Mike Matthews WR Tennessee |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #4 ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #4 | |
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | |
| Overall Rating: | 83.5 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 121.6 | |
| Hands: |
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66% |
| Short Receiving: |
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75% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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80% |
| Deep Threat: |
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81% |
| Blocking: |
|
55% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#132
Position rank:
#18 (WR)
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| College Games: 32 College Snaps: 1502 | ||
ESPN RATING: 90/100
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247 RATING: 97/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jalen McMillan - Washington |
|
97% |
| Jalen Tolbert - South Alabama |
|
93% |
| Devontez Walker - North Carolina |
|
88% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Mike Matthews was born in Snellville, Georgia, grew up in Lilburn and set Parkview High School's record with 25 career receiving touchdowns, catching 48 passes for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior and 39 for 751 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. ESPN and Rivals rated him a five-star recruit, and he chose Tennessee over 32 other Division I offers. His father, Lee, played basketball at Siena, and his mother, Regina, played at Albany State.Matthews enrolled at Tennessee in January 2024 and caught seven passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman, including a touchdown in his debut against Kent State, while dealing with a hamstring injury. He started all 13 games in 2025, catching 53 passes for 813 yards and four touchdowns, 11th in the SEC in receiving yards, with 347 yards after the catch. He had 100-yard games against East Tennessee State, Mississippi State and Kentucky, where he scored on a 62-yard catch, and he made the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Tennessee lost to Illinois 30-28 in the Music City Bowl.
Josh Heupel said in September that Matthews had taken his game to another level. He caught a touchdown in the 20-17 loss to Texas, had four catches for 78 yards against Arkansas and led the team with seven catches for 85 yards in the 26-10 win over Alabama. He has 34 catches for 528 yards and three touchdowns in eight games, and he added a rushing touchdown against South Carolina.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Good speed that stretches defenses from a wide alignment
- Averaging more than 15 yards a catch this season
- Dangerous after the catch, with 277 yards after the catch this season
- Three 100-yard games in 2025, including a 62-yard touchdown at Kentucky
- Started all 13 games in 2025 and has been a fixture again this season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Dropped six passes in 2025 and three this season
- Won only three of eight contested targets in 2025
- Has no 100-yard games in eight games this season
- Last caught a touchdown pass in the Texas game in September
Scouting Report: Summary
Matthews is a fast, explosive outside receiver who has been a reliable starter for Tennessee since 2025. He caught 53 passes for 813 yards in 2025, with three 100-yard games and 347 yards after the catch, and he is averaging more than 15 yards a catch this season, with 528 yards on 34 catches. He has good speed, stretches defenses from a wide alignment and turns quick throws into big gains, with 277 yards after the catch this season.His 2026 season has been steady. He caught a touchdown against Texas, had 78 yards against Arkansas and led the team with seven catches for 85 yards in the win over Alabama, and Josh Heupel has said he has taken his game to another level. He also added a rushing touchdown against South Carolina. As a former five-star recruit and Under Armour All-American, he has the pedigree that matches his production. He remains one of Tennessee's most targeted receivers, with 51 targets in eight games.
However, his hands are the main concern. He dropped six passes in 2025 and has three drops this season, and he won only three of eight contested targets in 2025, so he does not consistently win at the catch point. There have been no 100-yard games this season and has not caught a touchdown since the Texas game in September, so his production has been steady rather than explosive. He also dealt with a hamstring injury as a freshman.
Overall, Matthews is a fast, productive receiver whose speed and run-after-catch ability give him a clear NFL role. He projects as a fifth-round receiver with the ceiling of a starting outside receiver if his hands become more reliable and the floor of a rotational deep threat. As a junior, he could also return to Tennessee in 2027 to build on his production. A cleaner finish to the season would help ease the concerns about his hands.
How other scouting services rate Mike Matthews (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
98.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
17.0
*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.