INDIANAPOLIS — The 2024 NFL Draft cycle has actually been active for several months, dating back to last offseason when teams set their initial boards. But in fact, the most important step between the end of the college football season and the draft happens over the weekend, as 321 prospects head out for the annual NFL Scouting Combine.
Which players have done the most for themselves? Our draft team Dane Brugler, Nick Baumgardner and Diante Lee discuss the top ones…
1. The projected top three quarterbacks (Caleb Williams, Derek Meyer and Jaden Daniels) all missed live practices. Did someone else in that position move the needle in some way?
Dane Brugler: It’s a boring answer, but nothing happened at the combine that would really drastically change my opinion of these quarterbacks. I set up at the 30-yard line and got a good look at every throw – nothing too surprising.
The seven-step slide and pocket movement drill is especially interesting for understanding a player’s mobility on the field and how the ball slips out of his hands, which I thought Michigan State’s JJ McCarthy did well. You’d have to go back five years to find a quarterback with a better three-cone time at the combine than his 6.82-second time.
Nick Baumgardner: We saw great performances from McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. Some of McCarthy’s shaky pitches, such as a center fielder and an out to left, showed up on tape Saturday. But his long-range shooting (and mid-range shooting) is mainly based on money. He also hit 61 mph on the radar gun, trailing only Tennessee’s Joe Milton (62 mph), and the three-cone speed is a testament to his athletic skills.
Those drills helped establish that McCarthy was better athletically than Knicks, who was better than Penix. Teams in need of a quarterback with outside picks No. 1-3 are looking for reasons to draft in the top half of the first round based on McCarthy’s size, age and athletic traits. It’s hard to argue that he gave them a reason not to.
Highlights from @UMichFootball QB @jjmccarthy09throwing session #NFL Combine! pic.twitter.com/Afq5B3NQx3
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024
Dianette Lee: I wouldn’t say it “helped” per se, but I enjoyed the Penix throwing drills. His timing and accuracy are basically on point. There are other quarterbacks who clearly target the ball or throw late/inside to ensure completions, so it’s nice to see one keep it clean and worry-free while working with new faces.
I’m usually the quarterback’s broom, though, so I wouldn’t mind being that guy again. I don’t think anyone expected Sam Hartman to break out at the combine, but you can see a very clear difference between his arm talent and a player I expected to be drafted in the top 100 or 150. His resume is still good enough to get drafted and he could carve out a career like Nick Mullens, but it does stand out looking at how he compares to others.
deeper
Russini: What I heard at the NFL combine about Bears, Kirk Cousins and more
deeper
Drake Meyer or Jaden Daniels?Which movie showcases two of the top quarterback prospects in the draft?
2. The receivers put on a great show, highlighted by Xavier Worthy’s record-breaking 4.21-second 40. Call the shots, post-combination: How many WRs will go in the first round?
use: The record for first-round receivers is seven (2004), and I think we’ll tie that record in April.One of the reasons I don’t guess more Beyond seven, I think a few teams will draft offensive lineman (since those positions aren’t as deep) and wait for receivers — a loaded group that will stretch into the second, third and beyond.
I’m obsessed with this question, though: Who will be the first Texas receiver drafted after Saturday’s practice? Adonai Mitchell has athletic X traits; Worthy is the fastest player in combine history. Be prepared to debate.
Official: 4.21
Xavier Worthy holds new 40-yard dash record pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
Baumgardner: I would cheat and say five to seven. Of course, with the top three (Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabors and Roman Otunze) plus Brian Thomas Jr. and Mitchell, I wouldn’t rule out a team falling in love with Georgia’s Ladd McConkey or Worthy — though the latter’s size is still a question. But what about by the end of the third round? At least 20.
Some people seemed disappointed in Keon Coleman after he ran a 4.62, but I would caution everyone not to panic too much. Coleman’s 10-yard split (1.54 seconds) was solid, and most importantly, his field testing looked smooth. Coleman’s challenge drill was cleaner and faster than Oregon’s Troy Franklin, who ran a 40 in 4.41.
Coleman’s size, explosiveness and body control remain a very interesting combination. Remember: Puka Nacua ran a 4.57 40 last year (a 1.62 point differential).
plum: I’d put that number at 6.5, and I think it will depend on how the NFL feels about speedy prospects like Franklin and Worthy. Both are lightweight but explosive (those are understatements for Worthy), and both have worrisome shooting issues that expose their ball-handling abilities. There’s also good reason to doubt these guys can make the necessary improvements to their route running to win from start to finish.
But some teams at the end of the first round (Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas City) will be looking to add immediate offense.
deeper
What did we learn from teams with top-10 picks at the NFL Combine?
3. Which defensive rookie impressed you the most?
use: At defensive tackle, Florida State’s Braden Fiske crushed testing, ranking in the 94th percentile in the weight-adjusted 40-yard dash (4.78 seconds). Somehow, his positional drills are even more impressive. He wasn’t a good fit for every scheme due to his size, but he solidified himself in the second round for those teams that considered him. Texas’ Byron Murphy II follows suit and reinforces why many believe he is the top prospect at DT this year.
Among rushers, Alabama’s Dallas Turner showed why he’s the favorite to be the first defensive player selected. He has a rare wingspan and his explosiveness was evident in both testing (4.47-second 40, 40.5-inch vertical) and position drills. The word “freak” may be overused, but there may not be a player in this draft more deserving than him — and seeing him up close only confirms that status. Houston Christian’s Jarix Hunter is another pass rusher who moves a little differently than the others. With his long arms and explosive pace, he dominated hoop drills. Hunter’s recording showed that the competition was in the final rounds, but that a top-100 finish was possible.
In the secondary, my top cornerbacks Tyrion Arnold and Quinnen Mitchell confirm (in my opinion) that they should be the first cornerbacks drafted. One of my personal favorite rookies is Kentucky’s Andrew Phillips, who has a loose and bouncy movement and comes into every drill with more energy than anyone else – and he reinforces my belief that he should Became a top 75 pick. South Dakota’s Myles Harden was considered a late-round pick this week, but his arrow was pointing upward after practice.
Among safeties, Utah’s Cole Bishop is the best player I’ve ever seen. Not only did he test well, but his speed translated to positional drills. In the absence of a clear top player, his athletic versatility will stand out in the safety class.
Baumgardner: Fiske excelled at just about everything he did Thursday. His 4.37 shuttle is elite and his vertical is 33 1/2 inches. On the course, Fisk is typically the fastest and smoothest turner against the bag. He’s a small DT, but athletically he’s on par with Michigan’s Kris Jenkins and Clemson’s Rook Ohohoro — two of the best in the group.
Michigan State talked a lot last week about having 18 players at the combine. However, only one Wolverines skill position player played in every test: DB Mike Sainristil, an All-American and two-time team captain. He’s undersized (5-foot-9, 182), but he met or exceeded expectations in nearly every test, showing good speed, explosiveness and agility (and made 14 backup snaps). Not that I would have predicted this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sean Ristill was the first Michigan guard drafted.
plum: Chop Robinson showed up and did everything he set his sights on, finishing second in the 40m (4.48) and sprint (4.25), while also finishing second in the 10 yard split (1.54) and broad jump (10 ft. 8 m) tied for first place in the competition. inches). His learning curve will be steep as an NFL running back, but he should be tied with or ahead of others who are pure pass rushers.
did @PennStateFball What has been your biggest impression so far with EDGE Chop Robinson at the combine?
📺： #NFL Combine continues today at 3pm ET on NFL Network
📱: Live broadcast #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LiHYCq9vOl— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2024
Thane Riis is not only athletic but also very competitive. He ran a sub-4.5 40, had a vertical jump of 40 inches, a wide jump of nearly 11 feet, and met the necessary thresholds for the agility test. Teams should be excited about the kind of slot defender he becomes.
I’m also more interested in Murphy and Jenkins after this week. Their explosiveness is impressive, and both men may carry more weight during the season than they brought to Indianapolis. I’m confident in their ceiling as a versatile defensive tackle.
4. In addition to the O-line names we hear most often (Olu Fashanu, Joe Alt, Jackson Powers-Johnson, etc.), please introduce us to one or two prospects you’re working on after Sunday’s game. exercise.
use: If I were making a list of my draft picks, Washington’s Troy Fortanu would probably be the first name I write down. Sure, Penix and the Huskies’ receivers created fireworks, but the real highlight was Fortanu’s movement skills on the pin-pulling block. He excelled in every position drill at the combine (wave, passing mirror, short pull and long pull). He’s one of the best offensive linemen in this draft and a lock to be picked in the top 25.
Likewise, it was love at first sight when I watched Amarius Mims (ranked #5 on my Top 50 of August) last summer. He didn’t disappoint this weekend. At 6-7 3/4, 340 inches tall and with 36-inch arms, he looks like he was built in a lab and has barely any fat on his body. He’s the most intriguing player in the draft because his traits are off the charts, but his work just isn’t there (eight career starts).
deeper
NFL Mock Draft: Our college football writers plan first round
Baumgardner: There are actually many. This is a loaded category.
Wisconsin center Tanner Bortolini came into the combine with a reputation as a top athlete, and he delivered. The former Badger — a 6-3 center with 31 5/8-inch arms and a 305 frame — ran a 4.99 40 with a 1.69 earned run average. He also had a 32 1/2-inch vertical and moved very well throughout the workout, as expected. Another guy people will want to keep an eye on long-term is TCU guard Brandon Coleman, who is having a solid workout (4.99 40, 1.73 splits, 34-inch vertical, 9-foot-6 broad jump).
Overall, it was a good day for the top tackle. Fortanu, Tyler Guyton and Mims all looked impressive moving around. Former South Dakota State teammates Garrett Greenfield and Mason McCormick are also very solid prospects.
plum: People know Mims, but I’m worried he’s increasingly being overlooked as a first-round pick. He almost finished with a sub-5.0 40-yard dash and has shown incredible strength and foot speed in his limited time as a starter. He needs time to develop, but the potential is amazing.
There will be quite a few players with the potential to play multiple positions in the NFL, which is a big advantage for those who don’t plan to start right away. One of them is Coleman, who worked the interior at the Senior Bowl and has held his own from the inside out throughout his career. I like his hands and anchor, and testing this week showed his lower body explosiveness is there.
Washington’s Roger Rosengarten is an interesting swing tackle prospect. For a lighter guy, he’s smooth and strong at right tackle. He leads all offensive linemen in 40 snaps (4.92), and those athletic skills are evident when you watch him play. He needs to add some weight to his body, but I’m hoping someone in the Shanahan tree can take it and develop him.
deeper
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Trades change first round; QB, WR dominate early
(Top photo of Michael Penix Jr.: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
