Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
Size:
Height: 6011
Weight: 183
Arm: 30”
Hand: 9”
Accomplishments:
First-Team All-Big Ten (2024) • Third Team All-American (2024) • Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist (2024)
“Tai Felton is a twitchy, creative playmaker who has the blend of size and speed that projects as a top-two wideout within an NFL offense.”
Strengths:
Route-running
Hands
Creative after the catch
Top-end speed
Spatial awareness
Concerns:
Wasted movement at the line of scrimmage
Physicality at the top of routes
Film Analysis:
Tai Felton, a four-year contributor for the Terrapins, exploded in 2024, becoming one of the country’s most productive players at his position. He aligned primarily on the outside with experience on the left and right side of the formation with additional experience in the slot.
Felton is a twitchy, creative playmaker who has the blend of size and speed that projects as a top-two wideout within an NFL offense. He displays rapid movements at the line of scrimmage that often present him with space early in his route, although more consistency against press-man is warranted in that area. Quick, short strides allow Felton to change direction quickly.
Felton is a very experienced and mature route-runner when it comes to understanding coverage and leverage. Does well to get his head around in open space and will not carry his routes into occupied zones. Felton has shown the ability to run a variety of routes to different depths, including the ability to run away from corners on crossers or create chunk plays on designated touches. Snaps off routes in the blink of an eye with sudden footwork and excellent depth in his hips to sink and drive. Strong hands in space but would like to see Felton use his body to shield defenders off his frame at a higher rate.
After the catch, Felton is an exciting playmaker who looks to take it the distance on each touch. He has the speed to outrun pursuit angles, as well as the nuance and vision to spin, stop, accelerate, and keep his balance when met with contact. He will be featured in an NFL offense with designated touches away from his fundamental ability to separate as a pass-catcher. Felton will also serve as a threat inside the red zone, where he was a tough cover in man situations in 2024. Excellent spatial awareness as he creeps toward the backline with an understanding of where his feet are at all times while stacking the corner and tracking the ball simultaneously. Maryland often placed Felton in the slot inside the 20s and would allow Felton to win on slot fades reduced inside. His speed, size, and tracking ability were often too much for opposing secondaries to counter. Understands angles as a blocker in the ground game, also.
Concerns remain about occasional wasted movement at the line of scrimmage, where more patient corners will sit and mirror as Felton attempts to release (Oregon). A little too much east-west movement at times could cause trouble at the NFL level against corners who thrive on the ability to win at the line. It’s a small fix, however, and Felton has shown the ability to separate with ease a majority of the time. Also has room to get stronger.
Overall, Felton projects as a featured weapon in an NFL offense that can succeed at a variety of depths. Easy man separator with excellent instincts against zone. Felton’s YAC ability and top-end speed will expand a playbook at his size, as well. His experience and production at the P4 level will also hold weight for teams as a WR1.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Ryan Fowler
Exposures: Oregon (2024), Rutgers (2024), Michigan State (2024)
