Maryland wide receiver Kaden Prather has elevated himself into 50% of a dangerous wideout duo with fellow Terrapin Tai Felton. Here is an early 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report: Kaden Prather, Maryland
Measurables:
- 6’3
- 210 lbs
Player Background:
Kaden Prather committed to West Virginia as an ESPN300 recruit and four-star prospect in the 2021 class. Across 20 games in two years for the Mountaineers, he racked up 676 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 64 grabs. His 52-catch, 501-yard 2022 season initially put him on the map, and Prather entered the NCAA Transfer Portal that offseason. As a four-star transfer, he committed to Maryland in January of 2023.
In his junior season, he set career highs with 666 yards and five touchdowns over 10 games. Prather led the team with 15.9 yards per reception and was a consistent cog in the Terrapins’ offense the entire year. With the departure of senior Jeshaun Jones, he ascended to the team’s second-best target to open the 2024 campaign and has maintained that role.
Accolades:
- 2023 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
- 2024 Phil Steele Preseason Second-Team All-Big Ten
- 2024 Athlon Sports Preseason Third-Team All-Big Ten
Strengths/Pros:
As both a route runner and ball carrier, Prather just glides downfield and operates well in open space. He wastes little time getting downfield and is nuanced in avoiding contact when moving vertically. His body control is impressive at every stage of the play, making routinely acrobatic adjustments on balls thrown outside of his catch radius. His feet are quick and deliberate on his breaks, and his getoff is consistently impressive.
Facing zone coverage, he recognizes open space and sits down comfortably. Against man coverage, his hip turns on comebacks are sharp and create solid separation. He fights through contact well at catch point, and his arm technique to secure the ball on the run is sound. He gains yards after the catch smoothly and works efficiently Prather is also a very willing blocker who isn’t afraid of contact with larger defenders.
Weaknesses/Cons:
Despite his willingness to engage in blocking assignments, he struggles to contain DBs on the outside runs. In his route running, he often tries to get too shoulder-dependent when fighting through contact. His inside-breaking short routes can be too rounded and somewhat sluggish at times as well.
While his sitting down in zone coverage and sharp north-south cuts are a strength, he occasionally telegraphs where he’s going to settle and can cut too quickly, losing central balance. He can also get slightly rigid when working through routes that have multiple change-of-direction movements. On underthrown deep balls, his adjustments leave room for improvement, too. As a ball carrier, his physicality is diminished, and he doesn’t work forward as effectively.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Despite never being his team’s top target, Kaden Prather has all the makings of a solid producer in the NFL with the upside of a fantastic complementary piece. His inside-route running and complex movements need to be improved, but overall, there is a lot to like about him as a prospect. He’s simply a very enjoyable player to watch operate and can be a major piece in a contending offense in the NFL.
Prospect Grade:
- Mid 3rd Round
Film Exposures:
- 2023 vs. Ohio State
- 2023 vs. Michigan
- 2023 vs. Michigan State
Main Image: Tommy Gilligan – USA Today Sports
