Malachi Fields

NFL Draft Profile: Malachi Fields

Position: Wide Receiver | School: Notre Dame (via Virginia) | Class: Senior

Height: 6'4" | Weight: 222 lbs | Archetype: Physical / Red Zone Threat

College Career Summary

Malachi Fields transitioned from a "hometown hero" at Virginia to a critical veteran presence for the Fighting Irish in 2025. After a productive tenure in Charlottesville—highlighted by an All-ACC selection and ranking 9th in school history for receiving yards—Fields transferred to Notre Dame seeking a national stage.

His 2025 season in South Bend was a masterclass in efficiency. While his volume was lower than in previous years due to the Irish's balanced offensive approach, his impact per touch skyrocketed, leading the team with a career-high 17.5 yards per reception. Fields proved to be the ultimate "big play" catalyst, often used to ignite drives with deep shots or finish them in high-traffic red zone situations. He finished the year as a consistent starter, providing the size and strength the Notre Dame receiving corps lacked in previous cycles.

Career Stats Highlights

• Receptions: 165 | Receiving Yards: 2,479 | TDs: 16

• 2025 Stats: 36 Rec, 630 Yds, 5 TD

• Drops: Notoriously reliable; maintained a sub-4% drop rate in 2025.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	@ Miami	3 / 48 / 0	B	Solid debut; 26-yard catch set up a crucial scoring drive.
2	vs Texas A&M	5 / 77 / 0	B+	High volume; targeted 11 times against elite SEC corners.
3	vs Purdue	2 / 78 / 1	A	Exploded for a 66-yard TD on the first offensive play.
4	@ Arkansas	3 / 72 / 0	A-	40-yard reception on a fake punt showed game-changing IQ.
5	vs Boise State	4 / 44 / 1	B+	Secured a physical 6-yard TD in a tight window.
6	vs NC State	1 / 20 / 0	C+	Low volume but a vital first-down conversion.
7	vs USC	1 / 9 / 0	C	Limited impact in a game dominated by the run.
9	@ Boston College	2 / 52 / 1	A-	Scored the game's first TD on a 40-yard vertical shot.
10	vs Navy	4 / 97 / 0	A	Deep threat; averaged 24.3 YPC, including a 52-yarder.
11	@ Pittsburgh	7 / 99 / 2	A+	The Apex. Season-highs in yards and TDs; one-handed grab.
12	vs Syracuse	1 / 12 / 0	C	Quiet afternoon; mostly used as a perimeter blocker.
13	@ Stanford	3 / 22 / 0	B-	Gritty performance; converted two third-and-longs.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Leadership: Former captain at Virginia; immediately earned respect at ND for his work ethic.

• Mental Toughness: Successfully returned from a broken foot earlier in his career; high-pressure performer.

• Competitor: Elite. Relishes physical matchups; will drive DBs into the dirt on run blocks.

• Team Player: Praised by Marcus Freeman for his unselfishness and "doing the dirty work."

• Star Power: High. He is a mismatch nightmare that DCs have to account for on every vertical snap.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Height/Weight: 6'4", 222 lbs. (Elite measurements; prototypical NFL X-receiver frame).

• Stamina: High; maintains physical power through all four quarters.

• Durability: Proved his durability by starting all 12 games in 2025.

• Injury History: Broken metatarsal (2022) is in the past; medically clean for two full seasons.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Catching: Elite. Huge catch radius; arguably the best hands-catcher in the 2026 class.

• Route Running: Nuanced for his size; uses his frame to shield defenders at the top of the route.

• Body Control: Strength. Elite ability to track and high-point the ball in mid-air.

• Separation: Wins through strength and leverage rather than pure twitch.

• Release: Efficient; uses "power" releases to discard press corners immediately.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 86/100

• Speed: 4.54 (Estimated). Good long-speed once he builds momentum, but not a "burner."

• Agility: Solid for 220+ lbs; capable of sink-and-drive on in-breaking routes.

• Jumping: Excellent; uses his background as a high-school QB to "feel" the air space and jump at the apex.

• Acceleration: Long-strider; takes a moment to get to top speed but covers ground quickly.

• Break Tackle: Strength. A nightmare to bring down; routinely drags DBs for extra yardage.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Awareness: High; former QB background allows him to see the field through the signal-caller's eyes.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Protypical NFL "X" frame; elite contested-catch ability; physical dominance in the run game; high football IQ and leadership; efficient deep threat (17.5 YPC).

• Weaknesses: Lacks elite lateral twitch/agility; top-end speed is good but not "scary"; can be caught by smaller, quicker corners on underneath "break" routes.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal X-Receiver in a Power-Spread or Vertical-based offense (e.g., Colts, Eagles, Cowboys).

• NFL Comparison: Courtland Sutton / Allen Robinson.

Scout's Final Word

"Malachi Fields is a 'safe' pro prospect with a high floor. You aren't drafting him to run 4.3 or wiggle in the open field; you're drafting him to win the 1-on-1 on 3rd & 8 and bully corners in the red zone. His transfer to Notre Dame proved he can thrive in a pro-style environment against diverse coverages. He is a Day 2 value who could be a team's primary red-zone target for a decade. Projected: Round 3-4"