From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today we’ll be profiling Nebraska WR Trey Palmer.
#3 TREY PALMER, WR, NEBRASKA (SR.) 6002, 192 LBS.
Combine invite
MEASURABLES
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Trey Palmer | 6002 / 192 | 9 5/8″ | 31 7/8″ | 77″ |
| 40 Yard Dash | 10 Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.33 | 1.48 | 4.26 | 7.13 | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 114″ | 29 1/2″ | N/A |
THE GOOD
— Blazing speed, fastest 40-yard dash of the WR group with a 4.33
— Good body positioning at the catch point to create clean opportunities
— Sells fakes at the stem of downfield routes to give him better separation deep
— Pacing through the play is smooth and instinctual
— Versatility and size to operate both inside and out as a receiver
— Flexibility to adjust for throws and reel them
— Nice release to get a step on defenders at the snap
— Uses speed to produce YAC by getting into space and taking advantage of the open field
THE BAD
— Route running can be a bit stalled out of breaks or rounded at the stem
— Too many concentration drops on tape last year; that will need to be ironed out of his game
— Doesn’t offer much contact balance once the ball is in his hands to gain additional yardage
— Only has one year of high-quality production in his four-year college career
— Overall physicality is lacking
— Doesn’t offer much as a run blocker
BIO
— Birthday is April 2nd, 2000 (22 years old)
— 4-star recruit out of Kentwood, Louisiana, ranked 112th nationally by 247sports
— Spent first three years of his college career at LSU before transferring to Nebraska
— 16 career starts
— Named 2022 second-team All-Big Ten
— Majoring in child, youth, and family studies
— 2022 Stats: 71 receptions, 1043 yards, 9 TDs
Tape Breakdown
Palmer does a good job working back to the football, and it showcases his instinctive feel for the game as a wide receiver. Here is the 2022 season opener against Northwestern. Palmer sees the throw isn’t going to get to him cleanly as he breaks for the outside and does well both getting back downfield and positioning himself so the corner can’t close on the football.
While Palmer is a great speed threat, he is also dangerous because of how well he plays the football, like here. He times the route to adjust to the underthrown football and reel in the catch even with it being behind his frame.
That ability to work with pacing in order to bring in throws is consistent throughout his film. Here against Rutgers he positions himself over the defender while having his lower body taken out to reel in the football, and he does so with ease.
Palmer’s 4.33 speed though makes him more than just an instinctive underneath weapon, as he is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Using his speed and processing, he routinely made production out of manufactured touches and underneath throws to help spark the offense.
Then there’s what Palmer can do when in the open field. That speed is dangerous but with his ability to find creases he can take catches the open field and turn them into large gains. In an offense that can scheme him open in space on occasion, he could easily be very productive.
Palmer does have some issues in terms of contact balance. He is too easily taken down and it limits his overall upside as a YAC receiver unless he bulks up at the next level. Below are two plays where Palmer had the opportunity to create more yardage but just couldn’t stay upright.
We wrap things up with what Palmer’s largest selling point: what he brings vertically. Not only does he have straight-line speed, Palmer also does a good job of being deceptive and creating hesitance in defenders before he breaks vertical. It creates easy downfield opportunities for him, and his speed will be able to handle the open field to finish off the play and take it for six.
CONCLUSION
Trey Palmer is an example of the beauty of the transfer portal. He struggled to find a role and produce consistently at LSU but then went to Nebraska and took a huge step forward, putting himself on the map as an NFL prospect. With his speed, instincts, and versatility, it’s hard to envision he won’t stick around in the NFL, but will he take the necessary steps to not just stick but become a consistent starter at the next level? That what remains to be seen. For a pro comparison, Palmer shares a lot of similarities with Kenny Stills who has found a way to produce for a multitude of teams around the league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be in the market for a receiver in this draft, and the addition of Allen Robinson II could push the need down to the perfect range to select Palmer. The big question for Pittsburgh is if its feels that Palmer and Diontae Johnson could co-exist by either one playing outside or both being able to rotate consistently to where the overlap wouldn’t be an issue for either’s level of performance.
Projection: 4th – 5th Round
Depot Draft Grade: 7.8 – Potential Starter/Good Backup (3rd Round)
Games Watched: vs Northwestern (2022), vs North Dakota (2022), vs Oklahoma (2022), at Rutgers (2022), at Purdue (2022), at Michigan (2022), at Iowa (2022)
