Should the Saints draft Ted Hurst?
One of the most impressive prospects during the Senior Bowl has been Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst. He was gaining steam heading into the event, but has consistently made plays and proved he can compete against top competition, thus quickly raising his draft stock. Now, he’s an enticing day-two option that would be an excellent fit in the New Orleans Saints offense.
The Saints are in the market for a wide receiver this offseason. It’s imperative that they give Tyler Shough as many weapons as possible. They have Chris Olave, and he’s outstanding when healthy, but they are lacking outside of that. Devaughn Vele is a great option, but isn’t someone a passing offense can run through. Hurst would be a perfect fit and would give Shough another playmaker for the foreseeable future.
Hurst burst onto the scene this week with a fabulous one-handed contested catch for a touchdown in Monday’s practice. He will be known for this play, but has impressed on several other occasions. He’s consistently created separation and has been a dynamic threat for the American team.
Hurst started his career at Valdosta State for two years before transferring to Georgia State in 2024. He was uber-productive in both of his years with the Panthers, with a combined 127 receptions, 1,960 yards, and 15 touchdowns.
Hurst contains the desired frame for a wide receiver at 6-foot-3, 207 pounds. His weight was viewed as a concern heading into the event, being listed as 195 pounds on Georgia State’s roster, but weighed in 12 points higher and looked more filled out.
Another underrated piece of Hurst’s game is his athleticism. He ranked number 83 on Feldman’s annual Freaks List and reportedly timed a 4.51 40-yard dash. He’s an exceptional deep threat who is dangerous when pressed. He has arguably the best release package in the nation and can gain an advantage right off the snap. Hurst excels at hesitations and sells double moves, which can make the defender bite, allowing him to torch them deep.
The Senior Bowl was pivotal in showing scouts that he can run routes. Georgia State didn’t ask him to run an expansive route tree. He ran mostly go routes or screens in college. Thus far, he’s answered the questions surrounding him and has passed with flying colors. It’s not perfect by any means, he still rounds routes from time-to-time, but it shows potential.
The Senior Bowl is an excellent opportunity for smaller school players to shine and show scouts that they can translate to the NFL. No one has embodied this better than Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst, who is quickly rising up draft boards. He should be a tempting option for the Saints on day two of the NFL Draft.