- Luther Burden III’s versatility shouldn’t fly underneath the radar: He logged greater than 1,100 profession snaps within the slot, greater than 600 out broad, 40 within the backfield as a working again and even 18 as an inline tight finish.
- Bhayshul Tuten’s velocity makes him the prototypical X-factor: His 10-yard cut up (1.49), 40-yard sprint (4.32), vertical bounce (40.5) and broad bounce (10-foot-8) on the NFL Scouting Combine all positioned within the ninety fifth percentile or higher for the working again place.
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X-factors, gadget gamers or, as Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton calls them, “jokers” — gamers who break the normal mould of roles on an NFL discipline. They are gamers who can succeed at a number of positions with distinctive dimension, quickness and/or pure athletic capacity.
Every NFL draft has a number of such prospects — we’ll name them X-factors — and we’ll dive into 5 such prospects within the 2025 NFL Draft.
WR LUTHER BURDEN III, MISSOURI
PFF Big Board Rank: 15
When Sean Payton spoke at his NFL Scouting Combine presser about his need to discover a “joker” kind of offensive participant, Burden was the primary title that got here to thoughts.
Despite what many thought-about a down 12 months, during which he nonetheless earned an 80.2 PFF receiving grade, Burden flashed athletic versatility that makes him one of many prime X-factors within the class. He logged greater than 1,100 profession snaps within the slot, greater than 600 out broad, 40 within the backfield as a working again and even 18 as an inline tight finish.
He was additionally a mainstay on particular groups as a punt returner. Even how he strikes feels gadget- or X-factor-like. His stop-and-start agility, physique management and explosiveness permit him to rack up missed tackles in open house and, because of this, yards after the catch. His 30 pressured missed tackles in 2024 tied for the FBS lead.
Burden isn’t only a slot receiver; he’s a flexible offensive weapon.
WR JAYLIN NOEL, IOWA STATE
PFF Big Board Rank: 78
A pair of Iowa State broad receivers might be drafted within the prime 40 this 12 months. First is Jayden Higgins — a bigger-bodied athlete who can play on the road of scrimmage as an X receiver. Second is Jaylin Noel — a shorter, stockier, but highly effective slot receiver who has the physique kind to even play out of the backfield.
Noel earned an 80.5 PFF receiving grade this previous season with greater than 800 yards from the slot and greater than 600 on deep passes. He brings some distinctive vertical-stretching capacity to that slot place that not each offense boasts. He additionally examined like an elite athlete with a 4.39-second 40-yard sprint, a 41.5-inch vertical bounce and an 11-foot-2 broad bounce. Those all positioned within the eighty fifth percentile or greater. He additionally has ample particular groups expertise, with 400-plus return snaps in his school profession.
WR JAYLIN LANE, VIRGINIA TECH
PFF Big Board Rank: 165
Lane examined like an elite athlete on the NFL Scouting Combine, with Ninetieth-percentile scores or higher within the 40-yard sprint (4.34), vertical bounce (40 inches) and broad bounce (11 ft). That explosiveness exhibits on tape, too.
The Virginia Tech product logged greater than 1,100 snaps out broad and one other 1,100 within the slot in his school profession. The Hokies additionally obtained the ball in his fingers within the backfield within the type of screens or broad receiver reverses. He was additionally a constant returner within the particular groups sport, with 4 return touchdowns in his Virginia Tech profession, making him an X-factor athlete in two phases of the sport.
WR SAVION WILLIAMS, TCU
PFF Big Board Rank: 101
Williams is the true definition of an X-factor or gadget participant on this class. When we consider gadget-like gamers, smaller receivers come to thoughts, as it’s pure to image them as returners and slot weapons. But Williams brings all that and extra whereas measuring in at practically 6-foot-4 and 222 kilos.
He is uncooked in his athletic and bodily presents, as evidenced by his 70.2 PFF receiving grade this previous season. But not solely did he log 368 snaps out broad as a receiver in 2024, however he additionally tallied 98 within the slot, 38 within the backfield and even 46 at wildcat quarterback. For his efforts within the backfield, Williams earned a 90.5 PFF dashing grade in 2024.
RB BHAYSHUL TUTEN, VIRGINIA TECH
PFF Big Board Rank: 202
Tuten has the juice. His 10-yard cut up (1.49), 40-yard sprint (4.32), vertical bounce (40.5) and broad bounce (10-foot-8) on the NFL Scouting Combine all positioned within the ninety fifth percentile or higher for the working again place. That stems from his in depth observe background, the place the 5-foot-9, 205-pound again ran the 100-meter and 60-meter dashes, in addition to participated within the lengthy bounce and the shot put.
Tuten earned an 80.7 PFF dashing grade this previous season with greater than 1,100 yards on the bottom. He additionally logged 123 snaps within the slot, 67 snaps out broad as a receiver and 11 snaps as a wildcat quarterback. When folks consider the time period X-factor, Tuten can be on the forefront due to his working fashion and home-run velocity.