The NFL Combine is an honored tradition in the League, hosting the majority of college football’s best players in Indiana to produce their best physical performances and increase their draft stock.
While an invitation to the Combine is not requisite for success in the League, (see: Doug Baldwin, Malcolm Butler, Julian Edelman, Chris Harris, Tyreek Hill, Phillip Lindsay) it does provide a window of opportunity to distinguish a player from the competition. Increasing his prospective rank in the draft and consequently, his starting salary for the first four to five years of his career.
Certain players, like D.K. Metcalf and Kyler Murray, garnered a great deal of interest over the weekend. Murray’s height, 5’10” and 1/8, considered an integral feature of a successful quarterback, secured him a position of confidence entering the draft.
D.K. Metcalf, a wide receiver from Ole Miss, dominated the 40 yard dash at 4.33 and the vertical jump at 40.5 inches. With over 300 players traveling to Lucas Oil Stadium, the performances of a diversely talented Combine class are starting to give shape to the 2019 Draft Class.
The NFL designates certain scouts to “grade” the prospect as it relates to their position, body composition, and performance, with a scale as follows:
GRADE
9.00-10 Once-in-lifetime player
8.00-8.99 Perennial All-Pro
7.50-7.99 Future All-Pro
7.00-7.49 Pro Bowl-caliber player
6.50-6.99 Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player
6.00-6.49 Should become instant starter
5.50-5.99 Chance to become NFL starter
5.20-5.49 NFL backup or special teams potential
5.01-5.19 Better-than-average chance to make NFL roster
5.00 50-50 Chance to make NFL roster
4.75-4.99 Should be in an NFL training camp
4.50-4.74 Chance to be in an NFL training camp
NO GRADE Likely needs time in developmental league
Players rarely receive higher than a 7.0, but in the last decade, Julius Peppers, Andrew Luck, Ndamukong Suh, Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas were all ranked at the “Pro Bowl caliber player” status, and rightly so.
The 6.8-6.9 rating features players like Patrick Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Peterson, Von Miller, Julio Jones, Myles Garrett, Jalen Ramsey, Khalil Mack and Luke Kuechly. So, while a diatribe against the prospect scale certainly exists, its correlation with success is indisputable.
Here are twenty players you should know from Combine weekend:
Josh Allen
Edge Rusher, Kentucky
Prospect Grade: 6.70 “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”
6’5”, 262 Lbs, 33.5” wing span, 8.75” hand size
4.63 40 Yard Dash, 28 Reps at Bench Press, 118” Broad Jump, 7.15 second 3 Cone Drill, 4.23 20 Yard Shuttle
Quinnen Williams
Defensive Lineman, Alabama
Prospect Grade: 6.70 “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”
6’3”, 303 Lbs, 33.25 wingspan, 9.625” handsize
4.83 40 Yard Dash, 30.5” Vertical Jump, 112” Broad Jump
Jeffery Simmons
Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State
Prospect Grade: 6.62, “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”
6’4”, 301 Lbs
*Not invited to Combine because of past history of violence against women
Nick Bosa
Defensive Lineman, Ohio State
6’4”, 266 Lbs, 33” wingspan, 10.75 hand size
Prospect Grade: 6.52, “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”
4.79 40 Yard Dash, 29 Reps at Bench Press, 33.5” Vertical Jump, 116” Broad Jump, 7.1 seconds in 3 Cone Drill, 4.14 in 20 Yard Shuttle
Rashan Gary
Defensive Lineman, Michigan
Prospect Grade: 6.37 “Instant Starter”
6’4”, 227 Lbs, 3.125” wing span, 9.625” hand size
4.58 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 26 Reps at Bench Press, 38” Vertical Jump, 120” Broad Jump, 7.26 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.29 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle
T.J. Hockenson
Tight End, Iowa
Prospect Grade: 6.35 “Instant Starter”
6’5”, 251 Lbs, 32.25” wing span, 9.5” hand size
4.7 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 17 Reps at Bench Press, 37.5” Vertical Jump, 123” Broad Jump, 7.02 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.18 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle, 11.55 seconds 60 Yard Shuttle
D.K. Metcalf
Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Prospect Grade: 6.33 “Instant Starter”
6’3”, 228 Lbs, 34.75 wing span, 9.875” hand size
4.33 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 27 Reps at Bench Press, 40.5” Vertical Jump, 134” Broad Jump, 7.38 seconds 30 Cone Drill, 4.5 seconds 40 Yard Shuttle
Montez Sweat
Edge Rusher, Mississippi State
Prospect Grade: 6.32 “Instant Starter”
6’6”, 260 pounds, 35.75” wing span, 10.5” hand size
4.41 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 21 Reps at Bench Press, 36” Vertical Jump, 125” Broad Jump, 7 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.29 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle
Josh Jacobs
Running Back, Alabama
Prospect Grade: 6.31 “Instant Starter”
5’10”, 220 Lbs, 31.625” wing span, 10.125” hand size
*Did not participate in drills
Jonah Williams
Offensive Lineman, Alabama
Prospect Grade: 6.3 “Instant Starter”
6’4”, 302 lbs, 33.625” wing span, 10.125” hand size
5.12 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 23 Reps at Bench Press, 28” Vertical Jump, 100” Broad Jump, 8.01 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.79 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle
Ed Oliver
Defensive Lineman, Houston
Prospect Grade: 6.26 “Instant Starter”
6’2”, 287 lbs, 31.75 wingspan, 9.25 hand size
32 Reps at Bench Press, 36” Vertical Jump, 120” Broad Jump
Dwayne Haskins
Quarterback, Ohio State
Prospect Grade: 6.25, “Instant Starter”
6’3”, 231 lbs, 33.5” wingspan, 9.625” hand size
5.04 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 28.5 Vertical Jump
Kyler Murray
Quarterback, Oklahoma
Prospect Grade: 6.24, “Instant Starter”
5’10”, 207 lbs, 28.5” wingspan, 9.5” hand size
*Did not participate in drills
Greedy Williams
Cornerback, LSU
Prospect Grade: 6.21 “Instant Starter”
6’2”, 185 Lbs, 31.5” wingspan, 9.25 hand size
4.37 seconds 40 Yard Dash
Dexter Lawrence
Defensive Lineman, Clemson
Prospect Grade: 6.17 “Instant Starter”
6’4”, 342 lbs, 34.75” wingspan, 10.5” hand size
5.05 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 36 Reps at Bench Press
Deandre Baker
Defensive Back, Georgia
Prospect Grade: 6.15 “Instant Starter”
5’11”, 193 lbs, 32” wingspan, 9” hand size
4.52 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 14 Reps at Bench Press, 118″ Broad Jump
Clelin Ferrell
Edge Rusher, Clemson
Prospect Grade: 6.13 “Instant Starter”
6’4”, 264 lbs, 34.125 wingspan, 10.5” hand size
25 Reps at Bench Press, 7.26 second 3 Cone Drill, 4.4 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle, 12.07 seconds 60 Yard Shuttle
Paris Campbell
Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Prospect Grade: 6.11 “Instant Starter”
6’0, 205 lbs, 32.25” wing span, 9.5” hand size
4.31 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 11 Reps at Bench Press, 40” Vertical Jump, 135” Broad Jump, 4.03 20 Yard Shuttle
A.J. Brown
Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Prospect Grade: 6.08 “Instant Starter”
6’0”, 226 lbs, 32.875” wing span, 9.75 hand size
4.49 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 19 Reps at Bench Press, 36.5” Vertical Jump, 120” Broad Jump
Drew Lock
Quarterback, Missouri
Prospect Grade: 6.05, “Instant Starter”
6’4”, 228 lbs, 32.5” wingspan, 9” hand size
4.69 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 31” Vertical Jump, 112” Broad Jump, 7.03 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.12 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle
You can learn more about this year’s Combine class here
