Zachariah Branch Grows on Former NFL Scout

It wasn’t until I was 10 games into my film study that I saw it.

Wide receiver Zachariah Branch would be perfect for Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Why him?

He’s the most instinctual quarterback in the NFL, and Branch is one of the most instinctual route runners I’ve ever evaluated.

Yahtzee.

Mahomes is not dependent upon the traditional three⎯five⎯or seven-step dropbacks that have shaped timing routes between quarterbacks and their receivers for decades in the NFL.

No, he is such an instinctual thrower that his feet can just freelance it.

How about Branch, who transferred from USC to Georgia on Jan. 5?

What’s so special about him?

He does NOT run a traditional receiver route tree from yesteryear. Yet, he still often gets to the spot where the ball is being thrown to.

Tell me more about that instinctual route running

It was fun to watch.

Branch is a slot (inside) receiver by trade, and he has some of that “Swiss-Army knife” feel to him.

His route running is unpredictable.

Branch sometimes will start running a route, completely stop for a good moment or two, and then boom, restart. I can’t say I’ve seen that before.

Then there were the plays he lined up in tighter to the line of scrimmage pre-snap and “hid in a block” before leaking out for a catch after the defense lost track of him.

Keep in mind ⎯

Branch has explosive short-area acceleration.

On top of it, he takes a lot of calculated angles with most of his route running while getting to the catch point spot, which keeps cornerbacks guessing about where exactly he’s going.

This creates throwing windows.

Then there are the screen passes when he moves inward toward the quarterback, catches the ball, and then takes off like a shot upfield.

He can also slip behind coverage deep. Granted, almost all of the deep attempts that came his way were overthrown.

How are his hands?

2024:

• 47 receptions
• 78 targets

That’s a catch rate of 60.2%.

YAC

Outside of his route running, Branch’s YAC ability is the second-most dangerous part of his game.

It’s not every time he touches the ball, but it happens enough.

Full disclosure: There were a fair number of times he got stopped dead in his tracks.

What traits can make him tough to deal with after he catches the ball?

• Excellent vision
• Spatial awareness
• Good contact balance
• Shifty
• Determination

Main concern?

I do not like Branch when he’s locked up in press-man coverage (cornerback is up on the receiver pre-snap and shadows him everywhere he goes).

Hence, the reason he’s such a creative route runner.

Fits the NFL’s offensive scripting timeline

Branch excels catching the ball in the short-to-intermediate route level (0-19 yards), and that’s today’s NFL game.

Perfect.

While he’s not a big-time home-run hitter, he does hit his fair share of singles, doubles, and triples.

#1 Zachariah Branch 5-foot-10, 180 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Fall Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a Fourth Round prospect as of November 23, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: LSU, Utah State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, Washington, Nebraska, UCLA, and Notre Dame (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Offensive sparkplug with a knack for getting open. Doesn’t play as fast as advertised. Decent athletic ability. Subbed in and out. Good energy level. Shows some emotion. Excels against off-man and zone coverage—a fairly dependable target. Has some wiggle. Uncommon ability to deceive coverage. Likes to be the safety valve and methodically drift into the flat and shallow in the middle. Sudden. Sometimes front faces for too long and gives away the catch point underneath too soon. Good concentration in traffic. Good natural vertical, but looks inexperienced with 50-50 balls. Sometimes runs out of bounds with the ball too easily. Helps to clear out areas. Competitive and willing blocker with functional playing strength. Can return punts and kicks.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. How does he look vs. man coverage?

2. Deep game?

3. How does he look on 50-50 balls?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.