INDIANAPOLIS — Realistically, the 2024 NFL Draft cycle has been energetic for months, relationship again to when groups set their preliminary boards final offseason. In actuality, although, arguably the most important step between the tip of the school soccer season and the draft occurred over the weekend, as 321 prospects headed to the annual NFL Scouting Mix.
Which gamers did essentially the most to assist themselves? Our draft staff of Dane Brugler, Nick Baumgardner and Diante Lee focus on the standouts …
1. The projected prime three QBs (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels) all sat out on-field exercises. Did anybody else at that place transfer the needle, by hook or by crook?
Dane Brugler: This can be a boring reply, however nothing actually occurred on the sector on the mix that can drastically alter how I view these quarterbacks. I arrange store on the 30-yard line and had view of each throw — there wasn’t something too shocking.
The seven-step rollout and pocket-movement drills are particularly attention-grabbing to get a way of a participant’s on-field mobility and the way the ball comes off his hand, and I assumed Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy had a robust outing. It’s important to return 5 years to discover a quarterback who posted a greater three-cone time on the mix than his 6.82-second mark.
Nick Baumgardner: We noticed some stable performances from McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. Among the throws with which McCarthy was inconsistent Saturday, like intermediate corners and outs to his left, present up on tape. However his deep throws (and center photographs) have been totally on the cash. He additionally hit 61 miles per hour on the radar gun, simply behind Tennessee’s Joe Milton (62 mph), and that three-cone time confirmed his motion expertise.
The drills helped confirm that McCarthy’s a greater athlete than Nix, who’s a greater athlete than Penix. QB-needy groups exterior picks 1-3 are in search of causes to draft McCarthy within the prime half of the primary primarily based on his measurement, age and athletic traits. It’s exhausting to say he gave them a purpose to not.
Highlights from @UMichFootball QB @jjmccarthy09‘s throwing session on the #NFLCombine! pic.twitter.com/Afq5B3NQx3
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024
Diante Lee: I wouldn’t say it “moved the needle,” per se, however I loved Penix’s throwing session. His timing and accuracy have been totally on level. There have been different QBs clearly aiming the ball or throwing late/inside to make sure completions, so it was good to observe a man be clear, with out apprehension, whereas working with new faces.
I’m often the moist blanket with quarterbacks, although, so I don’t thoughts being that man once more. I don’t assume anybody had expectations that Sam Hartman would blow up on the mix, however you’ll be able to see a reasonably clear distinction between his arm expertise and the fellows I’d anticipate to be chosen within the prime 100 or 150. His resume remains to be sufficient to get him drafted, and he can carve out a profession like Nick Mullens, however watching him compared to the others did stand out.
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2. The receivers placed on a present, highlighted by Xavier Worthy’s record-breaking 4.21-second 40. Name your shot, post-combine: What number of WRs will go in Spherical 1?
Brugler: The report for receivers within the first spherical is seven (2004), and I believe we’ll match that in April. One of many causes I’m not guessing extra than seven is I believe a number of groups will go for offensive linemen (as a result of these positions aren’t as deep) and wait on receiver — a loaded group that can stretch into Rounds 2, 3 and past.
I’m fascinated with this query, although: After Saturday’s exercise, who would be the first Texas receiver drafted? Adonai Mitchell has athletic X traits; Worthy is the quickest participant in mix historical past. Prepare for debates.
OFFICIAL: 4.21
XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
Baumgardner: I’ll cheat and say 5 to seven. The highest three (Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze) plus Brian Thomas Jr. and Mitchell, for certain, and I wouldn’t rule out a staff falling in love with Georgia’s Ladd McConkey or maybe Worthy — although the latter’s measurement remains to be a priority. By the tip of Spherical 3, although? No less than 20.
Some folks appeared down on Keon Coleman after he ran a 4.62, however I’d warning in opposition to freaking out an excessive amount of. Coleman’s 10-yard break up (1.54 seconds) was good and, most significantly, his on-field testing appeared easy. Coleman ran a cleaner and quicker gauntlet drill than Oregon’s Troy Franklin, who had a 40 time of 4.41.
Coleman’s measurement, burst and physique management nonetheless make for a really intriguing mixture. Keep in mind: Puka Nacua ran a 4.57 40 (with a 1.62 break up) final yr.
Lee: I’m setting the quantity at 6.5 — and I believe it will likely be determined by what the NFL thinks of speedy prospects like Franklin and Worthy. Each guys are light-weight however explosive (and people are understatements for Worthy), and so they each have regarding points with drops, in ways in which betray their ball-tracking expertise. There are also professional causes to wonder if these guys can add the required refinement to their route working to win on a down-to-down foundation.
However some groups on the finish of Spherical 1 (Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas Metropolis) will be trying so as to add instantaneous offense.
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3. Which defensive prospect(s) impressed you essentially the most?
Brugler: At defensive sort out, Florida State’s Braden Fiske crushed the testing, rating within the 94th percentile in weight-adjusted 40-yard sprint (4.78 seconds). One way or the other, his positional exercise was much more spectacular. He gained’t be a match for each scheme due to his measurement, however he cemented himself within the second spherical for these groups contemplating him. Texas’ Byron Murphy II was a detailed second on the place and strengthened why many imagine he’s the highest DT prospect this yr.
Among the many edge rushers, Alabama’s Dallas Turner confirmed why he’s the favourite to be the primary defensive participant drafted. He has a uncommon wingspan, and his explosiveness was clear, each throughout testing (4.47-second 40, 40.5-inch vertical) and positional drills. The phrase “freak” can get overused, however there may not be a participant on this draft extra deserving — and seeing him transfer up shut solely confirmed that standing. Houston Christian’s Jalyx Hunt is one other go rusher who was transferring just a bit in a different way than everybody else. Together with his lengthy arms and explosive strides, he dominated the ring drill. Hunt’s tape says late rounds, however prime 100 is feasible.
Within the secondary, my top-ranked cornerbacks, Terrion Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell, confirmed (in my eyes) they need to be the primary CBs drafted. Certainly one of my private favourite prospects, Kentucky’s Andru Phillips, was free and springy in his actions and attacked every drill with somewhat further juice than others — he strengthened my perception that he needs to be a top-75 choose. South Dakota’s Myles Harden was thought-about a late-rounder coming into the week, however his arrow is pointing up after his exercises.
Among the many safeties, Utah’s Cole Bishop was the highest performer I noticed. Not solely did he check properly, however his pace translated to the positional drills. His athletic versatility will stand out in a security class with out a clear-cut prime man.
Baumgardner: Fiske was out-of-this-world good Thursday in nearly the whole lot he did. His 4.37 quick shuttle was elite, and he posted a 33 1/2-inch vertical. On the sector, Fiske was routinely the quickest — and smoothest — turning corners in opposition to the baggage. He’s a small DT, however athletically, he’s on par with Michigan’s Kris Jenkins and Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro — two of the most effective within the group.
Michigan talked an terrible lot final week about having 18 guys on the mix. Solely one of many Wolverines’ skill-position guys competed in each check, although: DB Mike Sainristil, an All-American and two-time captain. He’s small (5-9, 182), however he was at or above expectation on almost each check, exhibiting good pace, burst and agility (and placing up 14 bench reps). Not saying I’d predict this, however I gained’t be shocked if Sainristil is the primary Michigan defender chosen.
Lee: Chop Robinson confirmed up and completed the whole lot he got down to do, rating second amongst edges within the 40 (4.48) and quick shuttle (4.25) whereas tying for first within the 10-yard break up (1.54) and broad leap (10 ft, 8 inches). He’s going to have a steep studying curve as an NFL run defender, however he needs to be ranked alongside or forward of others who’re pure pass-rushing commodities.
Did @PennStateFball EDGE Chop Robinson impress you essentially the most to date on the Mix?
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📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LiHYCq9vOl— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2024
Sainristril is simply as athletic as he’s aggressive. He ran a sub-4.5 40, jumped 40 inches within the vertical and almost 11 ft within the broad and met the required thresholds in agility testing. Groups needs to be excited in regards to the type of slot defender he will be.
I’m extra enthused about Murphy and Jenkins after this week, too. Their explosiveness was spectacular, and each guys can in all probability carry extra weight in season than they dropped at Indianapolis. I’m assured of their ceilings as versatile defensive tackles.
4. Past the O-line names we’ve heard about essentially the most (Olu Fashanu, Joe Alt, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and so on.), give us a prospect or two from that group that you simply’re banging the desk for after Sunday’s exercise.
Brugler: If I made an inventory of my draft crushes, Washington’s Troy Fautanu is perhaps the primary identify I’d write down. Certain, Penix and the Huskies receivers created fireworks, however the actual spotlight was Fautanu’s motion expertise on pin-pull blocks. He was excellent in every of the mix’s place drills (wave, pass-pro mirror, short-pull energy and lengthy pull). He is without doubt one of the greatest offensive linemen on this draft and a lock for the highest 25.
Equally, it was love at first sight this previous summer time after I watched Amarius Mims (No. 5 total in my August prime 50). He didn’t disappoint this weekend. At 6-7 3/4, 340 with 36-inch arms, he seems to be like he was inbuilt a lab and has barely any fats on his body. He’s essentially the most fascinating participant within the draft as a result of the traits are off the charts however the physique of labor isn’t there (eight profession begins).
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Baumgardner: There are so much, truly. It’s a loaded class.
Wisconsin middle Tanner Bortolini got here into the mix with a status as a top-notch athlete, and he delivered. The previous Badger — a center-only at 6-3, 305 with 31 5/8-inch arms — ran a 4.99 40 with a 1.69 break up. He additionally registered a 32 1/2-inch vertical and moved very properly all through drills as anticipated. One other man folks must take an extended take a look at is TCU guard Brandon Coleman, who put collectively an awesome exercise (4.99 40 with a 1.73 break up, 34-inch vertical and a 9-foot, 6-inch broad leap).
It was day, basically, for the highest tackles. Fautanu, Tyler Guyton and Mims all appeared spectacular transferring round. Former South Dakota State teammates Garrett Greenfield and Mason McCormick are also very stable prospects.
Lee: Folks learn about Mims, however I’m involved he’s changing into extra of an afterthought among the many first-round prospects. He almost cracked a sub-5.0 40-yard sprint, and he has already flashed unimaginable energy and foot pace in his restricted time as a starter. He wants time to develop, however there’s scary potential.
There might be fairly just a few guys with the potential to play a number of spots within the NFL, and that’s a significant plus for many who don’t mission to be instantaneous starters. One is Coleman, who labored inside on the Senior Bowl and held his personal each inside and outside throughout his profession. I like his palms and anchor, and this week’s testing confirmed the lower-body explosiveness is there.
Washington’s Roger Rosengarten is an attention-grabbing swing-tackle prospect. A lighter man, he’s fluid and powerful for granted sort out. He led all offensive linemen within the 40 (4.92), and people motion expertise are obvious whenever you watch him play. He wants so as to add weight to his body, however I anticipate one of many Shanahan-tree guys to take and develop him.
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(Prime picture of Michael Penix Jr.: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photos)