Combine week is when the NFL draft process hits high gear. Here at Footballguys, we have wall-to-wall coverage of the event. Official size measurements and athletic testing help fill out the profile. The ultimate result will be the release of Update 2.0 of The 2023 Rookie Draft Guide. Setting the stage, we gathered the staff for questions.
Name a player who could change their stock the most.
QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Kyle Yates - There are plenty of players who could qualify for this question - both in positive and negative ways - but all eyes will be on Bryce Young at his weigh-in. If Young can break 195 pounds at the NFL Combine, he'll remain one of the top five picks in this NFL Draft. If he comes in lighter than that - which is what many are projecting - we could see a bit of a tumble for the talented quarterback prospect.
Jason Wood - I agree with Kyle; it has to be Bryce Young. Most of us agree that as many as four quarterbacks could be drafted in the Top 10 this year, but there's zero consensus on how to rank the quartet of Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. Young's resume, mechanics, and pedigree all make a strong case to put him atop the group, but questions about his durability persist. Kyler Murray measured 5-foot-10 and 207 pounds at the Combine, and that was "good enough" to eventually earn him the 1st overall pick. If Young can measure similarly, his game film will be enough to move into the No. 1 spot on most boards. But if he measures the way many of us think he will, he could fall out of the No. 1 pick conversation entirely.
RB Sean Tucker, Syracuse
Chad Parsons - The Syracuse running back had interest in devy formats during his college career but surprisingly has little Day 2 buzz over the first two months of the draft process. I see similarities to Dalvin Cook with his overall profile and a 210+ pound weigh-in with a mid-4.4s or better 40 time will get Tucker back on the top-100 radar to finish the process.
RB Zach Evans, Ole Miss
Christian Williams - The NFL Combine offers opportunities for everyone to show off their athleticism and talent, but it also gives players a chance to meet with team personnel and start forming relationships. Because of that, Zach Evans is my pick here. From a talent perspective, Evans should be one of the first few running backs off the board. But off-field situations and a lack of dominance at the college level will leave questions that need answering. If Evans provides satisfactory answers, he could emerge as a locked-in day-two selection. If he doesn't, the talented running back could fall even further into Day 3.
RB Roschon Johnson, Texas
Ben Cummins - Johnson had a productive four-year career at Texas when considering he shared the same backfield with all-world talent Bijan Robinson for three seasons. Johnson can definitely play and has a dual-threat skill set. He weighs around 225 pounds, has speed for a bigger back, and caught 56 passes in college. Johnson has a chance to test well and get his name buzzing as the draft approaches.
Alfredo Brown - Johnson is a big, bruising runner at 6-foot-0 and 225 pounds. He spent is collegiate career sharing a backfield with Bijan Robinson, the top running back prospect in this draft class, but Johnson is anything but a backup. In his only day at Senior Bowl practice, Johnson showed his ability to hang with the best players in the nation in pass-blocking and receiving drills - unfortunately, he had to leave early in the week due to a broken hand. Everyone already knows that Johnson is a tough runner, and well-rounded enough to be on the field for all three downs. If he can go to Indianapolis and test well in the 40-yard dash and lateral agility drills, he could potentially hear his name get called late on day two of the NFL Draft.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio St.
Dan Hindery - In terms of where he is going in NFL mock drafts (typically very late in the first round), Jaxson Smith-Njigba is a player who I view as underrated. The consensus draft evaluation seems to be that he is very good player but not much of an athlete. Expect that narrative to change after the combine. Smith-Njigba is faster than the scouting reports would lead you to believe, and I expect him to put up some freakish numbers in some of the other drills (three-cone, etc.). This is a player who I feel the fantasy and dynasty community (consensus rookie WR1 in rookie mocks and early best ball drafts) has a better bead on than some of the broader NFL scouting community.
TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Kevin Coleman - Kincaid has a chance to put himself in a position to be the first tight end drafted come April. He’s already got a ton of buzz surrounding him; he just needs the testing numbers to confirm it. He is one of the most athletic tight ends in this class and will catch every ball thrown his way. His YAC ability and big-play threat gives him a ceiling, unlike many of his peers at the position, including Michael Mayer. His stock could rise into the top-15 category if he has a great week.
TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
Jay Stein - For this question, I'm looking for the guy that will break the combine, and Washington might do that. Let's see how he measures in, but Georgia has him listed as 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds. At that size, if he puts up a 40-time of 4.70 or below, I think most would have to add him to their freak lists if he isn't there already. Tight ends typically don't produce much in college, which is the case for Washington, so his total stats aren't going to jump off the page. But he does stand out on some critical signals for low producers at the tight end position, like yards per reception and EPA/play. For instance, he averaged 17.2 yards per reception in college, where I'd be looking for something in the 14+ range. Also, he is a tremendous blocker, grading out as one of the better pass- and run-blocking tight ends in 2022. What if we are all just a little too low on Washington because Georgia had an embarrassment of riches at the tight end position, and Washington was asked to play a role that didn't make him stand out? For those reasons, and because I think Washington tests off the charts at the combine, Darnell will be one of this year's biggest combine risers.
EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Joseph Haggan - Defensive end Tyree Wilson could change his stock the most, unfortunately in the wrong direction. His draft stock has recently skyrocketed him into the potential top-five overall territory. Wilson has great size with an enormous wingspan, matched with two years of solid production. What he seems to lack is true athleticism. Wilson is by no means an explosive athlete and lacks true bend with his massive frame. If he tests poorly, or less than expected, the other Edge rushers behind him could creep past him with better draft capital.
EDGE Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
Gary Davenport - The pre-draft process can be that much more important for small-school prospects, and so far, Land is making the most of the opportunity. At the Senior Bowl, Hand more than held his own against some of the best offensive linemen in college football before going on to log a sack in the game. A two-time winner of the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in the FCS division, Land piled up 25 sacks over the past two seasons. While the 6-foot-3, 226-pounder is undersized, he should continue to shine in workouts where he can showcase his quickness and athleticism.
DT Mazi Smith, Michigan
Kyle Bellefeuil - As a Michigan fan, I can’t help but mention Wolverine interior defensive lineman Mazi Smith. Smith is a large man (6-foot-3 and 337 pounds) who came in at the top spot in The Athletic's Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List before the college season kicked off. If Smith can live up to that billing by showcasing his power and movement skills at his size, he has a chance to elevate his draft stock in a big way.
_(1000_x_500_px)_png)