LSU Tigers wide receiver Barion Brown would add an explosive quality to the L.A. return game (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
If the Rams decide to keep Xavier Smith as the punt returner and WR #5, it won’t be difficult. As an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, for all intents and purposes, he’s tied to the Rams unless they want to dismiss him. Smith hasn’t been bad in L.A., actually a decent value, but he’s never really broke through to show off an explosive quality as a returner of receiver.
There are a number replacement possibilities for that role in this wide receiver class. We’ll set the parameters at a low expenditure of draft capital, double-duty as returners (hopefully both punt and kickoff), and offering the potential of a more dynamic playmaking.
Here are some of my late-round favorites.
Zavion Thomas – LSU – 5’ 10” 196 lb. / 30 1/2” arms / 8 7/8” hands
Originally signed with Mississippi State and spent his first two seasons there, before transferring to LSU for his final pair. While Thomas has never been a full-time starter, 18 starts in 48 games, he has been a productive part of two SEC offenses. He posted 106 catches, 2947 all-purpose yards, and 11 touchdowns.
Thomas offers a very nice all-round package. As LSU’s offense struggled behind mediocre offensive line play and an injured QB, the Tiger braintrust moved him all around the formation to get the ball into his hands, out wide, in the slot, on the wing, as a running back, and as a wildcat QB. More physical than the typical returner, he has the explosive burst and speed, but also shows body control, contact balance, and lower body strength. Good stop/start ability, sharp cuts, spin moves, and a strong stiff arm helps him slither through traffic. Sneaky good route runner with nice hands and fearless demeanor across the middle. Does a good job on off throws, but tends to be a body catcher when pass is on target.
Emmanuel Henderson – Kansas 6’ 1” 180 lb. / 31” arms / 8 1/2” hands
Four-star recruit and #2 ranked running back out of high school. Spent his first three college seasons at Alabama. The Tide transitioned him to wide receiver during his freshman year. Henderson never broke through at “Bama, toiling on special teams coverage units for three seasons. As a senior, he transferred to Kansas for a full-time role as receiver and kickoff returner, racking up 45 catches and 1237 all-purpose yards.
Watching Henderson, the first that stands out is that he runs like a running back, he’s a physical, heads north-south, and shows good balance. Has a gliding style with good burst with stellar long speed. Has the vision to anticipate open lanes and hit them. Not one with quick, darting moves, his cuts are at speed, using head/shoulder/hip feints at a distance. Still learning the nuances of the receiver position, but catches with hands, shows good ball tracking, strength at catch point when contested, and good body control for passes outside his frame.
WR Emmanuel Henderson, Jr.
#Jayhawks #NFLDraft
– High point
– Drags back foot at boundary
– Three-step break
– Rounded off drive/line steps
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— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman)
January 12, 2026
Kaden Wetjen – Iowa 5’ 9” 195 lb. / 29 3/8” arms / 81/2” hands
Started his college career at the JUCO level and bumped up to Iowa. After a redshirt year, he took over as the Hawkeyes primary return man on both kickoffs and punts. Over his 40 D1 games, Wetjen never became a regular on the offense and his stats were modest, 23 receptions for 197, 23 carries for 132 yards, and nine touchdowns. He made his bones as a punt and kickoff returner with 2821 total yards at 70.5 yards per game. He is the only two-time winner of the Jet Award, recognizing the top return specialist in college football.
Cut thicker than most returners, Wetjen adds good contact balance and leg strength to the usual traits of vision, elusiveness, and speed. Primarily a north-south runner who spots a crease and hits it at full-speed, but he has the loose hips and ankles to quickly change directions and turn corners sharply, not spending too much time moving laterally. Wetjen stood out at the East-West Shrine Bowl workouts where special teams play takes a back seat to 1on1 matchups and offense/defense scrimmages. His route-running held up with all the other receivers, showing he had a toolbox full of moves and technique to go with his athletic traits. While he had some problems with physical, handsy defenders, most draft experts thought he showed enough developmental potential to consider him more than a “gadget player”.
Barion Brown – LSU 5’ 11” 176 lb. / 31 7/8” arms / 8 7/8” hands
Liquid fast, five-star prospect was back-to-back Tennessee state champ in the 100 and 200 meter dashes as a high schooler. Signed with and spent his first three seasons at Kentucky before transferring to LSU for his senior season. During his college career, which included 36 starts out of 50 games, Brown logged 175 grabs, 4283 all-purpose yards, and scored 20 touchdowns. He was named to the Senior Bowl where he was considered a draft riser and timed as one of the fastest players in attendance.
How high will Brown rise in the draft? He has shown glimpses of being a Day 2 talent, but most pundits have slated for mid-Day 3. It’s the old argument, athletic traits and potential or technique and production? At his best, Brown is a dynamic playmaker, able to gash defenses on catches, runs, or returns. He pairs furtive moves, more linear than sharp, with his world-class speed. Not the patient tpe to wait on blocks to open up pathways, he’s goose it and go. Brown has the experience and football IQ to shred zone coverage, but at his size, handsy, physical corners can give problems. His hands have improved greatly over time. He used to have clap attack and body catch problems in first two seasons, but 2025 film hands look strong and sure. He’s fearless over the middle and has the body control to corral off throws.
Caullin Lacy – Louisville 5’ 8” 189 lb. / 29 3/4” arms / 9 3/8” hands
Recruited as a running back, Lacy served four years at South Alabama before bumping up to Louisville. Played in a whopping 66 college games and had 45 starts. For his six-year college career, that included one extra for 2020 COVID19 and a redshirt, he charted 284 catches, 5300+ all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns.
Showed at Senior Bowl that he’s more than a return man and can create separation as a slot receiver in the pros. His short whip routes were nearly uncoverable. Lacy’s moves are smooth and fluid, nothing looks forced and frenetic. He’s a shifty, elusive open-field runner with elite short area agility and can stop/start on a dime. To go with his duties as kickoff and punt returner, on offense, Louisville lined him up primarily in the slot, but also used him outside, as a running back, and at wildcat. With coverage having to respect his speed, he thrives underneath with good hands, routes, and run after catch.
Louisville’s Caullin Lacy was winning frequently in 1-on-1s. Smooth and quick route running translating to the RZ.
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— Brandyn Pokrass (@BPok24)
January 29, 2026
Vinny Anthony – Wisconsin 6’ 185 lb. / 31 1/2” arms / 9 1/8” hands
Started 26 of 37 games over his four Wisconsin years. Although limited to mainly special team work his first two seasons, Anthony totaled 70 receptions and just under 2000 all-purpose yards over his final two. Named to the East-West Shrine Bowl and was touted as a standout for his route running and separation ability.
Tough, physical receiver who has the athleticism to beat man coverage and experience to find open area in zones. Appears to track the ball well and has good strong hands. Would to see him snatch all passes, but body catches passes that hit his frame. Anthony shows good change-of-gears speed and is sneaky about it, uses choppy steps early on routes and into his breaks and then accelerates into sprinter strides. He’s quickly up to full speed and shows a physical running style from contact. His long strides likely limit him to kickoff returns.
Kendrick Law – Kentucky 5’ 11” 205 lb.
Four-star recruit played three seasons at Alabama before closing out with the Wildcats. Law never broke through with the ’Bama offense, but was a standout on special teams, both coverage and returns. As a return man at both stops, he was primarily on kickoffs, but had a handful of punt returns. Kentucky had a good running attack, but struggled with quarterback play and as the their top receiver, Law was used extensively in the short passing game to get the ball into his hands.
Built like a running back and kind of used that way. ’Bama often lined him up in the backfield and Kentucky used him on a vast number of long handoffs (quick screens, touch pass sweeps, and reverses). Good patience and vision behind blocks and quickly gets into second gear. Not a dancer, with stop/start and lateral agility, like an outside zone running back, he sees a crease and explodes. His cuts are at speed. Route running will need polish, but in what can gleaned off his film, he very quick in/out of his breaks in short/mid routes and cuts sharply on posts and corners. Appears to have very good hands and is a willing. physical blocker.
Jacob DeJesus – California 5’ 7” 170 lb.
With no offers out of high school, DeJesus starred for two seasons at the JUCO level and bumped up to UNLV as a junior for two seasons. In his first, he led the nation in combined kick return yardage. For his final season, he bumped up again. this time to Cal. For the Bears, he caught 108 passes for 1000+ yards. His total all-purpose yards for three D1 seasons was 4,278.
Twitchy short area agility and burst, DeJesus is a natural open-field runner with loose, swivelly hips. Darting stops, starts, and cuts. Has more power than you would think, runs behind his pads with low leverage. Not just a return man. Shows good hands and catches away from his body, Cal lined him up all over the field and used him a lot on short routes, quickly getting him the ball to playmake, but he settles into soft spots in zones, as well and is very physical in contested catches.
Who’s the best choice?
Depends on what you like, I guess. They all have interesting traits that make them viable candidates. They all have one thing in common, explosive speed. I have them all rated from mid-Round 6 to Preffered Free Agent. Are there any others I missed?
(@bgrisakTST) January 19, 2026
(@prospectgrader) 
