Malachi Fields WR Notre Dame | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Malachi Fields WR Notre Dame
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 05/14/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.50 seconds (51%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
Last Updated: 05/14/2025 | |
Draft Year: 2026 | |
40 time: 4.50 seconds (51%*) | |
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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Overall Rating: | 84.8 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
Defense Rating: |
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76% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
QB Rating When targeted: | 78.6 | |
Hands: |
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79% |
Short Receiving: |
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77% |
Intermediate Routes: |
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85% |
Deep Threat: |
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84% |
Blocking: |
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70% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#81
Position rank:
#15
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College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1718 | ||
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Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
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Nico Collins - Michigan |
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87% |
Bryce Ford-Wheaton - West Virginia |
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84% |
Justyn Ross - Clemson |
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83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Malachi Fields played quarterback and cornerback at Monticello High School in Charlottesville before staying close to home at Virginia, where he converted to wide receiver. After earning All-ACC honors at Virginia, he transferred to Notre Dame for his final collegiate season. His development path includes overcoming a foot injury in 2022 that limited him to just one game, followed by back-to-back seasons with over 800 receiving yards for the Cavaliers.At Virginia, Fields established himself as a reliable target despite inconsistent quarterback play, recording nearly identical production in 2023 and 2024 (56.5 catches, 809.5 yards, 5 TDs each season). His growth at the position earned him captain status in his final year with the Cavaliers. Fields brings valuable experience to Notre Dame's receiving corps, where he's expected to serve as an immediate starter and primary target in the boundary position.
The move to South Bend gives Fields a chance to showcase his abilities on a bigger stage with better surrounding talent. With productive seasons at Virginia despite quarterback instability, his potential in a more established offense makes him an intriguing NFL prospect.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Overwhelming size-speed combination at 6'4"/220 with enough functional athleticism to separate and threaten defenses vertically despite average timed speed.
- Natural hands catcher who plucks the ball away from his frame consistently, showing trust in his mitts rather than body-catching even in traffic situations.
- Downright nasty contested catch winner who attacks the ball at its highest point and uses his basketball-like frame to box out defenders with physicality.
- Shows advanced understanding of leverage against zone coverage, finding soft spots and presenting a massive target with excellent spatial awareness.
- Transitions smoothly from receiver to runner with surprising wiggle and strength after catch, running angry through arm tackles with a combative mindset.
- Refined route technician on intermediate patterns who sells his breaks with convincing head and shoulder fakes that create separation cushion.
- Former quarterback who understands coverage concepts and how to manipulate defenders' positioning, showing veteran savvy beyond his experience level.
- Brings legitimate alpha-dog mentality as a former captain who commands respect in the huddle and shows some dog in high-leverage situations.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Average acceleration off the line without the explosive first step to consistently threaten press corners or stack defenders immediately downfield.
- Can struggle to maintain top speed through his breaks, occasionally rounding off routes when he should be making sharper, more defined cuts.
- Blocking technique remains inconsistent despite willingness, often leading with his shoulder rather than establishing proper hand placement and leverage.
- Doesn't possess elite long speed that would make him a constant deep threat; wins more with positioning and physicality than pure separation.
- Still developing consistency against physical press coverage where his release package can become predictable against savvy NFL-caliber corners.
Scouting Report: Summary
The big-bodied boundary target brings intriguing potential to the NFL level, though questions remain about his overall ceiling. In the intermediate area, Fields wins with physicality and body positioning rather than explosive separation, displaying an advanced understanding of leveraging his size advantage. While his contested catch ability stands out on tape, particularly in tight windows and red zone situations, his average acceleration and top-end speed will limit his effectiveness against NFL corners who can match his physicality.His background as a quarterback shows up routinely in how he attacks zone coverage and adjusts routes based on defensive leverage. That football I.Q. creates opportunities where pure athleticism might fall short. The transition to Notre Dame will be telling – if he can maintain production against elevated competition while refining his release package against press coverage, his draft stock will benefit significantly. The concerning elements remain his blocking inconsistency and tendency to round off routes, technical issues that could be exposed more frequently against pro level competition.
What's most fascinating about Fields is the contrast between his dominant physical presence and the technical refinement still needed in his game. When the ball is in the air, he plays like a veteran – when working to get open or sustain blocks, he occasionally reverts to relying on size rather than technique. His ceiling in the NFL depends largely on whether he can develop the complete package during his final collegiate season.
How other scouting services rate Malachi Fields (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
76.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
12.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.