Michael Wilson  |  Stanford 6’1” 216 lbs.  |  02/23/2000 (23)

Michael Wilson was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the 13th Wide Receiver and 94th overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Wilson finished his injury-riddled collegiate career as a two-time All-Pac-12 honorable mention with 134 career receptions, 1,662 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. In 2022, he played in six games, as he hauled in 26 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns. The former four-star recruit has the ideal frame of a pro receiver, and he surely has the experience after appearing in 36 collegiate games. 

FILM 

STRENGTHS

Experienced receiver who creates early separation at the line of scrimmage with ease. Physical, as it often takes more than one defender to take him down. Great speed and tempo when running his routes. Can high-point the pass over his defender and win one-on-one matchups regularly. Probably THE BEST run-blocker at his position in this draft class. 

WEAKNESSES 

Injuries have been a concern for a few years now. He’s a raw prospect, and he doesn’t have a ton of production on his resume. Needs to improve his route-running abilities, as he often slipped coming out of his breaks. Leans into his routes too much, oftentimes giving the defenders an advantage by tipping off his route. Uses too much-wasted motion at the top of his routes as well. 

ATHLETIC TESTING

At the NFL Combine, Wilson measured in at 6’1” and 216 lbs, which equates to a BMI of 28.5. He ran a disappointing 4.58 40-yard dash (37th percentile), equating to a 98.2-speed score (66th percentile). Wilson also displayed a 126.3 burst score (76th percentile) and a college dominator score of 32.5 percent (63rd percentile). 

Wilson shows strength, as his 23 reps on the bench press at the NFL Combine were the most among all wide receivers. He showcased solid leaping abilities with a 37.5” vertical and a 127” broad jump. His biggest red flag would be his health, as he ended up playing in just 14 games in the last three seasons.  

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average

Wilson was selected with the 94th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cardinals. 

Kyler Murray will surely miss some time in 2023. But Wilson comes in to compliment a core of Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch, and Trey McBride (assuming DeAndre Hopkins is traded soon and Zach Ertz isn’t on the team past this season). With Moore and Dortch playing primarily in the slot, Wilson could fight for a starting position on the outside. He may not receive a ton of opportunities right away, but there is clearly a path that leads to a prominent role for him in this offense.  

FANTASY INSIGHTS

Wilson should be a third-round selection in your rookie drafts at best. He’s worth the shot at selecting solely because we have no idea how these Day 2 picks will turn out. You shouldn’t draft him over other Day 2 picks like Jonathan Mingo, Jayden Reed, Rashee Rice, or Jalin Hyatt. But if you want to select him over Josh Downs, Cedric Tillman, or Nathaniel Dell, that’s viable, as you have to go with your gut decision there. 

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