With the 2025 NFL Draft coming to a close, San José State wide receivers Nick Nash and Justin Lockhart found themselves new homes.
Both receivers went undrafted and shortly signed NFL contracts, with Nash going to the Atlanta Falcons while Lockhart joined the Kansas City Chiefs, according to an SJSU Athletics page.
I was following the draft thoroughly and it took me by surprise how a receiver like Nash did not get drafted.
In the 2024 season, he became the fourth player to earn the Triple Crown in college as he led the country in all receiving categories, according to a Dec. 2, 2024 SJSU Athletics article.
Nash finished the season with 1,382 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns and 104 receptions while also averaging 8.7 receptions and 115.2 yards per game, according to the same webpage.
It is baffling how a football player like Nash, who had a season like he did, wouldn’t get picked in the draft. Earning the Triple Crown makes a strong case for him to be selected.
I strongly believe that NFL teams made a mistake passing on Nash and some teams can use a wide receiver like him, such as the Falcons.
With his breakout season, he also garnered some national attention and was a Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist, according to an SJSU Athletics webpage.
The other two finalists were Colorado Buffaloes standout two-way player Travis Hunter, who was drafted second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then, Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was drafted eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers, according to an ESPN webpage.
This year’s draft left me scratching my head that two of the three finalists were taken in the first round, while Nash, who had the best season for a wide receiver, went undrafted.
There is no way to believe that the majority of receivers selected in the seven rounds are better than Nash. By watching Nash play for SJSU’s football team, he was the heart and soul of that offense and was constantly productive on the field.
He has consistently been a threat to opposing defenses with his catching abilities and reading defensive coverages.
With his large 6-foot-3 frame mainly playing as a slot receiver, he has shown to box out defenders and leap for catches, whether in the endzone or anywhere in the middle of the field.
His understanding of defenses allows him to utilize certain routes to run and make decisions on the field based on defenders' positions.
Besides Nash, Lockhart also had a career year for himself as he set career highs with 53 receptions, 983 receiving yards and 5 receiving touchdowns and was named to the All-Mountain West Second team, according to his SJSU stats page.
He and Nash ranked in the top five in receiving yards in the Mountain West in 2024, according to an ESPN stats page.
From watching Lockhart, I see that he successfully ran past defenses and made adjustments on routes to throw off defenses.
He has also shown to be a deep-ball threat while being able to come up with big plays and tough catches.
In the 2024 season, he was explosive in the big games for the Spartans by recording four 100-yard games this season, totaling six in his career, according to an SJSU athletics webpage.
With Lockhart signing to the Chiefs, he can compete for a roster spot.
A team like Kansas City could use help in the wide receiver position to load up its core and Lockhart could be the one.
In general, time will tell how both their journeys in the professional league will play out.
