NFL combine winners and losers Wide receivers stood out by most measures
Here are the biggest winners and losers from this year’s NFL combine, which concluded its run on Monday in Indianapolis.
Winners
1. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi: Before running any drill or catching a pass, Metcalf already built a buzz in Indianapolis when he told the media he has 1.9 percent body fat. That statistic ended up just one facet of a remarkable performance. In recording a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, 27 bench press reps and 401⁄2-inch vertical leap at 6-3, 228 pounds, Metcalf put himself in rarefied air as one of the best straight-line athletes in recent combine history. Poor times in the three-cone drill (7.38) and short shuttle (4.50) underscore his need to find flexibility with a bulky frame, but he made a strong case to be the first receiver selected. 2. Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State: A month after a strong week of Senior Bowl practices, the two-time first-team all-Southeastern selection did even more to raise his profile. A 4.41 40 that set the modern (since 2003) record for defensive linemen was his marquee number, but his sterling runs in the three-cone drill (7.00) and short shuttle (4.29) helped counter claims about his elasticity as a rusher. 3. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: Yes, Murray didn’t do much more than measure in and answer questions. But by coming in at 5-10 and 207 pounds while impressing in team interviews, according to USA TODAY’s Mike Jones, the Heisman Trophy winner cleared several hurdles in his pursuit of becoming the No. 1 pick. Expect him to show off his athleticism and passing prowess on his March 13 pro day. 4. Noah Fant, TE, Iowa: The Mackey Award for college football’s best tight end belongs to his Hawkeyes teammate T.J. Hockenson, but there was no question which player at the position had the premier outing in Indianapolis. In perhaps the most well-rounded performance among all participants in the combine, the 6-4, 249-pounder led tight ends in the 40 (4.5), vertical (391⁄2), three-cone drill (6.89) and broad jump (10-7) before catching passes with no trouble in drills. Fant now should be in the discussion to be a top-20 pick. 5. Brian Burns, DE, Florida State: Another player who won at weigh-ins, Burns added more than 20 pounds to his frame by coming in at 249. He carried it well, placing second among defensive linemen in the 40 (4.53) and gliding around throughout his workout. Operating at his best when he’s pairing his pass-rush savvy with his well-rounded athleticism, Burns can be a consistently disruptive threat off the edge. 6. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Even in a forum that seldom affords the spotlight to interior defensive linemen, the Outland Trophy winner managed to shine. His 4.83-second 40 was the fourth fastest since 2003 for any lineman weighing over 300 pounds, and he stood above all others in his position group when he took the field. Williams affirmed his standing in this class’ first tier of prospects. 7. Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan: Looking to entrench himself alongside the likes of Williams, Nick Bosa and Josh Allen as one of the draft’s elite defensive talents, Gary put on a show. At 6-4 and 277 pounds, he ripped off a 4.58 40 and 38-inch vertical. Turning the corner on NFL offensive tackles could be tricky for Gary given his 91⁄2 sacks in three years at Michigan, but several teams at the top of the first
round likely will take the long-term bet on his potential. 8. Devin White, LB, LSU: The combine wasn’t likely to knock White from his pedestal as the top linebacker available, and he instead used the platform to reaffirm his standing. Before a smooth on-field display, he paced his position with a 4.42 40 and added a 391⁄2-inch vertical. Though off-ball linebackers often aren’t prized as highly as other positions, White deserves to be considered one of the premier defensive players in this draft.
9. Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn: Three knee injuries in high school and college didn’t prevent Dean from a secondplace finish in the 40 at 4.30 seconds, trailing only Mississippi safety Zedrick Woods’ 4.29 time. At 6-1 and 206 pounds with tantalizing physical tools (also logging a 41-inch vertical and 10-10 broad jump), Dean could rocket up draft boards so long as teams were comfortable with his medical outlook.
10. Speedy receivers: Seven receivers clocked under 4.4 seconds in the 40 while 18 had sub-4.5 marks. Ohio State’s Parris Campbell and Massachusetts’ Andy Isabella led the way at 4.31, but Missouri’s Emanuel Hall, Notre Dame’s Myles Boykin and Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler all helped themselves as well.
Losers 1. Jachai Polite, OLB-DE, Florida: By any measure, it was a strange week for an edge rusher who should have fared well on this stage. Polite pulled out of combine drills early with a hamstring injury after running a 4.84 40, a mark that teams will want to see him substantially improve at his pro day. He also took an odd tone in interviews, telling the media that the 49ers and Packers were “bashing” him during meetings. After several of his peers showed off, Polite needs to make a better impression. 2. Greg Little, OT, Mississippi: Standing in stark contrast to college teammate Metcalf and high school teammate Murray, Little didn’t capitalize on his opportunity. Beyond his struggles in the 40 (5.33) and vertical (25 inches), the five-star recruit looked awkward and choppy in his movements during drills. Sneaking into the first round will depend on a team believing in him as a developmental prospect with high-upside tools. 3. Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State: At just 286 pounds and risking getting pushed around in the run game, Jones needed to show explosive traits to emphasize his potential as a pass rusher. Instead, Jones underwhelmed almost across the board in testing at the combine. His potential team fits are likely limited to those with a one-gap defensive scheme allowing its interior rushers to get upfield. 4. Devin Singletary, RB, Florida
Atlantic: After measuring 5-7 and 203 pounds, Singletary said of playing at his size, “If Barry Sanders can do it, I feel I can do it.” Any comparison to the Pro Football Hall of Famer, however, seems even more dubious after Singletary was among the worst at his position in both the three-cone drill (7.32 seconds) and short shuttle (4.40 seconds), befuddling times for one of college football’s best runners at exploding out of cuts. Once seen as potentially the second or third back off the board, Singletary might face closer scrutiny from teams. 5. Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia: The son of Evander Holyfield moved a bit too much like a heavyweight on Friday, recording a 4.78-second 40 and 291⁄2-inch vertical, both second-to-last among backs. At his pro day, showing some of the acceleration he put to use last season should be Holyfield’s priority.