- Luther Burden III’s versatility should not fly under the radar: He logged more than 1,100 career snaps in the slot, more than 600 out wide, 40 in the backfield as a running back and even 18 as an inline tight end.
- Bhayshul Tuten’s speed makes him the prototypical X-factor: His 10-yard split (1.49), 40-yard dash (4.32), vertical jump (40.5) and broad jump (10-foot-8) at the NFL Scouting Combine all placed in the 95th percentile or better for the running back position.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Click here for more draft tools:
NFL Draft Big Board | Mock Draft Simulator | NCAA Premium Stats
2025 PFF Draft Guide | Mock Draft Hub | Prospect Data Profiles
Draft Position Rankings
X-factors, gadget players or, as Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton calls them, “jokers” — players who break the traditional mold of roles on an NFL field. They are players who can succeed at multiple positions with unique size, quickness and/or natural athletic ability.
Every NFL draft has several such prospects — we’ll call them X-factors — and we’ll dive into five such prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
WR LUTHER BURDEN III, MISSOURI
When Sean Payton spoke at his NFL Scouting Combine presser about his desire to find a “joker” type of offensive player, Burden was the first name that came to mind.
Despite what many considered a down year, in which he still earned an 80.2 PFF receiving grade, Burden flashed athletic versatility that makes him one of the top X-factors in the class. He logged more than 1,100 career snaps in the slot, more than 600 out wide, 40 in the backfield as a running back and even 18 as an inline tight end.
He was also a mainstay on special teams as a punt returner. Even how he moves feels gadget- or X-factor-like. His stop-and-start agility, body control and explosiveness allow him to rack up missed tackles in open space and, as a result, yards after the catch. His 30 forced missed tackles in 2024 tied for the FBS lead.
Burden isn’t just a slot receiver; he is a versatile offensive weapon.
WR JAYLIN NOEL, IOWA STATE
A pair of Iowa State wide receivers could be drafted in the top 40 this year. First is Jayden Higgins — a bigger-bodied athlete who can play on the line of scrimmage as an X receiver. Second is Jaylin Noel — a shorter, stockier, yet powerful slot receiver who has the body type to even play out of the backfield.
Noel earned an 80.5 PFF receiving grade this past season with more than 800 yards from the slot and more than 600 on deep passes. He brings some unique vertical-stretching ability to that slot position that not every offense boasts. He also tested like an elite athlete with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, a 41.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. Those all placed in the 85th percentile or higher. He also has ample special teams experience, with 400-plus return snaps in his college career.
WR JAYLIN LANE, VIRGINIA TECH
Lane tested like an elite athlete at the NFL Scouting Combine, with 90th-percentile scores or better in the 40-yard dash (4.34), vertical jump (40 inches) and broad jump (11 feet). That explosiveness shows on tape, too.
The Virginia Tech product logged more than 1,100 snaps out wide and another 1,100 in the slot in his college career. The Hokies also got the ball in his hands in the backfield in the form of screens or wide receiver reverses. He was also a consistent returner in the special teams game, with four return touchdowns in his Virginia Tech career, making him an X-factor athlete in two phases of the game.
WR SAVION WILLIAMS, TCU
Williams is the true definition of an X-factor or gadget player in this class. When we think of gadget-like players, smaller receivers come to mind, as it is natural to picture them as returners and slot weapons. But Williams brings all that and more while measuring in at nearly 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds.
He is raw in his athletic and physical gifts, as evidenced by his 70.2 PFF receiving grade this past season. But not only did he log 368 snaps out wide as a receiver in 2024, but he also tallied 98 in the slot, 38 in the backfield and even 46 at wildcat quarterback. For his efforts in the backfield, Williams earned a 90.5 PFF rushing grade in 2024.
RB BHAYSHUL TUTEN, VIRGINIA TECH
Tuten has the juice. His 10-yard split (1.49), 40-yard dash (4.32), vertical jump (40.5) and broad jump (10-foot-8) at the NFL Scouting Combine all placed in the 95th percentile or better for the running back position. That stems from his extensive track background, where the 5-foot-9, 205-pound back ran the 100-meter and 60-meter dashes, as well as participated in the long jump and the shot put.
Tuten earned an 80.7 PFF rushing grade this past season with more than 1,100 yards on the ground. He also logged 123 snaps in the slot, 67 snaps out wide as a receiver and 11 snaps as a wildcat quarterback. When people think of the term X-factor, Tuten will be at the forefront because of his running style and home-run speed.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Reine Körperverletzung – Ist DAS der brutalste Sport der Welt?
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Is all the pressure on Caleb Williams after Bears drafted Colston Loveland and more? | The Facility
the facility Video Details Chase Daniel discusses how much pressure is on Caleb Williams to perform well this season after the Chicago Bears drafted five offensive players, including TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden. 1 MIN AGO・the facility・2:42
UFL’s Best Mic’d Up Moments of Week 5 | United Football League
United Football League Video Details Check out the best mic'd moments of Week 5 from the United Football League. 3 MINS AGO・United Football League・2:14 United Football League
Manchester City set to join inaugural women’s seven-a-side tournament
Manchester City are set to participate in the inaugural World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament.The first four competing teams in the new women’s seven-a-side tournament were announced on Thursday, with City set to join Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Ajax and Benfica at the event in Estoril, Portugal in May. The tournament will include eight teams in total.AdvertisementSpeaking on April 24, W7F’s head of football Adrian Jacob did not rule out a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side or one of the Champions League semi-finalists (Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea or Lyon) also competing in this May edition, although The Athletic reported Chelsea are not expected to take part.The W7F tournament was launched in March and features a $5million (£3.8m) prize pot, including $2.5m for the winners — more than the 2025 Women’s Champions League winners will earn.The first edition of the competition takes place between […]
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby: Start time, channel, post positions and more
It's time for the 151st Run for the Roses — aka the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The annual race at Kentucky's Churchill Downs will be run this weekend, with all 20 horses expected to be out of the gates at 6:57 p.m. ET. The drawing of the Kentucky Derby post positions was held this past Saturday, and the odds for the most-watched horse racing event of the year are already in. Journalism drew the favorable post position No. 8 and is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 151st Kentucky Derby. The two other horses with single-digit odds headed into this year's Run For the Roses are Sovereignty (5-1) and Sandman (6-1).Coverage of the first leg of the Triple Crown will begin this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock, before moving over to NBC (and Peacock) at 2:30 […]
Zinho não subestima forte candidato ao título da Copa do Brasil: “Pode almejar”
Zinho, em comentário na ESPN (Reprodução) Zinho acredita que Dorival Júnior pode recolocar o Corinthians nos eixos. Levando em conta o histórico do treinador em competições de mata-mata, o ex-jogador não subestima a capacidade do Timão faturar o título da Copa do Brasil. Neste cenário, contando com os retornos de Garro e Memphis Depay, o clube alvinegro é avaliado como um dos fortes concorrentes na disputa pelo título do torneio nacional. “O Corinthians ganhou o Paulista, gente. Ganhou do Palmeiras. Estava o São Paulo, o Santos e o Novorizontino. Eu estou acreditando em uma melhora. Encaixando, com o elenco que tem, o Garro e o Memphis se recuperando, o Corinthians pode almejar algo nas copas.”, disse Zinho, no programa Equipe F, da ESPN. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Nos pontos corridos é mais complicado porque não tem elenco para três competições. O Corinthians […]
Related
Reine Körperverletzung – Ist DAS der brutalste Sport der Welt?
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Is all the pressure on Caleb Williams after Bears drafted Colston Loveland and more? | The Facility
the facility Video Details Chase Daniel discusses how much pressure is on Caleb Williams to perform well this season after the Chicago Bears drafted five offensive players, including TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden. 1 MIN AGO・the facility・2:42
UFL’s Best Mic’d Up Moments of Week 5 | United Football League
United Football League Video Details Check out the best mic'd moments of Week 5 from the United Football League. 3 MINS AGO・United Football League・2:14 United Football League
Manchester City set to join inaugural women’s seven-a-side tournament
Manchester City are set to participate in the inaugural World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament.The first four competing teams in the new women’s seven-a-side tournament were announced on Thursday, with City set to join Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Ajax and Benfica at the event in Estoril, Portugal in May. The tournament will include eight teams in total.AdvertisementSpeaking on April 24, W7F’s head of football Adrian Jacob did not rule out a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side or one of the Champions League semi-finalists (Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea or Lyon) also competing in this May edition, although The Athletic reported Chelsea are not expected to take part.The W7F tournament was launched in March and features a $5million (£3.8m) prize pot, including $2.5m for the winners — more than the 2025 Women’s Champions League winners will earn.The first edition of the competition takes place between […]
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby: Start time, channel, post positions and more
It's time for the 151st Run for the Roses — aka the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The annual race at Kentucky's Churchill Downs will be run this weekend, with all 20 horses expected to be out of the gates at 6:57 p.m. ET. The drawing of the Kentucky Derby post positions was held this past Saturday, and the odds for the most-watched horse racing event of the year are already in. Journalism drew the favorable post position No. 8 and is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 151st Kentucky Derby. The two other horses with single-digit odds headed into this year's Run For the Roses are Sovereignty (5-1) and Sandman (6-1).Coverage of the first leg of the Triple Crown will begin this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock, before moving over to NBC (and Peacock) at 2:30 […]
Zinho não subestima forte candidato ao título da Copa do Brasil: “Pode almejar”
Zinho, em comentário na ESPN (Reprodução) Zinho acredita que Dorival Júnior pode recolocar o Corinthians nos eixos. Levando em conta o histórico do treinador em competições de mata-mata, o ex-jogador não subestima a capacidade do Timão faturar o título da Copa do Brasil. Neste cenário, contando com os retornos de Garro e Memphis Depay, o clube alvinegro é avaliado como um dos fortes concorrentes na disputa pelo título do torneio nacional. “O Corinthians ganhou o Paulista, gente. Ganhou do Palmeiras. Estava o São Paulo, o Santos e o Novorizontino. Eu estou acreditando em uma melhora. Encaixando, com o elenco que tem, o Garro e o Memphis se recuperando, o Corinthians pode almejar algo nas copas.”, disse Zinho, no programa Equipe F, da ESPN. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Nos pontos corridos é mais complicado porque não tem elenco para três competições. O Corinthians […]
Be the first to leave a comment