Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Roman Wilson has been electric throughout this week's Senior Bowl practice sessions. Wilson has been one of the most productive receivers in attendance, consistently displaying the route-running excellence that made him such an intriguing playmaker coming into the weekly showcase. Wilson has undeniably elevated his pre-draft stock while performing above expectations in front of all 32 NFL teams.
Wilson made an outstanding one-handed grab near the sideline during one-on-one drills at Wednesday morning's practice. After the highlight-reel-worthy play, Wilson could be seen exchanging pleasantries with Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who he defeated in coverage. It made Wilson one of the few receivers that got the better of the fast-rising Mitchell throughout the week.
This catch is our Roman Empire 👑🤌#NFLDraft | #TheDraftStartsInMobile pic.twitter.com/AyJAs1wEre
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) January 31, 2024
Wednesday was an appropriate follow-up to what was an outstanding debut practice on Tuesday. Wilson's sudden burst to separate at the top of this route led to an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown. Opposing defensive backs are finding it extremely difficult to match Wilson stride for stride.
Michigan WR Roman Wilson (@Trilllroman) was the talk of the @SeniorBowl today. His draft stock will soar if he keeps up his level of play all week.#NFLDrafthttps://t.co/hH0M3eYzc0 pic.twitter.com/6ZOVhPbBos
— Jaime Eisner (@JaimeEisner) January 31, 2024
The All-Big Ten selection and four-time letterman took a huge step forward at Michigan this past season, recording career-highs in receptions (48), receiving yards (789), and touchdowns (12). Wilson had a particularly efficient nose for the end zone, converting 25% of his catches into touchdowns. The Maui, Hawaii native became J.J. McCarthy's go-to receiver en route to Michigan winning the National Championship. McCarthy and Wilson especially highlighted chemistry throughout scramble drills, a skill Wilson learned on the fly that will benefit his next quarterback, too.
Wilson's improvement could be chalked up to him becoming a more well-rounded player. The Wolverine standout became more advanced in the technical areas of playing receiver, learning how to better control his speed to dictate tempo and how to create separation and operate in space. The same traits have been on display in Mobile.
Consistently watching pro tape of the receivers he hopes to soon emulate, Michigan’s coaching staff identified an ideal like-for-like comp for Wilson. Seattle’s Tyler Lockett became a common comparison in the film room. “A Tyler Lockett who can also take the top off the defense,” Wilson shrewdly adds. It's easy to see the similarities when watching Wilson consistently separate from coverage at the Senior Bowl.
Wilson possesses the inside-outside versatility necessary to play the "Z" or the slot. Michigan asked Wilson to run the complete route tree and he responded by handling everything thrown at him. He's especially a sharp processor with well-developed spatial awareness when facing zone coverage. Wilson places the cherry on top of his skill set with secure, reliable hands at the catch point. Any pass-happy offense would benefit from adding Wilson in April's 2024 NFL Draft.
Think of the receivers that came before Wilson who revealed themselves to be game-changing weapons at the Senior Bowl. Jayden Reed, Tank Dell, and Puka Nacua were among last year's standouts. All three enjoyed outstanding, (even historic in Nacua’s case), rookie seasons. With continued success in Mobile, Wilson appears capable of following in those footsteps.
