USA TODAY International Edition
Draft prospects showcased their best effort
With less than a month until the NFL draft, the pro day circuit is almost complete. The workouts provide prospects a final chance to show off for scouts, coaches and general managers. And with the COVID- 19 pandemic prompting the NFL not to hold on- field drills and testing at a scouting combine, the spotlight on the sessions only intensified.
But while pro days naturally spark a lot of hype, they’re only a small part of the overall evaluation puzzle, and they often only amount to an exercise in confirming one’s scouting reports. Think of them as more of a Rorschach test than a litmus test. With that in mind, here are things we learned from NFL draft prospects’ pro days:
1. The spectacle- over- substance nature of these events was again evident in various quarterback workouts. It’s hard to glean much from a glorified game of catch, and the buzziest moments from the sessions were basically backyard throws.
2. It was only fitting that projected No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence was first up on the pro day circuit back on Feb. 12. The Clemson quarterback set a high bar, showcasing his arm strength with a nearly 70- yard heave.
3. The hype really escalated, however, when BYU’s Zach Wilson rifled a downfield, cross- body strike that wowed onlookers.
4. Never one to back down from competition, Ohio State’s Justin Fields – who also ran a 4.44- second 40- yard dash – responded with his own highlight- reel throw.
5. All these plays were impressive displays of raw capability. But they also evoked memories of former Ravens first- rounder Kyle Boller and notorious bust JaMarcus Russell chucking passes 60- yards- plus from one knee. Enjoy the entertainment factor, but don’t overreact: The body of work and overall skill set are what really matter.
6. While no other player in this class can compare to Lawrence in potential and production, Florida tight end Kyle Pitts might be in the same arena, albeit at a less- valued position. The Mackey Award winner dominated Southeastern Conference competition, and his pro day reinforced that he’s a nearly singular prospect as a pass catcher. At 6foot- 5 and 245 pounds, Pitts measured in with a monstrous 83 3⁄ 8- inch ( that’s 6- foot- 11 3⁄ 8) wingspan, topping Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf ’s mark for the best of any receiver or tight end in the last 20 years, according to Pro Football Focus. He also ran 40 yards in 4.44 seconds – on par with former Florida teammate Kadarius Toney, who’s billed as one of the most explosive receivers in the draft.
7. Another prospect who fits the bill: LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase. The wide receiver opted out of last fall’s campaign after lighting up future NFL defensive backs throughout 2019 for 1,785 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. His pro day served as a reminder of his explosiveness, with sterling marks in the vertical leap ( 41 inches) and broad jump ( 11- 0) and an impressive 4.38- second 40.
8. Those marks affirm what was readily apparent: Pitts and Chase are each top- tier talents who shouldn’t last beyond the top 10 picks. And if Pitts cracks the top five, he’ll be the first tight end to do so since Riley Odoms was selected by the Broncos in 1972.
9. Fellow LSU wide receiver Terrace Marshall also solidified his case for the first round by running a 4.38- second 40 at 6- foot- 3, 205 pounds.
10. Hard to fault Alabama’s DeVonta Smith for merely running routes at the second of the Crimson Tide’s two pro days. Same goes for Jaylen Waddle sitting out both workouts. Smith is recovering from a finger injury suffered in the national championship game, though he wanted to show the ailment was not an issue, while Waddle played in the title tilt despite a gruesome ankle injury suffered earlier in the season. As two of the most proven entities in the draft, there wasn’t much left to demonstrate.
11. Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons also provided a refresher on his superlative skill set after he sat out the 2020 season. He ran a receiver- like 4.39- second 40 at 6- foot- 3 and 246 pounds. Offering rare athleticism and play- making ability, Parsons is the clear favorite to be the first defensive player taken – perhaps in the top 10.
12. Look no further than Kentucky’s Jamin Davis for an example of the wide variance on some pro day times and measurements. The linebacker was clocked from 4.37 to 4.49 seconds on his 40, depending on who was timing. Regardless, that range is stellar for a 6foot- 3, 234- pounder who also notched a 42- inch vertical and 11- 0 broad jump. The first round is within reach.
13. Even independent of its impact, Josh Imatorbhebhe’s 46 1⁄ 2- inch vertical leap was something to behold. Had the Illinois wide receiver replicated it at the combine, it would have set a record.
14. As a likely late Day 3 pick or undrafted free agent, Imatorbhebhe might not go down as much more than a fun trivia fact unless he can develop into a more consistent pass catcher.
15. The unofficial title for fastest 40 goes to Auburn wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, who clocked in at 4.26 seconds. The former Florida high school sprint champion’s speed will afford him opportunities in the NFL, but he needs to become more developed as a receiver.
16. At 4.41, Clemson’s Travis Etienne didn’t secure the 40 time some might have expected from one of college football’s best breakaway threats. But the running back bulked up to 215 pounds from his listed weight of 199, and he highlighted his multidimensional abilities. Etienne might be poised to outrace Alabama’s Najee Harris to be the first back off the board.
17. Miami edge rusher Jaelan Phillips certainly helped himself by putting together a stellar all- around day: 4.56second 40, 36- inch vertical leap and 10- 5 broad jump. But at 6- foot- 5 and 260 pounds, the numbers that really stood out were his short shuttle ( 4.13 seconds) and three- cone drill ( 7.01), which underscored rare fluidity at the position.
18. But those figures are only a fraction of Phillips’ overall evaluation. Though he established himself as a prospect on the rise by recording 11 tackles for a loss and 6 1⁄ sacks in his final
2 four games, the former five- star recruit retired from football at UCLA after dealing with concussions as well as ankle and wrist injuries. Phillips revived his career after transferring to Miami, but his stock could hinge on how comfortable teams are with his medical outlook.
19. The Hurricanes’ other marquee defensive end prospect, Gregory Rousseau, left some questions with a few of his marks. The 6- foot- 7, 266- pound former high school receiver and safety demonstrated enticing upside after recording 15 1⁄ sacks in 2019. But after sit
2 ting out last season, he posted uninspiring pro day numbers in drills that tested his flexibility and explosiveness.
20. One number has hounded Penn State’s Jayson Oweh for much of the predraft process: 0, as in the number of sacks he had in 2020. Yet the hyperathletic pass rusher now might be closely tied to another number: 4.34, his astonishing 40 time. Now it’s up to talent evaluators to decide how to balance his explosiveness and straight- line speed with the lack of polish from a player who didn’t begin his football career until his junior year of high school.
21. Also in the mix in the first- round edge rusher conversation are Michigan’s Kwity Paye and Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari, who both took advantage of the pro day stage. Paye, already renowned for his overall athleticism, posted 36 bench press reps, a 35 1⁄ 2- inch vertical leap and a 4.52 40. Ojulari, meanwhile, turned heads with a 10- 7 broad jump and 4.60 40.
22. Another position with some uncertainty is cornerback. Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley was once seen as a potential front- runner even after opting out of the 2020 season, but he had a microdiscectomy and missed his pro day.
23. There’s a good chance, then, that Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II will be the first defensive back off the board. The son of former Dolphins standout Patrick Surtain showed he’s more than a technician by compiling a well- rounded testing profile: a 4.42 40, 10- 11 broad jump, 39- inch vertical leap and 18 bench press reps. Don’t expect him to last past the first 12 picks.
24. Surtain might have some formidable competition in another former Southeastern Conference standout with a rich family history in football. South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, son of former Saints wide receiver Joe Horn, was already known as one of the stickiest defenders in man coverage before a pro day performance ( 4.39 40, 42- inch vertical, 11- 1 broad jump) that set the bar for all other cornerbacks.