An explosive kickoff returner now has increased value to NFL teams, and that could enhance the draft stock of some prospects.
Xavier Worthy's record-setting time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine could make him an intriguing candidate to be a kickoff returner under the NFL's new rule. will affect how NFL general managers and coaches construct their rosters for the 2024 season. That was evident in free agency. It could be seen again next week during the NFL draft.
“I think there’s teams and decision-makers that want to be ahead of the curve a little bit and view as that could be a difference-making play again and something that we haven’t seen in terms of how this is set up,” Jeremiah said. “I’m fascinated to see it. And I think it’s going to help separate a lot of ties between players.”
Fassel and fellow special teams coordinators Darren Rizzi of the New Orleans Saints and Richard Hightower of the Chicago Bears played key roles in designing the newly approved model, which is similar to the kickoff alignment once used by the XFL. It is“It brings the value of the returner up,” Rizzi said. “It the value of the core players. There’s more plays in the game for those players.”The effects on roster construction were immediate.
“I was talking to a GM the other day, and he was going through the process of pulling returns on guys from like their freshman year — the stuff that we used to do a lot of in scouting that you really haven’t had to do over the last few years as the return game has kind of diminished,” Jeremiah said. “But now they’re like: ‘Okay, well, we’re close on these two corners. Well, this one actually was a kickoff returner two or three years ago.
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