NFL Scouting Combine, Three Up, Three Down… Offensive Version
On Friday and Saturday, the nations top offensive players descended on Indianapolis in a bid to improve their draft stock and make teams take notice. Some performed well and have teams thinking about strategies to ensure that they end up on their teams. Others struggled and are left wondering how far they will fall. Let’s take a look at three offensive players that improved their stock on Friday and Saturday and three that hurt theirs.
Stock Up, Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma. Murray did not even have to take part in drills to improve his draft stock. The Oklahoma quarterback simply reiterated his interest in playing football and put on a good showing during his public appearances. Add that to the fact that he measured in at 5’10 with nine and a half inch hands, and Murray’s hold on the number one pick seemed to intensify.
Stock Down, Kevin Harmon, WR, North Carolina State. Harmon has been showing up in mocks in the mid rounds for wide receiver needy teams looking for a number one. Coming into the combine he looked like an Andre Johnson type, but scouts worried about his speed. Those worries were confirmed when Harmon ran a 4.61 forty. There are many talented receivers in the draft and several may have passed him on teams’ boards.
Stock Up, D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss. Teams already loved Metcalf’s size, at 6’3 and 228 pounds. However, when you see that frame run a 4.33 forty, you start to salivate. Add that to a 40.5 inch vertical and 27 bench reps and you have a guy quickly moving up the boards.
Stock Down, Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia. Headed into bowl season, Holyfield was projected as a third round pick, at worse. After a poor showing at the combine, some scouts wonder if he will be drafted, at all. Holyfield ran a 4.78 forty, good for twenty second out of twenty three running backs. He then dropped a key pass in quarterback drills, topping off his rough weekend.
Stock Up, Noah Fant, TE, Iowa. Fant’s combine was nothing short of amazing. Not only is he 6’4 and 249 pounds, he ranked first for tight ends in forty time, vertical jump, broad jump, three cone drill, and sixty yard shuttle. He added twenty bench press reps for good measure. Fant is being looked at as a first round talent.
Stock Down, Isaac Nauta, TE, Georgia. Nauta ran a 4.9 forty, which made him look as if he were running in quicksand next to Fant’s 4.5. Combined with the fact that he came in smaller than expected and Nuata may have fallen out of the top five tight ends.
