoff/punt returns are easily replaced. Last season, the Rams subbed in Blake Corum to return kickoffs, even though he is much heavier afoot.
Meeting the candidates
Tez Johnson-Oregon- 5’9’’ 156 lb. 29 7/8” arms, 8 1/2” hands @ Senior
Produced three strong seasons (141 catches-1809 yards-8 td) at Troy before stepping up for two stellar years (169 catches-2089 yards-20 td) at Oregon. Although only had a couple of kickoff returns, he returned 56 punts for 519 yards over all five seasons.
He was timed at 20.64 mph in Senior Bowl workouts, but he’s got more than speed. Although the burst and quick feet help in separation, he is a good route runner with solid hands that improved over his career. Used almost exclusively out of the slot (88%) although Oregon did gadget him all over when not. Wasn’t used deep a lot, but you can see from the first Ohio State matchup film that he can win on those routes.
Not a lot of draft value here, Johnson had a strong Senior Bowl and is rising up draft boards. I have a mid-Round 4 grade him. Naturally, there are physicality concerns, but if he tests well, someone will take a “too early”chance on a prospect with his combination of hands, burst/long speed, and open-field running abilities.
Xavier Restrepo-Miami- 5’9” 200 lb. 29 3/4” arms, 9 1/8” hands @ Senior
Has the highest floor of all these candidates. How much do you value a player who profiles to be a slot-only, chain-moving, WR#2 for many years? For me, it’s a late 2nd/early 3rd grade. Experienced (53 games and 28 starts) and productive (200 grabs-2844 yards-21 td). Not a true return threat, although he brought back 13 punts and six kickoffs.
Timed 19.02 mph during Senior Bowl, very good, but not elite. Restrepo wins on route running and hands. He can create his own separation with stellar drive and sink, crisp in and out of breaks, and uses varied releases, Tracks the ball well with a low drop rate and better than most smaller receivers at contested catches because of competitiveness and strength. In his Senior season, he a lot of back shoulder opportunities.
That competitive spirit along with a strong, well-built frame allows him be a good blocker who understands leverage. He also understands how to recognize soft areas and settle into them against zone coverage.
Jimmy Horn-Colorado- 5’8” 171 lb. 30 3/4” arms 8 7/8” hands @ Shrine
Timed 10.81 in the 100 meters. His burst and change of direction ability shadow his advanced route running. He runs a full route tree and has bag full of tricks. Uses feints, quicksteps, and sudden stop/starts. Very loose-hipped with bursty direction change and tracks well. Needs to be more consistent in carrying plays through and running before securing the ball on short routes.
Although struggling with injuries all throughout 2024 and shut down in the final three games, Horn was still able to chart 91 catches, 1001 yards, and seven touchdowns over two seasons with the Buffaloes. Before settling in the Rockies, he toiled two seasons at South Florida with 67 receptions, 959 yards, and four scores. Over four seasons, he returned 29 kickoffs for 644 yards and at Colorado handled 14 punts.
Stood out in Shrine Bowl workouts with ability to separate in man coverage and red zone work. Very nice low risk/high reward type of prospect, I give Horn a late 6th/early 7th grade, but if he blows up testing at the Combine, some team will bite at his dynamic potential.
Lejohntay Wester-Colorado- 5’9” 177 lb. 29 7/8” arms 8 1/8” hands @ Shrine
Wester joined Colorado for a standout final season, 70 catches for 880 yards and 10 scores. He added nine punt returns for 108 yards and a touchdown. In his first four years at Florida Atlantic, he did a little of everything. Ran the ball 36 times for 213 yards, caught 252 passes for 2703 yards, returned 14 kickoffs for 290 yards, and brought back 57 punts for 632 yards. Overall he accounted for 24 touchdowns.
Don’t have to scheme Wester open, he can create separation. Has very good route technique in addition to his short area quickness. Mercurial in/out of breaks and change of direction. Soft hands, but tends to be a body catcher too often. His drops come when he runs before securing the ball. Tough and competitive over the middle and on contested catches.
High ceiling prospect. Can pay his own freight while getting settled in as a pro with return game versatility. I originally gave him a Round 7 grade, but after more film, upgraded that view to early 6th. All the press around Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter forces you to dig deep on a possible gem like Wester.
Jaylin Lane-Virginia Tech– 5’9” 191 lb. 32”arms 9 3/4” hands @ Senior
On film, Lane looks and plays bigger than he measures. Has long arms and big hands. Clocked 21.20 mph at the Senior Bowl, where he also impressed scouts with his suddenness off the snap and deep-ball tracking. Although he didn’t get to show off his open-field running skills, there is plenty of film highlighting his ability.
Played five college seasons, first three at Middle Tennessee State before closing out at VaTech., totaling 54 games and 39 starts. His overall all-purpose production numbers were:
Rushing- 46 carries for 264 and 3 scores
Receiving – 203 receptions for 2532 yards 18 scores
Punt returns – 67 for 733 yards and one TD
Kickoff returns – 39 for 852 yards
Lane needs to work on consistency and expanding his route tree. His hands are good and his arms make his catch radius as big as someone 6’. Where he stands out is open-field running and ability to be used as a chess piece, expanding the offense both vertically and horizontally.
Jamaal Pritchett-South Alabama- 5’9” 178 lb. 29 3/4” arms 9 1/4” hands @ Senior
After a season at D2 Tuskegee, Pritchett joined the Jaguars for three seasons, 21 starts and 43 games. In his final two, he caught 148 passes for 2009 yards and returned 17 punts for 250 yards. He scored 17 touchdowns.
Worked a lot out of motion and was quickly thrown the ball. His burst, on-a-dime cuts and sudden change of direction made him a dangerous playmaker at his level of opposition. Quicker rather than long speed. Good hands catcher with no fear on short/mid depth crossers. Needs route polish, his college routes were generally very short or very long.
My grade on Pritchett is right on the edge of draft worthiness. Pro Football Focus gives him stellar grades. They rate 4th in receiving grade (88.1), 2nd in yards after catch (8.3), and 2nd in yards per route run (3.34). They also credit him with forcing 29 missed tackles.
Mario Williams-Tulane- 5’9” 178 lb.
Although Williams doesn’t have the return production of the others and was included because his physical traits are similar to the others and there is the potential of having that dual value. He has also been on a very interesting career path.
Rather than transfer to a more prestigious program for his final college seaon, he took a step down. He started at Oklahoma in 2021, then followed his coach (Lincoln Riley) and quarterback (Caleb Williams) to USC for ’22 and ’23. To close out, he transferred to Tulane. He never was a full-time starter in three seasons at Oklahoma or USC, posting 104 catches for 1426 yards and 11 scores. At Tulane he worked his way into a starting role and posted a stellar senior year, 60 receptions for 1031 yards and six touchdowns.
I have Williams as a priority free agent. Has a lot of good traits, hands, route running, and yards after catch. He plays receiver like a punt returner, quicker than fast, sharp cuts, and shifty in open-field, but needs to show that he can return kicks to be in the NFL.
Brennan Presley-Oklahoma State- 5’8” 168 lb. 29 1/2” arms 9 3/8” hands @ Hula
Highly productive in a good conference, the Cowboys got the ball to Presley any way they could and he filled the playmaker role. Played in 63 games over five years, charted 6000+ all-purpose yards, and had a hand in 31 touchdowns.
His ability to run with the ball stands out. A jitterbug style with slippery-fast change of direction and cuts at speed. If given sliver of space, he seems to always beat the first tackler, played running back in high school and runs with willing physicality for a small player.
Because of his running ability, OSU very often got him the ball quickly, so his route tree needs to be expanded, but on film he creates space downfield well. Good hands catcher who willingly plays in the middle of the field. I have him on the cusp of a draftable grade, but after watching a little more film, may re-visit his score. Good well-rounded player.
Giles Jackson-Washington- 5’9” 187 lb.
Began as a Michigan recruit. Over two seasons (2019, 20), he played in 18 games with four starts and accumulated 1404 all-purpose yards rushing, receiving, and returning both kickoffs and punts. First two seasons as a Husky were predominantly special teams as a returner and gunner in coverage. 2023 was red-shirt year because of injury. Moved exclusively to wide receiver in 2024 and had 85 catches for 893 yards and seven scores.
What is Giles potential? A kick returner and gadget player like his Michigan days or as a trusted center-of-the-plate part of an offense as shown in his senior season.
He may be the fastest of all these fast prospects. He tracks passes and kicks well, while loose hips for plus change of direction and burst out of on-a-dime stop/start hint of dynamic playmaking ability. I have an undrafted grade on Jackson because he’s never been able to rise to the top of a depth chart until his final season, but on film he’s a much better prospect than the Rams Xavier Smith, who L.A. signed as a UDFA.
Any fits for the Rams?
L.A. doesn’t really use one set player for the slot, the McVay offense rotates players around the basic formations. But generally speaking, since 2017, the Rams have used a bigger receiver in the slot, one Cooper Kupp. The smaller receivers have been primarily used in motion. What happens now that Kupp is not expected to be around is yet to be decided, but McVay has been historically steady in receiver formations. There is no reason to think any different about 2025, minor, if any changes.
I love the two Colorado receivers, Horn and Wester. They’re fearless, fast, and open-field runners. Both are twitchy athletes with big play upsides. Lane and Presley are probably the most well-rounded prospects, a chess pieces for offense and special teams.
The Rams seem to always a stash of later picks and 2025 is no different. other than Restrepo and Johnson, all these prospects are likely to go later in the draft. If the Rams need a “little” wide out, the last six prospects on this list offer “little” risk and possibly big rewards.
