Born in Ashburn, VA, Tai Felton is a former three-star recruit who played high school football at Stone Bridge High School. He spent all four years of college at the University of Maryland. In his first three years, Felton caught passes from Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, younger brother of Tua. In 2021, Felton played in eight games as a reserve. He showed flashes in 2022 when he played in all 13 games with six starts. 2023 was Felton’s breakout year, as he finished third-team All-Big Ten Conference. That season, he led Maryland with six receiving touchdowns and started in all 13 games.
Finally, Felton’s senior season in 2024 turned out to be his best, as he finished third-team AP All-American and first-team All-Big Ten. He was a team captain and led the Terps with 1,124 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Felton started all 12 games and tied for fourth in the FBS with a school-record 96 catches.
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Tai Felton Measurables and Combine Results
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 183 lbs
Arm: 30″
Hand: 9″
40-Yard Dash: 4.37 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.51 seconds
Vertical Jump: 39.5″
Broad Jump: 10’10”
Strengths:
Took many targets in 2024 without flinching
Uses high-step stutter moves at the break point
Has a great separation burst from route stem (his best skill)
Gets moving before short catches and tracks deep ball over his shoulder with confidence
Builds up elite-timed speed in the open field after catch
Weaknesses:
Not reliable against strong press corners
While in space, he fails to adjust his routes and avoid contact in coverage
Frequently bullied by defenders at the catch point, leaving him without the ball
Somewhat inefficient when he runs a route that ventures beyond 10 yards
Not much of a blocker
NFL Comparison: Jalen McMillan
Teams With Need at Position: San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals
Projection: Round 3
Bottom Line on Tai Felton
Tai Felton is a tall, slender wide receiver who could contribute to NFL offenses as a slot receiver. He has the potential to develop into a starting Z-receiver in the right system. Felton’s 4.3 speed shows that he can get by defenders and make them miss. He can also be helpful on third-down conversions with his crafty route stems and sharp breaks. Watching his tape, Felton proved to be a highlight for Mike Locksley’s Maryland offense for the past few years.
However, while Felton has his strengths, he is certainly not without his flaws. His late-career production spike appears to be more a function of target volume than projectable talent. Felton will also likely struggle against tight press and physical man coverage in the pros. Evidence shows that he can does not reel in contested catches at a high rate. Due to his lack of strength, he rarely owns the catch space while contested against defenders. Felton’s weaknesses show that he mostly has the potential to be a backup in the NFL, but there would be time to grow.
In terms of his draft status, Felton is a projected Day 2/Round 3 selection. Teams like the 49ers, Packers, and Bengals are known for timing-based passing games and could use a receiver like Felton. His slot/separation abilities could certainly help quarterbacks like Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, and Joe Burrow. After all, Maryland has been known for having wide receivers who translate well into the NFL.
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