2025 NFL Draft Profile: Xavier Restrepo (Fantasy Football)

Xavier Restrepo is a fifth-year senior WR from the University of Miami. His rise to becoming Miami’s top receiver wasn’t instant; his first three years were special teams grunt work. Then 2023 hit, and boom, 84 catches, 1,092 yards, and Restrepo was Miami’s new go-to guy. He kept the party going in 2024, piling up enough receptions and yards to pass Hurricanes legends like Michael Irvin and Andre Johnson on the career charts. Speed and size? Not his game. But smarts, slick routes, and pure reliability? That’s Restrepo—a high-floor dude with a shot to stick in dynasty leagues if the stars align. Let’s dig into his profile and determine what he needs to stay relevant on our rosters.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Rookie Profile series going on until the 2025 NFL Draft. For more on each rookie, check out Andy, Mike, and Jason’s exclusive rookie rankings and production profiles found only in the Dynasty Pass, part of the UDK+ for 2025.

College Production Profile

Restrepo’s early years were quiet—barely a peep as a freshman in 2020, then a foot injury tanked most of 2022. But 2023 was his glow-up. He became Miami’s top target with a program-best 85 receptions and 1,092 yards. In 2024, Restrepo, paired with transfer QB Cam Ward, posted 69 receptions for 1,127 yards and 11 TDs over 12 games. He earned consensus First Team ACC honors and a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist nod after becoming the first WR in school history to notch consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Six 100-yard games in ‘24, too. Not a blazer or a deep threat, Restrepo thrived in the slot. He is dependable with his smooth route running and twitchy moves to shake defenders—a total grinder who gets it done.

Measurables

Xavier Restrepo’s measurables aren’t going to wow anybody. He’s 5’10”, 198 pounds with short arms, and ran a clunky 4.83 at his Pro Day (tight hamstring; he says he’s normally in the 4.5s). Either way, you’re not drafting him to win a track meet. He’s built more like a scrappy slot tank than a boundary burner. He definitely looked slow and couldn’t quite keep up with the throws at the Combine. Being short, stocky, and slow are all red flags for NFL teams on draft day that will probably hurt his draft capital.

Xavier Restrepo: 4.83 at 5’10”, 209 lbs

Ty Robinson (DT): 4.83 at 6’5″, 288 lbs

Jared Wilson (Center): 4.84 at 6’3″, 310 lbs

He’s a slot WR who wins with good understanding of zone coverage, so he’s not really a ‘game breaker’ type anyway but this is #bad

— Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) March 25, 2025

What’s On Tape

Games Watched: Texas A&M (2023), Duke (2024), VA Tech (2024), and Louisville (2024)

1. Strong IQ

Restrepo’s football IQ jumps off the screen. He’s got this sixth sense for sniffing out gaps in zones. It’s as if he’s reading the defense’s playbook. That awareness—combined with sharp route timing and the ability to adjust on the fly—is why he’s so productive. He knows exactly where to be and when to be there. His spatial awareness and ability to adjust mid-play are pure beauty.

3rd TD catch of the game by #DeerfieldBeach HS (FL) alum & #Miami #Hurricanes WR Xavier Restrepo (@XavierRestrepo1) vs #Duke

Restrepo becomes the #Canes All-Time Leader in catches and yards pic.twitter.com/GKrmVqUX3i

— Sleeper Athletes (@SleeperAth1etes) November 2, 2024

 

2. YAC

This dude turns dinky passes into chain movers. He slips arm tackles, fights for yards, and forced 14 missed tackles in 2023 alone. Restrepo plays with an edge, running with aggression, finishing through contact, and squeezing out extra yards on every play. One standout moment came during the 2024 Miami game: he cut inside, hit the brakes, spun a defender, and kept churning. Nasty.

3. Strong Hands/Ball Skills

Check his tape against Virginia Tech—laid out flat, snagging the ball like it’s nothing. Last year, 95 targets with only two drops. His catch rate ranked 7th in his class. He’s just got hands you can trust.

4. Route Running

Restrepo’s route-running is where he truly sets himself apart. His short-area quickness makes defenders dance at the top of routes, combining sharp cuts, subtle tempo shifts, and just enough wiggle to win inside leverage and separate cleanly. He doesn’t rely on raw speed; he wins with precision and timing. Restrepo doesn’t make many mistakes and is always where he’s supposed to be.

Miami WR Xavier Restrepo is a route technician pic.twitter.com/LfZTlAiZs0

— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) January 29, 2025

What’s Not On Tape

1. Explosiveness/Speed

Restrepo ran a 4.83 at his Pro Day and later said he suffered from hamstring tightness before he tested. Injury or not, his 40 time lines up with what you see on film. He doesn’t have that extra gear to separate. Restrepo has some short-area quickness and can shake a defender with his routes and timing, but he’s not blowing by anyone.

2. One-Dimensional

His lack of athleticism forces him into the slot, making him very one-dimensional. He doesn’t have the size or wingspan to handle the outside, where bigger corners can mess him up if he doesn’t get off the line quickly. Blocking? Not his strong suit either, thanks to his smaller frame. He did get some special teams action early in college, which might bump up his draft value a bit. Hustling on special teams could be his ticket to more NFL chances.

Fantasy Outlook

Restrepo’s probably a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick—third or fourth round—depending on how much teams ding him for that Pro Day stumble. His fantasy outlook hinges heavily on his landing spot. He’s got Christian Kirk vibes—steady, not flashy, just a knack for finding space and racking up 60-80 catches a year. Some folks float Ladd McConkey as a comp, but Ladd is way thinner and has more speed.

Best-case upside? He lands in a system that feeds him targets and turns him into a Khalil Shakir type—think 70 catches, 900 yards, and 5-7 TDs in a good year. Low end? Elijah Moore, where the talent flashes, but the situation never quite lets him eat—40-50 catches and stuck in WR3 purgatory. Restrepo’s not a “create your own production” guy. He needs volume. He’s not climbing the ladder to WR1 stardom, but in the right spot, he’s a steady WR3 with WR2 upside—perfect for PPR dynasty managers who love a reliable floor. The Baller’s have him ranked as WR12 in this class—he would’ve ranked higher in past years, but this crop’s not exactly stacked.