Racey
Mcmath.
Racey
Mcmath.
LSU· 6'2"· 217 lb· 4.36s 40
"A 6-2, 217-pound LSU boundary receiver with 4.36 speed and only 22 career catches behind Chase, Jefferson and Marshall — a Round-6 special-teams-plus-vertical-X bet where the route tree was the flag."Pre-draft read
Operates as a boundary X-receiver, using his frame and straight-line speed to threaten vertically. Off the line, he leverages his length to manage soft press, quickly closing the cushion. His release package is fundamental, often a slap-and-swim, which is less effective versus a firm jam.
He displays adequate speed adjustments on comebacks but lacks lower-body flexibility for sharp breaks on deep digs or outs under defensive backs in the league. He exhibits functional ball skills over the middle; however, at the boundary, he plants his feet rather than attacking the ball, and his catch radius doesn't fully utilize his physical dimensions. He particularly excels as a perimeter blocker and special teams gunner, often sprinting downfield, defeating vice blocks with length, and finishing plays with strong hands.
Shanahan outside zone attack, a scheme built on perimeter blocking and vertical shots to complement a dominant run game.
Rotational boundary X as a rookie who can threaten safety coverage and provide plus run blocking, with a ceiling as a long-term WR3 in a run-heavy scheme.
A timing-based, high-volume passing offense or an Air Raid system that requires a nuanced route tree and high-level catch volume.
McMath's athletic profile and special teams prowess make him a strong fit for a run-first team looking for a vertical threat and excellent blocking from their perimeter receiver.
Mike Vrabel coaching McMath on perimeter blocking technique
Sideline clip of Vrabel hands-on with McMath's blocking hand placement, showing the perimeter-blocking role the Titans drafted him for.
McMath returns to Titans practice
Practice footage on his return from a hamstring stint — releases off the line, gunner work, and jump-ball reps.
WR drills — curl and comeback breaks
Off-season drill work on curl and comeback breaks, illustrating the base route tree McMath needed to expand at the NFL level.
He projects as a developmental 'X' receiver with a special teams floor, primarily appealing to offenses that prioritize a jumbo boundary role within a run-heavy scheme. His legitimate physical tools, especially his overall size and a 4.36 forty-yard dash, offer a vertical threat that can compensate for a currently undeveloped route tree.
Throughout his four seasons at LSU, he faced significant depth chart competition, which limited his opportunities and target share. Consequently, his college production was minimal, with his most impactful contributions occurring as a perimeter blocker in the run game and on special teams. This usage pattern means his film does not extensively showcase advanced route-running or consistent separation against top-tier defensive backs.
Evaluators recognized his promising athletic profile but noted the significant gap in his statistical output. Consensus placed him as a late-round selection due to the projectable tools, with the understanding that his pathway to an NFL roster would likely be through special teams. The Tennessee Titans selected him 205th overall in the sixth round, aligning with this projection as a high-upside special teams and developmental receiver.
- 01
Elite Long Speed
Elite long speed for his frame, which forces corners to open their hips and provides a legitimate vertical spacing element to the offense.
- 02
Boundary Frame Utilization
Uses his frame and length for a boundary role, offering red-zone target size on slants and fades, winning on back-shoulder throws.
- 03
Special Teams Gunner
Projects immediately as a special teams gunner, using functional length to defeat vice blocks and track the ball downfield effectively.
- 04
Physical Perimeter Blocker
A willing and physical perimeter blocker in the run game, showing strong hands and an above-average finish on cracks and on screens.
- 05
Explosive Lower Body
Possesses an explosive lower body, confirmed by a 34-inch vertical and 124-inch broad jump, supporting jump-ball tracking.
- 01
Minimal Production
Minimal collegiate production, with only 22 catches and 315 yards over four seasons, limiting proof of consistent receiving ability.
- 02
Slivered Route Tree
Exhibits a slivered route tree, predominantly featuring go, comeback, slant, and screen concepts, lacking exposure to complex routes.
- 03
Basic Release Package
Relies on a base release package, defaulting to a slap-and-swim technique that struggles against effective press coverage at the line.
- 04
Limited Catch Radius
His catch radius plays smaller than his frame allows, often planting his feet under the ball and exhibiting body-catching tendencies.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.36sp50
- Vertical
- 34inp50
- Broad jump
- 124inp50
- Three-cone
- 7.38sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.38sp50
- Bench
- —rep
| Yr | Team | G | Rec | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | LSU | 13 | 2 | 42 | 0 |
| 2019 | LSU | 14 | 17 | 285 | 3 |
| 2020 | LSU | 9 | 14 | 195 | 1 |
| Career | — | 36 | 33 | 522 | 4 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Big-bodied, athletically gifted late-round X whose NFL contribution was mostly on teams while the route tree never expanded — the realistic McMath outcome.
Long boundary strider who cashes vertical speed but lives with a narrow route tree — the exact projection if McMath's release work took a step.
Frame-plus-teams special-teams-only sixth-round receiver whose offensive role never materialized — the floor if the hamstring issues and slivered tree both stuck.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Pre-draft context. McMath spent four years in Baton Rouge buried behind an absurd depth chart — Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Terrace Marshall Jr., Racey never got a real target share. His statistical record (22 catches, 315 yards, 3 TDs across four seasons) told you almost nothing, so evaluators leaned on the tools: 6-2, 217, 4.36 forty at the LSU pro day with a 34-inch vertical and a 124-inch broad. He also profiled as an elite gunner on kick coverage. The board consensus was clear — a Round 6 developmental X with a special-teams floor.
NFL fit — Tennessee Titans. The organization took the swing at 205 to feed the core four teams unit. The Titans needed size on the perimeter behind A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, and McMath's frame and blocking willingness fit a run-heavy identity. The role was always going to be gunner first, jumbo perimeter blocker second, dress-day-three-receiver third.
Retrospective. McMath appeared in 14 games as a rookie mostly on teams, but a hamstring stint in 2022 and a preseason IR designation in 2023 stalled any receiver development. Tennessee released him in 2023; brief practice-squad stops in Houston and elsewhere followed without producing a meaningful offensive snap. The tools were real; the route tree, ball skills at contested points, and durability never caught up. A classic teams-only sixth-round outcome — not a bust for the slot, but no offensive payoff either.