ESPN Combine Primer

[Risen Star]

Which prospect is going to dominate his combine workout?

Reid: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound defensive playmaker could test in the upper tier at nearly every event this week. For starters, expect Gonzalez to run in the high-4.3s or low-4.4s in the 40-yard dash, and he could surpass 40 inches in the vertical jump. This cornerback group has mixed grades and little consensus from evaluators, but if Gonzalez's workout meets these high expectations in Indy, he could cement himself as a top-10 pick. He is currently ranked as my CB1.

Kiper: That is a great pick, Jordan. There has been some buzz among people I trust in the league that Gonzalez is going to test extremely well. We could see him solidify his spot as the top corner, edging Devon Witherspoon (Illinois) and Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State). One other corner to watch, though, is Maryland's Deonte Banks, who could run in the low-4.3s in the 40-yard dash. Don't be surprised if he nails down a Round 1 grade.

Miller: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson. He will put on a show -- one comparable to what eventual No. 1 pick Travon Walker did in 2022. Murphy, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, is expected by scouts to run the 40-yard dash in the high-4.5s range with a vertical jump over 35 inches and broad jump over 10 feet. And if he chooses to test in the bench press, it's believed he will rep 225 pounds "roughly 25 times," according to a pre-combine trainer who has observed Murphy working out. With rare burst, power and agility, Murphy is currently my No. 2 defensive end and No. 6 overall prospect in this class.


Which prospect has the most riding on his workout?

Reid: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State. After a sensational 2021 sophomore season that included more than 1,600 receiving yards, expectations were high for him coming into 2022. But a nagging hamstring injury limited the wideout to five catches over three games. How healthy is that hamstring now? There are some questions about his true speed, so this is a big opportunity for JSN, who is still very much in the WR1 race.

Kiper: Andre Carter II, OLB, Army. We really need to see more from Carter. After a 15.5-sack season in 2021, he was on his way to being a first-round pick. His tape was phenomenal. But then Carter disappointed last season, putting up three sacks while becoming the focus of every opponent's game plan. He was just OK during Senior Bowl practices last month, too -- he didn't dominate. Carter needs to be in the top 25% at his position in the athletic testing, or he could drop to Round 3 or 4. Right now, he's my seventh-ranked outside linebacker.

Miller: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson. A former five-star recruit, Bresee has dealt with injuries and the death of his younger sister over his final two seasons at Clemson. He suffered a torn left ACL in 2021 and missed a game with a kidney infection in 2022. And from a production standpoint, he managed five sacks and 31 pressures over that time. Bresee is talented but lacked snap to his game this past year following an offseason largely spent rehabbing his knee. A good workout can get him back in the top 20 conversation, but the early-Day 1 hype he had coming into the season has largely disappeared. Bresee is ranked No. 29 overall on my board right now.

 

[Risen Star]

What are you watching for from the quarterback group?

Kiper: I'll be watching three things closely here:

-Bryce Young's weight. It matters -- this is a tough league, and there isn't much history of success for NFL passers weighing under 200 pounds. The bar I've set is 195. If Young weighs 195 or more in Indy, I'll feel much better about him. If the Alabama quarterback under that number, execs and coaches are going to worry more.

-C.J. Stroud's 40-yard dash. Some teams have Stroud as their top quarterback in this class, but there's some question about how the Ohio State QB will test. He's not going to set any records, but it will hurt him if he runs one of the slowest times among the signal-callers.

-Anthony Richardson's accuracy. All eyes will be on Richardson's session on Saturday. The Florida passer will be throwing against air, so he has to make every throw count.


Which QB has the best chance to rise?

Reid: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA. I was impressed with DTR during the all-star game circuit, when he had a strong week at the East-West Shrine Game. He now has an opportunity to build on that in Indianapolis. We should expect him to run well in the 40-yard dash, but I also think his arm strength, footwork and accuracy will stand out during the throwing portions of Saturday's workout. Thompson-Robinson is currently my QB6 with a fourth-round grade and one of my favorite Day 3 options at the position.


What is the most important key to a good week for Richardson?

Miller: While defense-less combine drills won't allow Richardson to answer too many questions about his decision-making when under pressure, he can show better ball placement. And he can prove that his accuracy and mechanics are improving as he focuses on the draft process. Remember Josh Allen wowing us all with his throws against no defenders at the 2018 combine? Richardson can do the same and begin what I think will be a climb up draft boards.

Interviews will no doubt be important for Richardson, too, and I've heard he is interviewing very well. One AFC scout told me Richardson might not make it out of the top five picks.


Which quarterback will everyone be talking about after Saturday night's workouts?

Reid: Will Levis, Kentucky. His physical traits are outstanding. Levis has high-level arm strength and great size at 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds. In this controlled setting, his ball velocity will stand out and look different from that of his counterparts. Scouts will be paying close attention to his lower half and footwork, which played a part in his turnover woes at Kentucky. But my QB4 has the traits to really pop during his workout.

 

[Risen Star]

How could Will Anderson Jr. cement himself as the top defender on the board?

Kiper: Anderson's ability to explode off the line of scrimmage stands out on tape; he's a menace off the edge. But if the Alabama outside linebacker puts up elite numbers in the drills that show explosiveness -- the 10-yard split for the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump and others -- it's going to help his stock. Anderson is not a bender in the mold of Von Miller, though, so there is at least a little bit of a question of how well he'll test.

The other side of that is that defensive tackle Jalen Carter (Georgia) returned to the combine Thursday morning after his arrest on charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a crash that killed a teammate and a recruiting staff member. Carter is expected to meet with teams and go through measurements, but this is a very serious incident with big questions about what's next for my top-ranked prospect in this class.


Name a few burners who will light up the 40-yard dash.

Miller: This is a really fast class, so I could list a ton of names here. Here are four certified burners -- two from each side of the ball -- who could run in the 4.2s: Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott, Michigan cornerback DJ Turner and Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

I'm also excited to see Hyatt showcase that unreal speed in the pass-catching parts of Saturday's workout, hauling in deep shots from the big-armed quarterbacks. It might be the most intriguing prospect-drill combination for the whole week. He has the ability to stretch the field with his speed and tracks the ball exceptionally well over the shoulder, while also being physical at the catch point.


Who's medical reports will teams be paying close attention to in Indy?

Reid: I already mentioned Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who dealt with a hamstring injury all season. His medical will of course be really important. But two edge rushers also stand out here.

-Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson made a meteoric rise up draft boards this year, but his 2022 season was cut short after breaking a foot bone. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound pass-rusher opted for surgery and won't run in Indy, but teams will be interested in how that foot is healing. Wilson (my No. 7 prospect) is preparing for his pro day on March 29.

-Georgia's Nolan Smith tore his right pectoral muscle in October, limiting him to eight games. He missed the rest of the season, but he is planning to do all combine events except the bench press. Scouts will also be paying close attention to his weight; he's listed at 235 pounds, but many would like to see him in the 240-245 range.

 

[Risen Star]

What's the best piece of buzz you've heard heading into the combine?

Miller: There continues to be serious talk among NFL personnel people that Will Levis could be the first quarterback off the board, depending on which team ultimately ends up with the first overall pick should the Chicago Bears make a trade. Levis had an up-and-down season (19 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions), but his arm talent, mobility and toughness are boosting his draft stock. Many evaluators believe that he was held back a bit by multiple coordinator changes at Kentucky, too.

Kiper: Some people around the league are very lukewarm on the receivers in this class, while others think there could be five first-rounders. They all have flaws, though. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off a big injury. Zay Flowers (Boston College) lacks ideal size at 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds. Quentin Johnston (TCU) has a few too many drops and has been inconsistent. Jalin Hyatt needs to get a lot stronger. Jordan Addison (USC) is really lean at 175 pounds. This is a big week to see how the WR class will shake out.

Reid: Don't be surprised if Georgia's Broderick Jones is the first offensive tackle off of the board despite just 15 career starts. There's a debate over whether Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) is better suited at guard or tackle, and opinions are mixed on the long-term upside of Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) at the position. But Jones' 6-foot-4, 310-pound frame, ability to mirror and match pass-rushers and his physicality as a run-blocker are all intriguing to NFL scouts. He has immediate-starter traits and plenty of room for growth, including improving his pad level.


Give us your best prediction for combine week.

Kiper: If you read my mock draft earlier this week, you probably have a feeling which way I'm leaning here. My prediction is that the combine sets the table for Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald IV to be drafted higher than Tyree Wilson. I'm a big fan of McDonald's tape -- I projected him at No. 8 to Atlanta -- and as Jordan mentioned, Wilson's foot injury means his ability to work out for teams before the draft will be limited.

Reid: This cornerback class is going to have some ridiculous testing numbers. I mentioned Christian Gonzalez as a potential workout warrior, but Georgia's Kelee Ringo, Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. and Maryland's Deonte Banks should also really dominate the on-field drills. Friday night will be a lot of fun. I also think Minnesota corner Terell Smith could surprise some folks. He should run well and is already generating some Day 3 buzz.

Miller: The wide receiver class is not widely loved by the draft media and NFL personnel departments, but that will change after the combine, once evaluators get a closer look at some of these underclassmen. Players such as Jordan Addison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have the agility, balance and technique that seniors like Quentin Johnston and Zay Flowers can't match. This won't ever be compared to the great receiver drafts of the past few years, but I expect we'll see the consensus start to push the top two or three wideouts up the board after Indianapolis.