The NFL Draft has reached a significant milestone with the arrival of the 2024 NFL Combine. The skill position players test on Saturday, March 2nd. Footballguys staff comes together to answer a series of questions to prime you for the action ahead.
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Who do you believe can increase their stock the most at the Combine?
WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
Christian Williams: Franklin has a massive opportunity to boost his stock at the NFL Combine this week. His height, speed, and explosiveness could vault him into the top of Round 1 discussions, and his thin frame makes his weigh-in critical. Most have considered Franklin a top-50 pick, but his performance this week could make him a staple in first-round mock drafts.
RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Chad Parsons: The running back from Wisconsin is the intoxicating, big, productive college back. The danger is Allen will have a plodding or lackluster workout and be viewed like a dinosaur by today's NFL. Allen has RB1 in the class upside with strong drills in a flat tier of prospects fighting for Day 2 pedigree.
Hutchinson Brown: Braelon Allen is a player whose Combine performance could make or break how he is viewed when the NFL Draft rolls around. We all know he is a tank, standing at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, and his physicality is something we all see on tape. However, some comment on his lack of explosiveness, quickness, and speed overall. I will watch his vertical and broad jump closely and closely monitor his three-cone drill and 40-yard dash. His performance in those areas gives us a pretty good idea of how explosive and fast he is. It will be very intriguing to watch and interesting to see how much of an effect the Combine will have on his NFL Draft capital. I hope to see him succeed big time and silence the doubters.
QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Sam Wagman: McCarthy could shoot into the top 10 with an inspired Combine performance. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye won't be throwing until their pro days, and even though both seem solidified as two of the top three options, McCarthy has excellent tools and will be able to showcase them.
Kyle Bellefeuil: J.J. McCarthy has a chance to shine this week and boost his already climbing stock. As Sam pointed out above, McCarthy plans to throw, while Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye are not. McCarthy should test and interview well; the post-combine mock drafts should get interesting if he puts on a display spinning it.
WR Ryan Flournoy, Southeast Missouri State
Jason Wood: While I love my colleagues' answers and nearly chose J.J. McCarthy, my pick is a much deeper option -- wide receiver Ryan Flournoy. Flournoy put up dominant numbers in the FCS (SE Missouri State) but is an older prospect thanks to a lost season during the pandemic and a redshirt year with a knee injury. Given his level of competition, Flournoy is understandably discounted until scouts see him against top-level competition. Flournoy is also someone who may have "off the charts" measurables. Flournoy could be poised to move up into Day 2 if his measurables and drills live up to the hype.
WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
Ben Cummins: Wilson is my guy in the 2024 class. He's rugged, reliable, quick, offers inside and outside versatility, easily creates space over the middle, has excellent hands, was used in pre-snap motion by Jim Harbaugh, and is a perfect fit for today's mid-range passing NFL. I expect Wilson to test well all around, and if so, there will be round one buzz around him. He's that good.
RB Audric Estime, Notre Dame
Zareh Kantzabedian: Estime, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back, possesses more than just physicality and brute force. He has lateral quickness and can pace or, at times, outrun defensive backs. I predict he will run the 40-yard dash in the high 4.4s or low 4.5s and become the most productive rookie running back in 2024.
RB Blake Corum, Michigan
Gary Davenport: Michigan's Corum was ridiculously productive the past two seasons, piling up 45 rushing touchdowns. His vision and feel for finding gaps are outstanding. But there is no shortage of doubters with Corum concerning his NFL prospects. He isn't especially big. Or especially powerful. He doesn't appear to have that next gear to just outrun people. But if he can test well and show that he's faster or stronger than those doubters expect, he could vault up some teams' boards.
WR Jalen Coker, Holy Cross
Jeff Bell: Jason's callout of Ryan Flournoy is excellent. Another small school player stood out when writing up the wide receivers in the Footballguys Rookie Guide. Coker amassed an extensive highlight reel in the Patriot League and carried that to an incredible one-handed catch in the Hula Bowl. The Hula Bowl performance earned him a spot in the Shrine Bowl, where he springboarded into the Combine. Coker excels at playing the ball in the air, but his competition level is a massive question mark. He can continue his positive momentum of the All-Star circuit and dramatically improve his stock.
