Risen Star
Likes Collector
- Messages
- 89,411
- Reaction score
- 212,317
insider/story/_/page/combine17xmeltoddpreview/kiper-mcshay-2017-nfl-combine-preview
1. Which prospect could run the fastest 40-yard dash?
Kiper: Keep an eye on USC's Adoree' Jackson. Speed is his best asset at the next level -- he can fly. He's an undersized cornerback (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) who isn't a true No. 1 corner, but his return skills add value.
McShay: Washington's John Ross recently clocked a 4.30 40 in training. That would be tied for the fourth-fastest 40 time among wide receivers since 2006. Florida State WR Kermit Whitfield also will be in the mix.
2. Who's the prospect who could jump into the top 10 with a great workout?
McShay: Michigan DE Taco Charlton. I have him in my top 10 overall right now. He could continue to ascend if he runs and jumps well and performs as expected on the field.
Kiper: Stanford pass-rusher Solomon Thomas is right on the fringe of the top 10 -- I had him going No. 11 to the Saints in my Mock 2.0. I'm interested to see Thomas' true measurements; I think he can move inside and play some tackle in the NFL. One more: Florida State's Dalvin Cook could be the first running back taken if he has a stellar workout and has good interviews with teams.
3. Who are the prospects with the most to prove at the combine?
Kiper: One is certainly Michigan State DT Malik McDowell, who just didn't have a great 2016 season. He was on a few early Big Boards because of his tremendous size (6-6, 286) and athleticism, but he needs a great workout to get back into the first-round discussion. The 40-yard dash and workouts also will be huge for Iowa DB Desmond King. He needs to show that he has the speed to play cornerback, because he doesn't have an ideal skill set to play safety.
McShay: Clemson's Mike Williams has big, strong hands and really excels on contested throws, but teams are interested to see what he runs. He's the type of WR who builds speed as he goes, so the 10- and 20-yard splits will be interesting as well. A few other players: Michigan S Jabrill Peppers (change-of-direction skills will be important, but I think he will test better than people expect); Ohio State RB/WR Curtis Samuel (is he as explosive as some of the previous hybrids who went on to have success in the NFL?); and Utah's Garett Bolles (he could become the top OT prospect if he performs as well as he's supposed to).
4. Who are the prospects with the most to lose at the combine?
McShay: Michigan CB Jourdan Lewis. I love this guy's tape. He shows outstanding instincts and quickness when shadowing WRs, but a lot of scouts question his top-end speed. At 5-foot-10, he's already on the shorter end for a cornerback, so a slow 40 won't help his cause. Washington S Budda Baker is another one. He's a great playmaker on tape (2 INTs, 10.0 TFLs), but his measurables might not match up to a typical first-round pick.
Kiper: McShay mentioned Mike Williams earlier. He's my No. 1 WR right now, but he could drop if he doesn't run well. A 40-yard dash in the low 4.5s is probably enough to keep him where he is. Scouts are also curious to see how Tennessee DE Derek Barnett tests. With 33 sacks in his three-year career, he was tremendously productive, but there are concerns about whether he was just a great college player.
5. What can Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson and the other quarterbacks really show at the combine?
Kiper: Scouts and coaches want to see how quickly the QBs apply what they're told, and they'll be paying close attention to the signal-callers' interaction with other players. Throwing against air isn't going to move the needle much -- unless the QB is tossing ducks and missing receivers by 10 feet, which doesn't happen.
McShay: The main things are to avoid any red-flag measurables or medical info. As Mel mentioned, quarterbacks also need to carry themselves well. Which one is the alpha dog? Who do other players want to be around? The interviews are important, but they're just a small part of the long-term evaluation for teams.
6. Who's the under-the-radar prospect you're most intrigued to see work out?
McShay: Ashland TE Adam Shaheen shows some pretty good juice on tape. He's a former basketball player who could be a Day 2 pick if his testing numbers match up with what I saw on film. I'll be interested to see what he runs.
Kiper: For me, it's De'Angelo Henderson, a running back out of Coastal Carolina. He set an NCAA record by scoring a touchdown in 35 straight games, and he had 64 touchdowns -- 58 rushing -- in his four-year career. At 5-8, 208 pounds, Henderson isn't big, but he can move. I think he's a Day 3 pick at this point, but a strong workout could bump him up.
1. Which prospect could run the fastest 40-yard dash?
Kiper: Keep an eye on USC's Adoree' Jackson. Speed is his best asset at the next level -- he can fly. He's an undersized cornerback (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) who isn't a true No. 1 corner, but his return skills add value.
McShay: Washington's John Ross recently clocked a 4.30 40 in training. That would be tied for the fourth-fastest 40 time among wide receivers since 2006. Florida State WR Kermit Whitfield also will be in the mix.
2. Who's the prospect who could jump into the top 10 with a great workout?
McShay: Michigan DE Taco Charlton. I have him in my top 10 overall right now. He could continue to ascend if he runs and jumps well and performs as expected on the field.
Kiper: Stanford pass-rusher Solomon Thomas is right on the fringe of the top 10 -- I had him going No. 11 to the Saints in my Mock 2.0. I'm interested to see Thomas' true measurements; I think he can move inside and play some tackle in the NFL. One more: Florida State's Dalvin Cook could be the first running back taken if he has a stellar workout and has good interviews with teams.
3. Who are the prospects with the most to prove at the combine?
Kiper: One is certainly Michigan State DT Malik McDowell, who just didn't have a great 2016 season. He was on a few early Big Boards because of his tremendous size (6-6, 286) and athleticism, but he needs a great workout to get back into the first-round discussion. The 40-yard dash and workouts also will be huge for Iowa DB Desmond King. He needs to show that he has the speed to play cornerback, because he doesn't have an ideal skill set to play safety.
McShay: Clemson's Mike Williams has big, strong hands and really excels on contested throws, but teams are interested to see what he runs. He's the type of WR who builds speed as he goes, so the 10- and 20-yard splits will be interesting as well. A few other players: Michigan S Jabrill Peppers (change-of-direction skills will be important, but I think he will test better than people expect); Ohio State RB/WR Curtis Samuel (is he as explosive as some of the previous hybrids who went on to have success in the NFL?); and Utah's Garett Bolles (he could become the top OT prospect if he performs as well as he's supposed to).
4. Who are the prospects with the most to lose at the combine?
McShay: Michigan CB Jourdan Lewis. I love this guy's tape. He shows outstanding instincts and quickness when shadowing WRs, but a lot of scouts question his top-end speed. At 5-foot-10, he's already on the shorter end for a cornerback, so a slow 40 won't help his cause. Washington S Budda Baker is another one. He's a great playmaker on tape (2 INTs, 10.0 TFLs), but his measurables might not match up to a typical first-round pick.
Kiper: McShay mentioned Mike Williams earlier. He's my No. 1 WR right now, but he could drop if he doesn't run well. A 40-yard dash in the low 4.5s is probably enough to keep him where he is. Scouts are also curious to see how Tennessee DE Derek Barnett tests. With 33 sacks in his three-year career, he was tremendously productive, but there are concerns about whether he was just a great college player.
5. What can Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson and the other quarterbacks really show at the combine?
Kiper: Scouts and coaches want to see how quickly the QBs apply what they're told, and they'll be paying close attention to the signal-callers' interaction with other players. Throwing against air isn't going to move the needle much -- unless the QB is tossing ducks and missing receivers by 10 feet, which doesn't happen.
McShay: The main things are to avoid any red-flag measurables or medical info. As Mel mentioned, quarterbacks also need to carry themselves well. Which one is the alpha dog? Who do other players want to be around? The interviews are important, but they're just a small part of the long-term evaluation for teams.
6. Who's the under-the-radar prospect you're most intrigued to see work out?
McShay: Ashland TE Adam Shaheen shows some pretty good juice on tape. He's a former basketball player who could be a Day 2 pick if his testing numbers match up with what I saw on film. I'll be interested to see what he runs.
Kiper: For me, it's De'Angelo Henderson, a running back out of Coastal Carolina. He set an NCAA record by scoring a touchdown in 35 straight games, and he had 64 touchdowns -- 58 rushing -- in his four-year career. At 5-8, 208 pounds, Henderson isn't big, but he can move. I think he's a Day 3 pick at this point, but a strong workout could bump him up.
