Draft Sleeper: Why Elic Ayomanor Has a Chance to Be An All-Time Great
Overreaction? Maybe
I know, you're probably thinking, "Jack, who is this guy?" And if you know who he is, you know he might not even be a top-70 pick. Trust me here—Elic Ayomanor was a beast at Stanford, and he has all the tools to be special at the next level.
Today, I’m going to be writing a not-so-long article, so sorry if you wanted to read a longer piece—but just know, when you scroll down, you’re going to be very interested in what I have to say.
Elic Ayomanor: A Prospect You’ve Probably Barely Heard Of, But One You Should Know
Elic Ayomanor isn't the loudest name in this draft class, but sometimes, it's the quieter profiles that deserve a second look. At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, the Stanford wide receiver checks a lot of the boxes that NFL teams want in a receiver. He's not a top-50 projected pick in this year’s upcoming NFL Draft, but he’s a player that, if used right, can make an immediate impact. Ayomanor might not even be a top-70 pick, but still—you have to look at the guys who are criminally underrated. Guys like Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and even Tyreek Hill were all receivers drafted really late who ended up being some of the league’s best. They had traits NFL teams wanted but the teams didn’t realize in the beginning. I think Ayomanor can be next on that list.
Here Are My Reasons Why:
First, the Stanford receiver didn’t have a season under 830 receiving yards. In 2023, playing his first season with the Cardinal, Ayomanor produced—catching 62 passes for 1,013 yards and 6 touchdowns. What’s impressive about his season is that he averaged 16.3 yards per reception, which is elite. The very next year, Ayomanor had what some might call a “down” season. Sure, he finished with 831 yards while catching 63 passes and finding the endzone 6 times, but he wasn’t as explosive as he was in 2023. Still, Ayomanor played great both years despite inconsistent quarterback play.
Combine Measures
Elic Ayomanor ran a 4.44 forty-yard dash at the Combine, which is solid. Not fantastic, and it doesn’t blow you away, but very, very respectable. To go along with the 40-yard dash, the Canadian had a vertical jump of 38.5 inches and a broad jump of 10’7”. Decent. Not incredible—not something that blows you away, but decent numbers.
What caught my eye, and many others’ eyes, were Ayomanor’s top performances—like his 294-yard game against Colorado in 2023. In this game, he was guarded by none other than the man himself, projected top 2–3 pick Travis Hunter. Crazy. This man—a projected second or third-rounder, put up almost 300 yards against the top cornerback and wide receiver in the country, and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Ayomanor’s route running is something teams should really take a look at. The wideout can create separation and consistently catch footballs. He’s a good receiver for any team—one who can make plays and bounce back from a big injury.
He also plays with a ton of toughness that shows up more often than people realize. He’s not afraid to block and protect his teammates. That kind of strength and unselfishness should be praised more. It doesn’t win you a Heisman, but it gives you the potential to be elite one day.
Now sure, he can improve in many areas, but I’m positive he’ll put in the work. Coming out of high school as a 3-star recruit, Ayomanor was never looked at as “great.” So, he put in the work—and had two fantastic years in Palo Alto.
Will Ayomanor be a WR1 in the NFL right away? No. But I’d bet he can improve and eventually—just maybe—become a top-15 receiver. To the team that selects him: he’s got potential, so use him right and make sure to play him. And to the 31 other teams that don’t select him: you’re making a mistake.
Elic Ayomanor’s name may not be one you think of when talking about the top receivers in this class—but give him a year or two in the right system, and he could be a name talked about a lot in the future.