Draft season technically kicks off when the all-star games come around (or when your favorite team is eliminated from playoff contention), but it kicks into high gear with the start of the NFL Scouting Combine. As the week progresses, we will take a look at players who may have made positive or negative impressions on teams by the end of each day. On Thursday, Defensive Linemen and Linebackers were measured, and Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, and Quarterbacks did agility testing and on-field drills. Because of a scheduling change that has moved position drills to evenings, the daily stock reports will post one day after the actual events.
QUARTERBACKS
STOCK UP:
Justin Herbert, from Oregon, tested well and made confident throws with good velocity and a smooth throwing motion. Combining his height, 10-inch hands, 4.68 second 40, and 35.5 vertical leap with a great day of throwing helped him cement his standing as a top QB in this class.
Utah State's Jordan Love looked like an extremely talented natural thrower in drills, with his pliant throwing arm and velocity drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. After a disappointing 2019 season, Love was considered a fringe 1st round pick. After Thursday's workout, he's reportedly getting top 10 buzz.
Tua Tagovailoa, from Alabama, did not compete in any drills, but the medical examination of his recovery from hip surgery was reportedly very positive. As long as his April rechecks go just as well, he should be on course to go early in the top 5.
STOCK DOWN:
Joe Burrow, the likely first overall selection from LSU, didn't hurt himself much at the Combine, but he didn't do much to help himself. By choosing not to throw yesterday, he allowed his substandard hand size to be the primary discussion about his combine.
Hawaii's Cole McDonald tested well, but his throwing motion was not received well. He showed a big windup that led him to begin his throwing motion with a nearly fully extended right arm, which could go a long way to explain his velocity and accuracy issues.
WIDE RECEIVERS
STOCK UP:
Chase Claypool, from Notre Dame, put on a show yesterday, testing well enough in agility drills to convince teams he can stay at receiver with his added bulk or become a matchup nightmare as a Tight End. His 4.42 40 at 6'4 1/4" and 238 pounds had him receiving comparisons to Calvin Johnson.
Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb strengthened his claim as the top receiver in the draft. Although he didn't perform extraordinarily well in testing, he was easily the smoothest, most natural prospect on the field during receiver drills.
LSU's Justin Jefferson might have made the most money of any receivers at the Combine. He was already regarded as a great route runner with natural hands, but there were questions about his long speed. His 4.42 40 answered those questions, pushing him way up draft boards.
Denzel Mims, from Baylor, might rival Jefferson for increasing his draft stock the most at the Combine. Mims made spectacular catches outside of his frame throughout his college career, but his outstanding testing through all drills caught all of the attention yesterday. Running a 4.4 40 at 6'3" turned some heads, but turning in a 6.66 second 3-cone drill was shocking, as that mark was the best by a receiver by a wide margin.
STOCK DOWN:
Jalen Reagor, from TCU, had a disappointing day of testing. With commentators theorizing that he had added too much bulk to his frame, he turned in a disappointing 4.47-second 40 and a disastrous 7.31 second 3-cone. Although he was a top-2 performer in both jumps, the poor agility and acceleration testing will likely secure his status as a Day 2 prospect.
K.J. Hamler, from Penn State, didn't hurt himself directly on Thursday, but the hamstring injury that prevented him from testing ensured that his small stature was the main news about him at the Combine. He will run at his pro day, but teams tend to be less trusting of pro day results.
TIGHT ENDS
STOCK UP:
Notre Dame's Cole Kmet ran a 4.74-second 40 which, combined with his great measurements and the soft hands and natural movement skills in drills, cemented his place as the best in-line Tight End in the draft.
STOCK DOWN:
Thaddeus Moss, from LSU, could not participate in drills because his medical examination revealed a Jones fracture in his right foot. While he should be recovered well before training camp, he missed an opportunity to display his athleticism to teams.
Washington's Hunter Bryant probably wishes he had a Jones fracture. At his size, he needed to test well to present himself as an athletic move Tight End. His 4.74-second 40 and 32 ½-inch vertical would have been decent measurements for a larger in-line Tight End, but did little to distinguish Bryant among a group of athletic slot Tight Ends.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
STOCK UP:
Jeffrey Okuda, from Ohio State, looks like the perfect Cornerback. At 6'1 1/8" and 205 pounds, with 32 5/8-inch arms, he is the ideal body type for any defensive scheme.
Another Cornerback, Michael Ojemudia, from Iowa, measured in at 6'0 5/8", 200 pounds, with 32 1/4-inch arms, confirming the length he appears to play with on the field.
Small-school Safety Kyle Duggar, from Lenoir-Rhyne, looked like a beast. At 6'0 7/8" and 217 pounds, with 32 7/8-inch arms, he has the mass to play in the box and the length to make plays on the ball in coverage. He just needs to run well this weekend.
STOCK DOWN:
Ohio State's Damon Arnette measured in just under 6 feet tall, but his 30-inch arms will push him down the board for teams whose defensive scheme calls for longer, more physical corners.
Myles Bryant, from Washington, was just plain tiny. At 5'7 7/8" and 183 pounds, with 29 ½-inch arms, he is almost certain to be drafted as a Nickel Cornerback. Nickel Cornerbacks tend to be drafted later than outside corners.
Those are my impressions from Thursday at the Combine. See you tomorrow for some quick analysis of agility tests and on-field drills for Offensive Linemen and Running Backs!
