Roman Wilson used his speed to help the Michigan Wolverines win the College Football Playoff National Championship to cap off the 2023 season. More importantly, his improvement has been evident with each season passing at Ann Arbor.
From nine catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in his first year, he had 420 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore season. Wilson finished his final year at Michigan with 41 catches for 662 yards and 11 touchdowns.
While his numbers are nowhere near what Rome Odunze, Malik Nabers, and Marvin Harrison Jr. produced last year, Wilson’s explosiveness and solid route-running will make him thrive in the NFL. After all, the Wolverines haven’t unleashed his full potential because of their run-dominated offense featuring Blake Corum.
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3 Best Landing Spots for Roman Wilson
But even if he can leave defenders behind, Roman Wilson’s game has limitations. His thin frame could make him a liability in blocking situations or against tall and physical defensive backs. Likewise, he’s not known for generating substantial yards after the catch.
Despite those limitations, he is suitable for the NFL as a slot receiver. Teams looking for one might draft him in the mid-second or early third round of the 2024 draft. However, while several franchises might want to pick him, he would be better off playing for any of these three teams.
1) Los Angeles Chargers
This match checks multiple boxes. If Roman Wilson lands here, he will be reunited with Jim Harbaugh, his head coach at Michigan. Therefore, he won’t have difficulty adjusting to Harbaugh’s offense, which will help him succeed in his rookie season.
Likewise, the Chargers need to replenish their wide receiver depth chart after letting Keenan Allen and Mike Williams sign elsewhere. The jury is still out on Quentin Johnston, while Joshua Palmer’s output as a starting wideout remains unknown. Wilson will be a reliable and shifty target for Justin Herbert.
2) Cincinnati Bengals
Tyler Boyd remains a free agent, and Tee Higgins’ future with the Bengals beyond the 2024 season is uncertain. Roman Wilson can come in and provide support for Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in the passing game.
With Chase being the deep threat, Wilson can take advantage of favorable matchups in short and intermediate routes. His skill set will help the Bengals compete in one of the league’s toughest divisions, featuring the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens.
3) Arizona Cardinals
If the Cardinals use the fourth overall pick, they are widely expected to draft one of the top wideout prospects like Harrison Jr. or Nabers. However, that’s not enough to revitalize their passing game. They must provide Kyler Murray with more targets, and Roman Wilson will be a suitable addition.
With Marquise Brown already with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cardinals will have projected wide receiver starters Michael Wilson, Chris Moore, and Greg Dortch. The former Wolverine can compete for the starting role against Dortch, who plays the slot for Arizona.