ESPN Combine Day 3 Review

[Risen Star]

DAY 3: QUARTERBACKS, WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT ENDS

Notables who did not work out: Bryce Young, Dalton Kincaid

What's your biggest takeaway from Saturday's workouts?

Miller: The last time we saw Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba at a neutral site, it was during the 2022 Rose Bowl -- and the two combined for 15 catches, 347 yards and three touchdowns. It's fitting, then, that both Stroud and Smith-Njigba looked phenomenal at Lucas Oil Stadium during workouts on Saturday.

Stroud displayed once again why he was among the best in the nation over the past two seasons, with smooth accuracy to every level of the field. One scout texted me that Stroud's workout was the best throwing session he has seen since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the combine in 2021. And Smith-Njigba, who missed all but three games in 2022 with a hamstring injury, answered questions about his health and reminded people that he is still the smooth, crisp route runner whom Stroud went to early and often in that Rose Bowl performance.

Reid: Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson's draft stock has officially exploded! After posting the best combine numbers for quarterbacks in the vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-9) since 2006, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. That is tied for the fourth-fastest time for a QB since 2006. Then Richardson -- my QB3 right now -- showed explosive arm strength in the throwing portions of the workout. His biggest question marks are still the accuracy and consistency, and many of his flaws are centered around faulty footwork, which results in passes being off the mark at times. The right landing spot and then some patience will be crucial for Richardson's development, but he looks destined for the top 10.

Biggest risers from Day 3

Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma: Mims ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds while also recording a 39.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 broad jump. That explosiveness is seen throughout his tape, as he is one of the most dangerous downfield targets in this entire draft class (20.1 yards per reception last season). Mims didn't attack the short to intermediate areas during his final season with the Sooners, but he showed comfort there in Indy during the on-field drills. He exhibited strong hands and quick transitions in his routes. Mims is likely to be a popular late-Day 2 target for teams looking to accumulate more explosive playmakers. -- Reid

Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia: Bennett put on an impressive showing on Saturday. At 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, he ran a very strong 4.67-second run in the 40-yard dash to start the buzz on an overall solid workout, and he then was masterful in throwing the deep ball with timing and velocity. He also showed the arm strength to drive the ball to the boundary on numerous throws. Though he is thought to be a late-rounder or an undrafted free agent, I see Bennett's talent better suited to the middle of Day 3. Showing more velocity on his throws than expected should definitely help his stock. Bennett wasn't asked to make many advanced throws in the Georgia scheme, which led to assumptions about his pro-level ability, but he proved he has some solid arm talent and mobility. -- Miller

Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina: One of the more impressive performances of the day came from Downs, whose ability to change gears and sink his weight in and out of his routes was evident. His strong hands really popped, and his routes were very crisp with little wasted movement. Wide receivers ran routes from the slot and the outside during drills, and Downs showed comfort from all alignments and caught the ball well on each route run. He registered 94 receptions for 1,029 yards and 11 TDs in 2022, and he is viewed as a second-round pick by many scouts. -- Reid

Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia: After 62 catches for 675 yards and seven TDs in 2022, Ford-Wheaton started the pre-draft process with a great week of work at the East-West Shrine Bowl, which had scouts buzzing. He then doubled down with a great combine workout, standing out in agility and position drills. Scouts were texting me during the workout about his 41-inch vertical jump at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. He also notched a 10-foot-9 broad jump and put an exclamation mark on his day with a 4.38-second run in the 40. Those numbers at that height and weight are comparable to those of DK Metcalf, for context. Ford-Wheaton came to Indy as an early-Day 3 prospect -- in a draft class featuring mostly smaller receivers in the top three rounds -- but he could rise into the top 100 picks. -- Miller

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia: The massive tight end prospect measured at 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds and ran the 40 in 4.64 seconds. That is a terrific number for him considering speed was one of the biggest questions around his evaluation. An experienced blocker, Washington has been used as in-line talent, but he also is an underrated pass-catcher. And Washington looked smooth going through the gauntlet drill. With his polish as a run-blocker and with steady improvement as a pass-catcher, it's hard to see him making it out of the top 50. Washington has a unique build and versatility, so he should be an instant contributor in the NFL. -- Reid

 

[Risen Star]

How other top prospects fared on Day 3

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State: Stroud doesn't have size questions like Bryce Young or the ball placement/ turnover concerns that plague Will Levis and Anthony Richardson. Stroud is just really solid all around as a quarterback, even if his game hasn't generated as much buzz as the other three signal-callers. It should, though. Stroud is the prettiest passer of the entire quarterback group and a Day 1 starter in the pros. As one scout told me, Stroud is "so good it's boring." His throwing session definitely wasn't boring, though, as he demonstrated the touch, timing and ball placement that rank as the best of the QB group. -- Miller

Will Levis, QB, Kentucky: Levis said he was ready to show off his arm strength at the combine, and he appeared to be the best of the first group of passers. This was my first time seeing the likely top-five pick throw up close, and the ball comes out of his hand with so much velocity. His accuracy remained sporadic -- a major concern following last season -- and his development will hinge on creating more consistency with his lower body. That was the underlying reason behind many of his 23 interceptions over the past two seasons. Many evaluators feel like his flaws are correctable and that he can return to his 2021 form, when he had a breakout season. -- Reid

Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida: Not only did he break QB records for the vertical jump and broad jump and set a ridiculous 4.43 time in the 40-yard dash, Richardson sprayed the ball all over the field with improved accuracy during throwing drills. Richardson wasn't perfect, and you can see he still is working to make his improved footwork a habit as he throws different routes, but his accuracy to all areas of the field was markedly better than what we saw at Florida. He needed to come in and hit the underneath and intermediate throws that troubled him in college, and he largely did that. Richardson also had fans at Lucas Oil Stadium cheering with three absolute dimes on deep throws. It might feel reactionary to say Richardson won the combine, but for a player who needed to show improvement and development in his mechanics, this was a good day. And now he has ignited a conversation about his placement in this quarterback class. -- Miller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: Despite not running the 40-yard dash, Smith-Njigba looked terrific. He didn't show any signs of the lingering hamstring injury that limited him to three games last season. A precise route runner, JSN just looked different than his counterparts, displaying short-area quickness and detail on his patterns. His 6.57-second three-cone and 3.93-second short shuttle times were outstanding. The highlight of his workout came during the gauntlet drill, when Smith-Njigba flew through it with smooth hands. He looked the part of WR1 on Saturday. The biggest remaining questions for him are his true straight-line speed and whether he can play outside of the slot. He is expected to run the 40-yard dash at the Buckeyes' pro day on March 22, and many scouts will have their stopwatches ready to go. -- Reid

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU: Johnston didn't run the 40-yard dash after jumping 40.5 inches in the vertical and 11-foot-2 in the broad jump, but scouts in attendance weren't waiting to see Johnston run or jump. They wanted to see him catch the football after six drops last season. Johnston looked more comfortable and confident attacking the football with his hands during positional drills, though he did have one drop on a deep route in which he attempted to turn before securing the football. Overall, he didn't let the ball get too far into his chest or body. Johnston is a talented deep threat and a big-play target at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, and he is in play to be the top receiver in the class. -- Miller

Jordan Addison, WR, USC: After recording an unofficial 4.55-second time in his first run through the 40-yard dash, Addison returned to run a 4.49 on his second try. That second-run speed matches what he showed on tape. At 5-foot-11 and 173 pounds, he has a slender frame and undoubtedly will need to gain more weight at the next level, but he wins with quick movements and great body control. Those traits were on display during the on-field drills, where Addison had plenty of standout moments. He is a sudden mover with instant change-of-direction skills to complement above-average hand-eye coordination. Addison is my WR2 at the moment and is projected in Round 1. -- Reid

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame: The NFL combine is not the ideal event for a tight end like Mayer to showcase his talents. He isn't particularly straight-line fast, and he isn't particularly explosive with first-step burst. He is strong and physical and a nasty run-blocker, though. Mayer's testing times won't impress you; he ran a 4.70 in the 40-yard dash and had a TE-low 10-yard split at 1.66-seconds. He also jumped just 32.5 inches in the vertical and had a sub-10-foot broad jump. Again, this isn't his event. But Mayer showed off his value in the sled drill, in which tight ends must approach a blocking sled in a three-point stance and drive block it (simulating a run-blocking play). His technique, power and ability to drive the weighted-down sled was the best of the group. Teams looking for the next Kyle Pitts won't want Mayer, but those seeking a personnel package-fluid player who will dominate in the ground game and become a red zone threat will value his ability in the first round. -- Miller

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College: After a strong performance in the sole practice he participated in at the East-West Shrine Bowl, Flowers came out strong at the combine. Measuring in at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, he is a smaller receiver but plays much bigger than his size indicates. Flowers is a fast mover who puts a lot of stress on the technique of defensive backs because of how quickly he can put them on their heels. He displayed strong hands and was smooth through the gauntlet drill, showing little wasted motion when transitioning from the catch process to gaining yards upfield. Flowers is projected in the Nos. 25 to 35 range, but he could be picked higher because of his dynamic skill set. -- Reid

 

[Risen Star]

More notes, thoughts and things we heard and saw from Day 3 of workouts

Reid:

-Tennessee wideout Jalin Hyatt had a strong start to the day, posting a 40.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-3 broad jump, but the rest of his workout was inconsistent. Many scouts I talked to were a little surprised by the 4.40-second time in the 40-yard dash; that's fast, but Hyatt plays much faster. He has unique in-game speed and is able to race past defenders with ease, and that ability to create separation on vertical routes was evident more during the route portions of the session. Hyatt was unable to finish the workout, and his right hamstring was wrapped in ice during the final drill.

-Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry quietly put together a very solid workout from start to finish. Measuring at 6-foot-3½ and 198 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds. That's an outstanding time for a bigger wideout, and Perry didn't seem to be that fast on tape. His ball production and output remained steady throughout his collegiate career, and he exceeded a lot of scouting expectations for his combine outing, as he exploded to a 35-inch vertical leap and an 11-foot-1 broad jump. Perry was graded as an early-Day 3 player prior to the combine, but he now has a very strong chance to sneak inside my top 100.

Miller:

-Alabama quarterback Bryce Young opted not to work out at the combine, but he was still the talk of Indianapolis all week, as his height and weight measurements were heavily anticipated. He was listed at 6 feet tall and 194 pounds in college but measured in at 5-foot-10⅛ inches and 204 pounds, with 9¾-inch hands. That's a win for the undersized prospect who could be the No. 1 overall pick. Young has now shown teams his frame can hold more bulk, but all eyes will turn to his Alabama pro day on March 23 to see how well he moves and throws if he maintains this weight.

-Both Anthony Richardson and Darnell Washington had amazing workouts and are truly unique prospects. But we have to set expectations that both are works in progress as prospects. Richardson has to continue to develop his lower-body mechanics and make those a habit. And Washington, after catching just 45 passes in college, is still a very raw route runner and pass-catcher. The tools are there for both to become top-tier NFL players, but expectations in Year 1 should be based on each player's development and not on immediate production. The future is exciting for each player, and NFL teams will base the draft value of Richardson and Washington on where they will be in Year 2 of their careers versus where they are right now.

 

[Pass2Run]

Josh Downs could be the biggest steal of the draft. But Mims is interesting. I haven't looked at his game much. I just think Downs will be a nice player in the NFL.

 

[Beaker42]

How other top prospects fared on Day 3

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College: After a strong performance in the sole practice he participated in at the East-West Shrine Bowl, Flowers came out strong at the combine. Measuring in at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, he is a smaller receiver but plays much bigger than his size indicates. Flowers is a fast mover who puts a lot of stress on the technique of defensive backs because of how quickly he can put them on their heels. He displayed strong hands and was smooth through the gauntlet drill, showing little wasted motion when transitioning from the catch process to gaining yards upfield. Flowers is projected in the Nos. 25 to 35 range, but he could be picked higher because of his dynamic skill set. -- Reid

Zay Flowers reminds me A TON of Steve Smith. That little dude was basically uncoverable for that stretch of what seemed like 5 seasons.

 

[Pass2Run]

 

[LatinMind]

DAY 3: QUARTERBACKS, WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT ENDS

Notables who did not work out: Bryce Young, Dalton Kincaid

What's your biggest takeaway from Saturday's workouts?

Miller: The last time we saw Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba at a neutral site, it was during the 2022 Rose Bowl -- and the two combined for 15 catches, 347 yards and three touchdowns. It's fitting, then, that both Stroud and Smith-Njigba looked phenomenal at Lucas Oil Stadium during workouts on Saturday.

Stroud displayed once again why he was among the best in the nation over the past two seasons, with smooth accuracy to every level of the field. One scout texted me that Stroud's workout was the best throwing session he has seen since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the combine in 2021. And Smith-Njigba, who missed all but three games in 2022 with a hamstring injury, answered questions about his health and reminded people that he is still the smooth, crisp route runner whom Stroud went to early and often in that Rose Bowl performance.

Reid: Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson's draft stock has officially exploded! After posting the best combine numbers for quarterbacks in the vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-9) since 2006, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. That is tied for the fourth-fastest time for a QB since 2006. Then Richardson -- my QB3 right now -- showed explosive arm strength in the throwing portions of the workout. His biggest question marks are still the accuracy and consistency, and many of his flaws are centered around faulty footwork, which results in passes being off the mark at times. The right landing spot and then some patience will be crucial for Richardson's development, but he looks destined for the top 10.

Biggest risers from Day 3

Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma: Mims ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds while also recording a 39.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 broad jump. That explosiveness is seen throughout his tape, as he is one of the most dangerous downfield targets in this entire draft class (20.1 yards per reception last season). Mims didn't attack the short to intermediate areas during his final season with the Sooners, but he showed comfort there in Indy during the on-field drills. He exhibited strong hands and quick transitions in his routes. Mims is likely to be a popular late-Day 2 target for teams looking to accumulate more explosive playmakers. -- Reid

Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia: Bennett put on an impressive showing on Saturday. At 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, he ran a very strong 4.67-second run in the 40-yard dash to start the buzz on an overall solid workout, and he then was masterful in throwing the deep ball with timing and velocity. He also showed the arm strength to drive the ball to the boundary on numerous throws. Though he is thought to be a late-rounder or an undrafted free agent, I see Bennett's talent better suited to the middle of Day 3. Showing more velocity on his throws than expected should definitely help his stock. Bennett wasn't asked to make many advanced throws in the Georgia scheme, which led to assumptions about his pro-level ability, but he proved he has some solid arm talent and mobility. -- Miller

Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina: One of the more impressive performances of the day came from Downs, whose ability to change gears and sink his weight in and out of his routes was evident. His strong hands really popped, and his routes were very crisp with little wasted movement. Wide receivers ran routes from the slot and the outside during drills, and Downs showed comfort from all alignments and caught the ball well on each route run. He registered 94 receptions for 1,029 yards and 11 TDs in 2022, and he is viewed as a second-round pick by many scouts. -- Reid

Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia: After 62 catches for 675 yards and seven TDs in 2022, Ford-Wheaton started the pre-draft process with a great week of work at the East-West Shrine Bowl, which had scouts buzzing. He then doubled down with a great combine workout, standing out in agility and position drills. Scouts were texting me during the workout about his 41-inch vertical jump at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. He also notched a 10-foot-9 broad jump and put an exclamation mark on his day with a 4.38-second run in the 40. Those numbers at that height and weight are comparable to those of DK Metcalf, for context. Ford-Wheaton came to Indy as an early-Day 3 prospect -- in a draft class featuring mostly smaller receivers in the top three rounds -- but he could rise into the top 100 picks. -- Miller

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia: The massive tight end prospect measured at 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds and ran the 40 in 4.64 seconds. That is a terrific number for him considering speed was one of the biggest questions around his evaluation. An experienced blocker, Washington has been used as in-line talent, but he also is an underrated pass-catcher. And Washington looked smooth going through the gauntlet drill. With his polish as a run-blocker and with steady improvement as a pass-catcher, it's hard to see him making it out of the top 50. Washington has a unique build and versatility, so he should be an instant contributor in the NFL. -- Reid

Lol whoa Stroud had the best workout since 2021, 1 whole yr.oooooo