Jump to content

2026 prospect highlight: WR Malachi Fields


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 34
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

I don’t know anything about Fields…he certainly looks like a big physical WR with very good hands who’s excellent in contested catch situations.     But over the years I’ve become skeptical of

Isn't that what Ayomanor is supposed to be?

6'4", 222 lbs   https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Malachi-Fields-WR-Virginia        

Posted Images

I've intentionally stayed away from him because I have no clue where he is going to go. The tape is great but the small sample size hurts. 

Edited by Callidus
Link to post
Share on other sites

I don’t know anything about Fields…he certainly looks like a big physical WR with very good hands who’s excellent in contested catch situations.  
 

But over the years I’ve become skeptical of WRs who rely heavily on contested catches…which IMO suggests they have trouble creating separation to get themselves open.  
 

Which begs the question:  If a guy struggled to separate and get open against college DBs……how will he fare against NFL DBs who are bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone he faced in college?    

Link to post
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, nine said:

I don’t know anything about Fields…he certainly looks like a big physical WR with very good hands who’s excellent in contested catch situations.  
 

But over the years I’ve become skeptical of WRs who rely heavily on contested catches…which IMO suggests they have trouble creating separation to get themselves open.  
 

Which begs the question:  If a guy struggled to separate and get open against college DBs……how will he fare against NFL DBs who are bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone he faced in college?    

Was just looking at his stats and 1/3 of his targets were contested and he only caught 47% of them. On the flip side only a 2.7% drop rate.

 

For comparison sake, boston only had 11% of his targets in contested situations and caught 70% of them with a 1.8% drop rate. 

 

Cooper is at 16% contested targets 50% catch rate but a mediocre 5% drop rate. 

 

Brazzell with 19% contested, 47% catch rate on those with 4.7% drop rate. 

 

Tate, 1/4 of targets were contested and he caught 86%, no drops. 

 

So on paper at least he is mostly comparable to brazzell. though brazzel caught 11% more of his overall targets at 69.3% to 58.1

Edited by Callidus
Link to post
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Callidus said:

I've intentionally stayed away from him because I have no clue where he is going to go. The tape is great but the small sample size hurts. 

 

He actually had more receptions and yards the two previous years at Virginia. I don't know why he had less this year other than maybe the offense just went through Jeremiyah Love more so there weren't as many opportunities.

 

He's got the size you want for a boundry/X receiver and the eye test looks good. If he tests well at the combine maybe he sneaks into the back half of the 2nd round.

 

Here's more from his 2023 season.

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, nine said:

I don’t know anything about Fields…he certainly looks like a big physical WR with very good hands who’s excellent in contested catch situations.  
 

But over the years I’ve become skeptical of WRs who rely heavily on contested catches…which IMO suggests they have trouble creating separation to get themselves open.  
 

Which begs the question:  If a guy struggled to separate and get open against college DBs……how will he fare against NFL DBs who are bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone he faced in college?    

 

I've seen his projected 40 time as around 4.5, so he's got "average" speed. Not a burner. The bigger issue isn't necessarily how open he is but how he does catching balls in traffic. That 47% isn't a good look, but maybe the QB wasn't the best at delivering catchable balls? 🤷‍♂️ 

 

He supposedly put in good work at the Senior Bowl so he's somebody to watch.

Link to post
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, nine said:

I don’t know anything about Fields…he certainly looks like a big physical WR with very good hands who’s excellent in contested catch situations.  
 

But over the years I’ve become skeptical of WRs who rely heavily on contested catches…which IMO suggests they have trouble creating separation to get themselves open.  
 

Which begs the question:  If a guy struggled to separate and get open against college DBs……how will he fare against NFL DBs who are bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone he faced in college?    


CC: Keon Coleman 


Yeah I’m more about finding guys who find ways to get open and create extra YAC opportunities.

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, NashvilleNinja said:

 

He actually had more receptions and yards the two previous years at Virginia. I don't know why he had less this year other than maybe the offense just went through Jeremiyah Love more so there weren't as many opportunities.

 

He's got the size you want for a boundry/X receiver and the eye test looks good. If he tests well at the combine maybe he sneaks into the back half of the 2nd round.

 

Here's more from his 2023 season.

 

 

 

 

 

I've seen his projected 40 time as around 4.5, so he's got "average" speed. Not a burner. The bigger issue isn't necessarily how open he is but how he does catching balls in traffic. That 47% isn't a good look, but maybe the QB wasn't the best at delivering catchable balls? 🤷‍♂️ 

 

He supposedly put in good work at the Senior Bowl so he's somebody to watch.

They threw it 300ish times with him getting 70 or so of the targets. Thats nearly a 1/4 tsrget share. Maybe his qb was absoldog shit. Idk. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, titanskick8851 said:


CC: Keon Coleman 


Yeah I’m more about finding guys who find ways to get open and create extra YAC opportunities.

Lemon, bell, branch and kc. Still cant get behind KC with a drop rate that was greater than the entire titans roster combined in 2025. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Nash said:

Isn't that what Ayomanor is supposed to be?

Yep. That was my first thought as well. Unfortunately, Ayomanor showed next to zero growth catching the ball in traffic or hitting his spots. Maybe that turns around under a new offense, but it was the same thing in college. 

 

I wouldn't count out going BPA in the second even if the guy is redundant to Ayomanor. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Nash said:

Isn't that what Ayomanor is supposed to be?

 

Supposed to be, but people keep saying we need a #1.

 

It'd be great if Ayo makes that leap, but that won't start to happen until at least the start of the season and the draft will have already happened.

 

We'll see what they think of him and the rest of the receivers based on what they do in free agency and the draft. I'm sure Saleh, Daboll, etc are deep in roster evals right now. I know Ayo is only a 4th round pick, but hopefully they don't give up on him that quick.

Link to post
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, NashvilleNinja said:

 

Supposed to be, but people keep saying we need a #1.

 

It'd be great if Ayo makes that leap, but that won't start to happen until at least the start of the season and the draft will have already happened.

 

We'll see what they think of him and the rest of the receivers based on what they do in free agency and the draft. I'm sure Saleh, Daboll, etc are deep in roster evals right now. I know Ayo is only a 4th round pick, but hopefully they don't give up on him that quick.

Ayo needs to earn his snaps and touches like every other WR.

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, NashvilleNinja said:

 

He actually had more receptions and yards the two previous years at Virginia. I don't know why he had less this year other than maybe the offense just went through Jeremiyah Love more so there weren't as many opportunities.

 

He's got the size you want for a boundry/X receiver and the eye test looks good. If he tests well at the combine maybe he sneaks into the back half of the 2nd round.

 

Here's more from his 2023 season.

 

 

 

 

 

I've seen his projected 40 time as around 4.5, so he's got "average" speed. Not a burner. The bigger issue isn't necessarily how open he is but how he does catching balls in traffic. That 47% isn't a good look, but maybe the QB wasn't the best at delivering catchable balls? 🤷‍♂️ 

 

He supposedly put in good work at the Senior Bowl so he's somebody to watch.

Supposedly, the NFL is higher on him than the draftniks.  Still I’d say he should be available at 35.

 

Not really an expert at this but I did notice more separation skills in the second half of that clip.  It wasn’t just contest catch highlights .  Can’t tell if it was coverage/scheme but he did get open via route running .

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.


×
×
  • Create New...