Xavier Restrepo NFL Draft Scouting Report

Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami

Size:

Height: 5097

Weight: 209

Arm: 29 ⅜”

Hand: 9 ⅛”

Accomplishments:

First-Team All-ACC (2024, 2023) • Four-star recruit

"Xavier Restrepo is a sudden mover with excellent hands and creativity after the catch to threaten a variety of depths.”

Strengths: 

• Hands

• Short-area quickness

• Route-running

• Creativity/strength after the catch

• Spatial awareness

• Friendly target on high-leverage downs

Concerns:

• Mass

• Top-end speed

• Body-catcher at times

Film Analysis: 

Xavier Restrepo enters the draft process as one of the ACC’s most productive wideouts in the conference’s history, and Miami’s all-time leader in receptions (207). There has to be an appreciation for just flat-out good football players, and Restrepo fits the script to a T. He understands the nuances of separation, plays larger than his frame, has the creativity to create chunk yards in space, and is tough as they come at the WR position.

Restrepo is a sudden mover with excellent hands and creativity after the catch to threaten a variety of depths. Aligned primarily in the slot, the Miami offense does an excellent job of presenting opportunities for Restrepo in space. Aligned primarily in the slot, the Miami offense did an excellent job of presenting opportunities for Restrepo in space.

Restrepo can align stagnant or approach the line of scrimmage in motion to force movement within a secondary. He displays a high level of explosiveness at the snap and is quick to gain separation. Restrepo mirrors routes extremely well, forcing corners to respect his ability to work inside, outside, vertically, or back to the QB. Electric short-area quickness that is displayed on rhythm and timing routes. Restrepo is often a target in short ‘must-have’ situations due to his ability to create distance between himself and his opponents. Elite hands that catches nearly everything thrown his way (nine career drops on 292 targets).

With the ball in his hands, Restrepo turns into a de facto running back, displaying excellent vision, agility, and toughness. Can run through arm tackles and has the start-stop ability to make defenders whiff in open grass. Covers the ball with two hands in traffic while maintaining good pad level and leg drive, often surprising secondary defenders with his strength at contact. Not a burner by any means but has an innate ability to create big plays. Successful on designated touches as well, where his aforementioned quickness and physicality make it a nightmare to counter when Restrepo is working behind larger linemen in space. 

Would like to see more longer-developing routes into the upper third of a secondary, but Restrepo has shown the nuance to live within the intermediate areas with a high level of production. He’s not asked to be a 50-50 contributor in the air, but Restrepo is as competitive as they come with sideline awareness and body control when his feet leave the ground. Has also shown the willingness to stick his face in the mud as a run blocker. Not the biggest athlete, but will do whatever it takes within an offensive script.

Concerns remain about his top-end gear on the outside. Has good initial acceleration and foot turnover but is not an elite linear athlete by any means. 

Overall, Restrepo is a move piece whose skill set should translate seamlessly to the NFL level due to his short-area quickness, route-running, and creativity after the catch. Teams in need of immediate separators out of the slot to round out a WR core could prioritize Restrepo early in the draft.

Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter

Written by: Ryan Fowler

Exposures: Syracuse (2024), Louisville (2024), Duke (2024), Clemson (2023), North Carolina (2023), Texas A&M (2023)

Xavier Restrepo NFL Draft Scouting Report