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 has the most to lose at the Combine?
QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
Christian Williams: With reports that Maye will skip the testing and drill work and the widespread belief that Maye is the QB3 at best on many boards, he is risking a slip to QB4. J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix impressing could place Maye in the Justin Fields situation, where he's the fourth quarterback off the board. I believe in Maye, but choosing not to show off his big arm could be detrimental to his draft stock.
WR Johnny Wilson, Florida St.
Chad Parsons: The Florida State product is caught between positions at 6-foot-6 and 237 pounds from his all-star game circuit weigh-in. He is at risk to run in the 4.6s, which would fade him as an NFL wide receiver, but his sub-240-pound frame makes tight end a murky transition. Darren Waller was a strong athlete, fueling his successful transition to tight end years ago. Wilson has Day 2 upside but also late Day 3 potential if struggling to project to either position by an NFL team.
WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Sam Wagman: Rome Odunze could lose some ground relative to where he stands now as the consensus WR3 in this draft and a relatively popular top-ten draft pick. While Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers will not be drilling, if Odunze doesn't put up athletic specimen numbers at the Combine, we could see him fall into the middle of the pack of Round 1.
QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Jason Wood: Michael Penix Jr. tops the list. The most important aspect of the Combine is the medical examinations, and Penix's medicals could push him from a potential second-rounder to a late Day 3 pick. He already has age and build worries, and if his prior knee and shoulder injuries are flagged during his examination, he'll plummet.
Kyle Bellefeuil: I agree with Jason here on Michael Penix Jr. As Jason pointed out, the medicals will be critical for him, as he has a lengthy injury history, tearing the same ACL twice while also suffering multiple shoulder injuries. Penix plans to throw and showcase his arm talent at the Combine, but his stock could take a big hit if teams aren't comfortable with how his medicals check out.