The combine drills officially began last night with TEs, WRs, and QBs taking the stage. For a while there it appeared we had 12 players run under 4.4 in the 40 with 3 people under 4.3 and one player, Tyquan Thornton of Baylor, running a 4.21 to break the combine record. As the official results came in, a lot of those numbers came back to earth and we finished the night with 8 prospects running under 4.4 with only Tyquan under 4.3 (4.28 official, not the combine record). We also saw quite a few impressive numbers come from the QB and TE group. Here are 5 prospects that really stood out last night:
- Christian Watson: I’d be silly not to start here. The fan base is enamored with Watson and rightfully so. He has some impressive film and showed good speed to go with a 6’4″ frame. Last night, he ran a 4.36 to go with a 38.5″ and an 11’4″ broad jump. All of which were top 6 on the night with the broad jump taking the top spot. While Watson showed on film good athleticism, he was playing on the FCS level making his combine performance very important for his draft stock. If he had come out and performed middle of the pack, people would not take him seriously as a prospect. Watson did the exact opposite. He showed ELITE level athleticism putting up numbers that compare to some historically freakish athletes like Calvin Johnson, DK Metcalf, and Chase Claypool. To put up the numbers he did at his size has likely cemented him as a 2nd round pick where he was previously considered a 4th round talent before. Knowing how teams like to take a gamble on athleticism, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in round 1.
- Daniel Bellinger: I know what you’re thinking… who?! Bellinger is a Tight End out of San Diego State, he has been considered to be a top tier blocking tight end in this years draft but hasn’t been given the credit he deserves as a pass catcher. His college production was limited (31-347-2 his last year) but that was a result of playing for a team ranked 110th in the nation in pass attempts. Amongst the TE group, he had the 4th best 40 with a very solid 4.63, the 4th best vertical, the best broad jump, 2nd best bench, and the 4th best 3 cone drill. He showed a complete balance of speed, burst, and agility at the combine. Perhaps the most impressive part of his numbers is that those ahead of him in the speed/burst drills are considered to be the athletic pass catching tight ends. Bellingers’ stock reminds me a lot of Kittle. He is a very reliable pass catcher with great athleticism but played in a run heavy offense causing teams to consider him a blocking tight end. Kittle is on a much higher level then Bellinger, but this is a guy I fell in love with as a prospect yesterday and has incredible upside to be an all around TE.
- Alec Pierce: Here’s another WR who increased his draft stock last night. Pierce is a 6’3″ 211lb WR out of Cincinnati. He was a stud in college, but similar to Watkins, there are questions about the competition he played. The combine answers a lot of those questions, it is an even playing field and a great chance for smaller school players to show where they belong. Pierce ran a 4.41 40, had a 40.5 inch vert(!) to lead all WRs, and was 5th in the 3 cone drill. Pierce showed great speed and agility to go along with his tall frame and great production in college. I believe he answered any and all questions about how his game will translate to the NFL.
- Desmond Riddler: I promise you, I am not a fan of the University of Cincinnati. It became very clear last night how Cincy was able to be the first group of 5 team to make the college football playoffs. Riddler had an incredible night for a QB! He ran 4.52, had a 36 inch vert, and would be the 9th highest ranked receiver in terms of the broad jump. The athleticism he showcased at the combine was truly special for the QB position and puts him in the upper echelon of all time QB combine performances. When you watch Riddlers film, you see a player with a lot of tools but lacks consistency. He makes a lot of NFL level throws but also has some plays that are head scratching. While the combine isn’t a place that typically helps QBs a lot, I believe Riddler just gave himself a chance to do what Jalen Hurts did 2 years ago. With his level of athleticism and ability to make the throws needed at the NFL level, a team is going to be willing to spend a high draft pick on him to develop him. If you can run the way Riddler can, you can win games without being an elite passer and NFL teams are starting to catch on to this.
- Treylon Burks: Alright, this one isn’t related so much to how he performed but more to what he said and how he backed it up. Treylon Burks is a WR out of Arkansas that finished first team all SEC this year. He made headlines by commenting on how he feels Deebo Samual is changing the game and that Burks watches a ton of his film and tries to model his game after Deebo. Yeah, that is all I needed to hear from a prospect to fall in love. He didn’t have any eye popping numbers, he ran a 4.55, a 10’2″ broad jump, and had a 33 inch vert. But in comparison, Deebo had a 4.48 40, a 10’2″ broad jump, but a much higher vert at 39 inches. They compare decently in terms of athletic profile but Burks carries 10 more pounds on his frame then Deebo. What Burks really did in my opinion is establish that he has the right mindset to be a killer in the NFL and did enough at the combine to show he can make plays.
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