Hogs Haven takes a look at 2025 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Commanders
Kaden Prather, WR
School: University of Maryland-College Park | Conference: Big Ten
College Experience: Senior | Draft Age: 23 (Week 1)
Height / Weight: 6’3.5”/ 204 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 5th-6th round
Player Comparison: Marquez Valdes-Scantling
College Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Y/G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | Awards |
| 2021* | West Virginia | Big 12 | FR | WR | 12 | 12 | 175 | 14.6 | 0 | 14.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 12 | 175 | 14.6 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | West Virginia | Big 12 | SO | WR | 11 | 52 | 501 | 9.6 | 3 | 45.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 52 | 501 | 9.6 | 3 | ||
| 2023* | Maryland | Big Ten | SO | WR | 13 | 42 | 666 | 15.9 | 5 | 51.2 | 1 | 36 | 36.0 | 0 | 2.8 | 43 | 702 | 16.3 | 5 | |
| 2024 | Maryland | Big Ten | SR | WR | 12 | 56 | 624 | 11.1 | 4 | 52.0 | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 | -0.1 | 57 | 623 | 10.9 | 4 | |
| Career | 48 | 162 | 1966 | 12.1 | 12 | 41.0 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 0 | 0.7 | 164 | 2001 | 12.2 | 12 | |||||
| Maryland (2 Yrs) | 25 | 98 | 1290 | 13.2 | 9 | 51.6 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 0 | 1.4 | 100 | 1325 | 13.3 | 9 | |||||
| West Virginia (2 Yrs) | 23 | 64 | 676 | 10.6 | 3 | 29.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 64 | 676 | 10.6 | 3 | ||||||
Player Overview
Four-star recruit, Montgomery County (MD) native Kaden Prather graduated from Northwest High School (MD) initially committed to the University of West Virginia. He played the first two years there before transferring to Maryland. Since his sophomore season, he has been a consistent weapon, averaging double digits per reception in three of his four seasons.
Kaden Prather is a big-bodied receiver who has enough speed, size, and ball skills to be a downfield playmaker. He possesses explosive release in off-coverage and has shown he is able to stack defenders and get open. Prather also worked on improving his hands for contested catches and limiting his drops. Doubts about Prather’s ability to make it at the next levels stem from him being good in college but not great or elite as reflected in his modest production. Prather needs to improve against press coverage and show teams he can run more than shallow cross, and low-percentage deep routes. Kaden needs developmental refinement to have a career as an NFL receiver but he has enough traits and skills to be drafted middle of Day 3. He projects best as a rotational deep threat receiver.
Kaden Prather was a participant in the East-West Shrine Game and was invited to the Washington Commanders’ local Pro Day.
Montgomery County Native Kaden Prather Showcases Talent at Washington Commanders’ Local Pro Day
Click below for full article.https://t.co/joeKdofAQk
— The MoCoShow (MCS) (@TheMoCoShow) April 10, 2025
List of Washington’s local pro day workout. Tai Felton on the list (Ashburn/Maryland). Virginia safety Jonas Sanker attended as well. pic.twitter.com/Ymjfn0sNKe
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 8, 2025
Awards & Recognition
- East-West Shrine Participant (2025)
Metrics
Kaden Prather is a WR prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 7.68 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 887 out of 3815 WR from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/Yo6mApeItR pic.twitter.com/O3IPIk4n23
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 13, 2025
Strengths
- Good vertical ability. Combines linear speed and a stutter step mid-route to help get separation.
- Wins contested catches.
- Good stamina, hardly needed to be subbed out.
- Good body size and length.
- Physical fighting through defenders.
Weaknesses
- Could play better against physical press corners.
- Doesn’t have great-elite production nor play speed.
- Struggles to be effective in short yardage situations.
- Tight hips make changing directions awkward.
- Primarily ran shallow crosses and harder downfield routes.
Let’s See His Work
Kaden Prather slot fade pic.twitter.com/E66gopg0Fv
— Mike Kash (@FFMikeKash) February 1, 2025
Will be keeping an eye on Maryland WR Kaden Prather this draft cycle due to his Maryland-Bowman-Still connection and performances in front of Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter when facing Michigan.
vs some unknown corner in this class pic.twitter.com/HZOgmLGNfw
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) January 15, 2025
Interviews
How Will He Fit On The Team
The offense is at its best when it is able to take shots downfield. According to ESPN, the Washington Commanders had 58(43-regular season, 13-postseason) receiving plays of 20+ yards receiving. Sixteen of those came from the departing duo of Dyami Brown(11) and Olamide Zaccheaus(5) throughout the regular and postseason. Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown(4 big plays) should help fill in the blank. Washington can further fill the big-play gap with the selection of Kaden Prather. Prather has the size and relative speed to carve out a rotational role on the team. If he is able to get open on single coverage or find the soft zone, Jayden Daniels will likely find him and toss a few deep throws his way. Prather’s trajectory with Washington will depend on how often he makes the best of those opportunities. Whether in the short- or long-term, Washington can benefit from having plenty of big and fast big-play receivers like Prather.