NFL draft season is underway, and the first major event after the Super Bowl is the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine where over 300 draft prospects will get weighed, measured, poked, prodded, and evaluated by NFL personnel in Indianapolis.
NFL Combine 2017: What to look for in Indianapolis
DeShone Kizer, Leonard Fournette, and Myles Garrett are among the players to keep an eye on at the NFL Combine.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
For many fans, it’s an introduction to the crop of players who will make up the 2017 NFL draft class. But for teams, it’s a chance to take a closer look at the athleticism of prospective players and talk to them to see if they’re a fit for an organization.
Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 28, players will arrive in Indianapolis. But on-field workouts and the skill drills that have become synonymous with the event won’t begin until Friday, March 3.
Friday will be the first of four days of on-field workouts and will feature offensive linemen and running backs.
Friday, March 3 — Day 1 — Offensive line, running backs, special teams, kickers
After medical examinations and measurements on Tuesday and Wednesday and the bench press Thursday, the real testing begins Friday.
While running drills like the 40-yard dash and 60-yard shuttle are important for running backs, on-field workouts are vital for offensive linemen too. Scouts want to see the burst and lower-body strength displayed in drills like the vertical jump and broad jump, as well as the first 10 yards of the 40-yard dash.
Players to watch:
- Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU: Fournette’s ankle was an issue during the 2016 season, and he opted to sit out of LSU’s bowl game rather than risk injury. Medical checks will be important for him, and the combine is a chance to distinguish if he or Dalvin Cook is the No. 1 running back of the class.
- Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State: While Fournette’s ankle will draw attention, it’s Cook’s three shoulder surgeries that will get a close look in medical evaluations. But he has special abilities and will be in close competition with Fournette over the next two months.
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford: Once a Heisman Trophy favorite, McCaffrey is in the first-round mix, as well. His appeal at Stanford was his diverse skill set, so McCaffrey will really need to shine in receiving drills to show he can be used outside the backfield and possibly in special teams, as well.
- Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama: At 6’6, 327 pounds, Robinson is a huge prospect who helped bulldoze in the run game for the Crimson Tide. The question is whether or not he has the feet and quickness to handle NFL pass rushers. He’ll also have to answer questions about an arrest last year.
- Zach Banner, OT, USC: Banner measured in at the Senior Bowl at a mammoth 6’8, 361 pounds. His weight and athleticism will be under the microscope in Indianapolis.
Saturday, March 4 — Day 2 — Quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends
Quarterbacks draw all the attention, but the NFL combine doesn’t do much to separate players. Throwing drills at the end of the evaluation are the most significant for quarterbacks, but there isn’t much that isn’t important for wide receivers and tight ends.
Players to watch:
- DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame: His time with the Fighting Irish didn’t go so well, but he finished the 2016 season with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. With no clear-cut top quarterback, Kizer’s 6’4, 230-pound frame and NFL arm strength could shine in comparison to the other passers in the class.
- Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech: He was a wild gunslinger in college and certainly has the talent to be a first-round pick. He just needs to show the discipline of an NFL starter. That means showing crisp mechanics and an understanding of an offense that isn’t Texas Tech’s Air Raid.
- Kermit Whitfield, WR, Florida State: One of the most diminutive receivers in the draft class has a chance at sticking on an NFL roster because of his world-class speed. He set the Florida high school record in the 100-yard dash and is likely the most real threat to Chris Johnson’s 40-yard dash record.
- John Ross, WR, Washington: If Whitfield doesn’t break Johnson’s record, Ross might be the next most likely to top the field in the event. But unlike Whitfield, Ross was tremendously productive in college, finishing 2016 with 1,150 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns
- David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL): There’s been a lot made of the athleticism of Alabama’s O.J. Howard, but Njoku was the more productive of the pair of tight ends battling to be the first off the board in April at the position. If he can show physical abilities comparable to Howard, Njoku could slide into the top spot.
Sunday, March 5 — Day 3 — Defensive line, linebackers
Measuring pass rushers is about as tough as scouting gets. They have to have strength, burst, flexibility and speed, and there really isn’t a drill that isn’t important for defensive linemen and outside linebacker.
Players to watch:
- Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M: He’s the favorite to be the No. 1 pick for the Cleveland Browns, but two months gives plenty of time for second guessing and other players to surge to the top. Garrett is up there for a reason, and he can remind everyone of the freakish athleticism he possesses with a big performance in Indianapolis.
- Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford: Thomas is a dark horse to sneak into the top 10 picks or possibly even the top five. But to get there, he’ll have to do big things in timing drills.
- Tim Williams, DE/OLB, Alabama: As part of the Crimson Tide’s tremendous defensive rotation, Williams finished 2016 with 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks. But it remains to be seen how he fits into an NFL defense. What’s certain is that he has to show tremendous athleticism or he could be lost in the mix.
- Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State: McDowell’s elite first step made him a problem to deal with in the Spartans defense. That burst will be put to the test in things like the vertical jump, broad jump, and the first 10 yards of the 40-yard dash.
Monday, March 6 — Day 4 — Defensive backs
After the big guys on Sunday, speed will be back on display for the final day of the combine on Monday. While Chris Johnson famously owns the 40-yard dash record, defensive backs have smashed many of the other marks. Byron Jones posted a ridiculous number in the broad jump two years ago, and Gerald Sensabaugh’s 46-inch vertical jump in 2005 is still the top performance in the drill.
Players to watch:
- Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan: Safety is just a guess for Jabrill Peppers’ position because he played a little bit of everything for the Wolverines. He played a lot of linebacker at Michigan and made big plays with the ball in his hands, but his track background could show he has the athleticism to play far from the line of scrimmage in the NFL.
- Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC: In addition to his electric play at USC, Jackson also happened to be a two-time Pac-12 champion in the long jump. So you’d better believe he’s ready to put up some huge marks in the vertical jump and broad jump.
- Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State: The redshirt sophomore has a chance to be the top cornerback off the board, but there are going to be bigger players and likely faster, more athletic players too. Lattimore already showed what he can do on the field, but he can’t be overshadowed too much by other defensive backs in drills if he hopes to go No. 1.
- Teez Tabor, CB, Florida: Although there’s no doubt that Tabor is one of the most athletic first-round talents at defensive back, there may be questions about his straight-line speed. He has the quickness to run routes with receivers, but can he run one down if he gets beat? The 40-yard dash should help answer that.
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