NFL Analysis
4/26/24
4 min read
Luke McCaffrey NFL Draft 2024: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Washington Commanders WR
The 2024 NFL Draft is here, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Luke McCaffrey.
Luke McCaffrey'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6-foot-1 5/8
- Weight: 198 pounds
- 40-Time: 4.46 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.52 seconds
- Vertical: 36"
- Broad Jump: 10-foot-1
- 3-Cone: Did Not Participate
- Shuttle: 4.02 seconds
- Arm length: 30 1/8"
Luke McCaffrey 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS:
- A good-sized wide receiver still learning the position who’s lined up extensively in multiple slot-split alignments
- His natural quickness to movement with short-area burst and acceleration allowed him to get into routes cleanly with free access.
- Worked between the numbers and showed the mental and physical toughness to make traffic and collision catches
- Showed natural hands and outstanding focus to make a lot of catches with hands extended away from his frame
- Made outstanding one-hand catches with vs. tight coverage and was competitive in contested-catch situations
- Great hand-eye and concentration focus, as well as outstanding ball skills, especially in the middle and vertical seams
- Showed a good feel for running the vertical seam, which is a desired trait when you’re predominantly in the slot
- Run-after-catch showed up on tape and there appears to be much more untapped potential with that trait
WEAKNESSES:
- Struggled at times to get in and out of breaks with needed quickness and fluidity, and appeared too robotic and segmented
- Does not have a natural feel for separating effectively at the top of the route stem, and not smooth and fluid
- More of a one-speed vertical receiver than an extra-gear receiver, and he did not show an accelerating burst through the stem
- Has a lean frame and lacks needed play strength at this point, so he must mature physically to work inside the numbers
NFL TRANSITION:
McCaffrey may fit the definition of a projection to the next level as much as any receiver in the 2024 draft class. He has only been a full-time wide receiver for two seasons but clearly flashes traits that suggest that he could develop into a quality slot-movement receiver with patience, coaching and more experience.
What consistently stood out was McCaffrey worked the middle of the field and was fearless making tough catches in traffic, both extending his arms away from his frame and catching through contact and, at times, through collisions.
At this point in his development, McCaffrey needs some help from the passing scheme with the foundational use of motion, stacks and bunches to allow him to get free access into routes. Then his natural quickness could be maximized, and defensive backs would be more reactive to him rather than McCaffrey having to beat corners with refined route running.
McCaffrey consistently showed outstanding hands with the concentration and focus to make tough catches, especially in high-traffic parts of the field. That is a strong beginning trait as you think about his transition to the next level.
McCaffrey is seen as more of a slot receiver despite his height. He must work on his releases and the details and nuances of route running to create separation in tighter areas, but there is definitely something to work with. It would not surprise if McCaffrey develops into a reliable NFL receiver.
OTHER NOTES:
McCaffrey played three seasons at Rice after beginning his college career at Nebraska, where he played quarterback after a storied high school career at national power Valor Christian. He played at Valor for his dad, former NFL WR Ed McCaffrey. Luke McCaffrey made the full-time transition to wide receiver in his second season at Rice (2022), and he finished his college career with an outstanding 2023 season: 71 catches for 992 yards (14.0 average) and 13 TDs.
McCaffrey predominantly aligned in the slot in Rice’s offense: 71 percent of his snaps in 2023 came from the slot, and he saw 86 of his 126 targets and 48 of his 71 receptions there. He improved as the season progressed in some of the details and nuances of the receiver position, such as defeating press coverage, fluidity at the top of the route stem and better short-area quickness out of breaks. Overall, McCaffrey looked quicker and more decisive in his movement from the midpoint of the season.
