Hot draft prospects:
Ahead of the NFL scouting combine, here are 13 players who have a chance to soar.
As the 2019 NFL draft draws closer, the rookie evaluation process is in full swing. Prospects are going to do anything they can to impress NFL decision-makers, and the NFL scouting combine will be one of the last chances for players to do so.
In prior years, we’ve had prospects make names for themselves at the event, showing off impressive athleticism.
Here are 13 players who should watch their draft stock rise even more in the next couple of weeks:
Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: The interview process will be key for Murray, who is undersized at 5-9, but his testing should check out as superb. Murray has shown he can absolutely move on the field, and it shouldn’t be surprising if he’s running close to a 4.4 40-yard dash.
Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: Oliver is one of the best overall prospects in this class. His undersized frame didn’t check out as eye-popping, but his athleticism, instincts and relentless nature did. At 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds, he had a vertical jump of 36 inches and a 10-foot 1-inch broad jump in the summer of 2018. That athleticism is obvious on film, and it should be on full display in Indianapolis.
Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan: There are questions in regards to Gary’s position fit at the next level, as he worked on the inside and as an edge rusher at Michigan. But there’s no questioning the 6-foot-4, 287-pound defensive lineman’s athleticism. Gary has elite first-step quickness, and he also has the lateral speed to chase down screen passes and stretch plays to the perimeter. He should solidify himself as a first-round lock after the combine.
Khalen Saunders, DL, Western Illinois: It doesn’t come around that often where you see someone at a massive 320 pounds doing backflips. Prior to the Senior Bowl, Saunders showed he’s capable of doing so. Aside from that, his movement skills and quickness were very enticing. The smallschooler’s stock will rise, and he should get top-75 consideration after his testing.
Renell Wren, DL, Arizona State: Wren entered the 2018 season not very well known by the general population. It was until he started to produce film, showcasing eye-popping first step quickness and burst off the snap to bully blockers. At the Senior Bowl, he displayed an absolutely stacked frame at 6foot-6 and 315 pounds. Wren also posted phenomenal weight room numbers at Arizona State, squatting 600 pounds and bench-pressing 400.
Devin White, LB, LSU: Widely regarded as the top linebacker prospect in this year’s class, White competes with phenomenal pursuit speed to hunt the football. Not only is he a tackling machine, but the converted running back bench pressed 405 pounds, cleaned 341 and squatted 637 and had a 34-inch vertical jump this past offseason.
Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico State: Chiseled is the way to describe Hanks’ 6foot-2, 234-pound frame when he stepped on stage to get weighed in at the Senior Bowl. Aside from his measurements, though, the converted safety looked like one of the most athletic Senior Bowl defenders, with the movement skills to cover ground in a hurry, whether it was against the run or in coverage.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, DB, Florida: The first thing that stands out with GardnerJohnson is his solid frame, at 6 feet and 207 pounds. His body type looks like it’s NFL-ready. The former Florida product has the speed to cover a lot of ground, along with the ball skills and versatility to immediately help any defense at the next level.
Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston: Johnson is a converted wide receiver who possesses the tall, long frame NFL teams covet in their corners (6-foot-4, 200 pounds). His cover and tackling technique are still a bit rough around the edges, but his size, fluid movement ability and speed are all positive traits. Johnson will likely excel at the positional drills, and he could put up a good 40time.
Dawson Knox, TE, Mississippi: Knox was hardly utilized in the Rebels’ offense as a receiver, and as a result, he didn’t produce the stats you’d expect to see in his final season. But when the ball came in his direction, his combination of size, strength, hands and speed were evident. Whether it was his ability in open space, or to go up and high-point a contested ball, Knox flashed the kind of athleticism that should make him a combine star.
Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State: While former teammate Terry McLaurin blew up the Senior Bowl with his polished technique and route-running ability, Campbell is the Buckeye pass-catcher who should light up the combine. The 6-1, 205pound wideout’s wheels will be on full display, and his film proves he has breakaway ability when the pads go on.
D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi: Metcalf had a seasonending neck injury in 2018, but his movement skills are second to none in this year’s receiver class. At full strength, Metcalf has shown the explosiveness, speed and length that makes him this year’s top prospect at the position. Medical evaluations will be key for him at the combine, but the on-field drills should be a cakewalk.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa: Hawkeye teammate Noah Fant got the majority of the spotlight leading up to the 2018 season, but Hockenson’s campaign allowed him to steal a good chunk of it. There’s a lot to his game that makes him a well-rounded tight end. His size, speed, leaping ability and pure athleticism make it easy to book him as a winner of this event.
Best of the rest: Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State; Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma; Ugo Amadi, S, Oregon; Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt; Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia; Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State; Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis; Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson; Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State; Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma