Well, the 2019 Combine is now history and although a lot happened over those four days nothing really happened to change the top end but several players who were previously unheralded gave themselves a bit of a boost. Overall our thought remains that this is a defensive line heavy draft.
Best Combine Performances.
40 Yard Dash
Hands up anyone who saw Zedrick Woods running 4.29? Thought not. Although he has been a steady performer for Ole Miss over the last four seasons he was not on our radars as a draft prospect. He had a decent performance all round but with the depth at Safety in this draft may still go undrafted. This was the best time of the event and although it wouldn’t get into the top eight times in the last 10 years or so it was still impressive for a Safety. Two Wide Receiver prospects showed up well here – sure-fire 1st round pick DK Metcalf who ran 4.33 at 228lbs, and former Buckeye Parris Campbell who had 12 TDs last year coming in at 4.31. Campbell will be moving up a lot of peoples draft boards after that.
Of the much vaunted D-linemen class, no one stood out more than Montez Sweat who ran a blistering 4.41 while weighing in at 260lb! He will be a terror off the edge at the next level and right now we can see him going top 10.
Five linebackers chased Sweat home all finishing inside 4.50, and of these both Devon White & Devon Bush looks set to go in round one. One intriguing player was Brian Burns who surprisingly skipped the bench press and was thought by some too light of frame to be a top pick. However, he must have been hitting the gym of late and after playing in college at 235 he popped up at the combine weighing 249 but still ran a highly respectable 4.53. With the aid of some top NFL conditioning coaches, he could easily add another 10lbs and still keep his flexibility & agility. Although still more likely a later 1st round pick we think he could be a mover if his pro day goes well and or others slip up.
Of the offensive lineman, we were most intrigued by Webber State’s Iosua Opeta, far from a household name outside of those who follow the FCS, however, his performance at the Combine should have made a few coaches sit up and take notice. Running 5.02 at 301 lbs is pretty impressive and as discussed below he shone at the Bench Press. He started life as a DT so knows both sides of the line and we could see a team taking a chance on him with a late round pick.
Bench Press
Webber State’s Iosua Opeta was the standout of the event pumping out 39 reps – 3 clear of the nearest competitor, Clemson’s DL man Dexter Lawrence. As stated above we think he could find his way onto a practice squad at least and possibly become a starter.
Of the Running Backs, Alex Barnes stood out with 34 reps and the Kansas State man will have benefitted greatly from Bill Snyder’s tutelage. This was the events 3rd best performance and impressive given that potential top 10 pick Ed Oliver only pushed out 32.
Of the skill positions, honourable mention must go to Wide Receivers N’Keal Harry and DK Metcalf both of whom repped out 27, quite an achievement given both weighed in at little more than the 225lb bar!
Vertical & Broad Jump
Three players dominated the jumps with Virginia’s Juan Thornhill coming out top on both events, particularly impressive given he is the shortest of the three. He only competed in 4 events but his overall showing should see him drafted somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. Wide Receivers Miles Boykin and Emanuel Hall who filled out the 2nd & 3rd places should also have piqued the attention of some coaches and should be drafted in the later rounds.
3 Cone & Shuttles
Michigan Corner David Long sprang to notice dominating in both events he took part in (he didn’t take part in the 60 yd shuttle). He won both events and his combined time of 10.42 was well clear of anyone else and at 5’11 we can see him becoming a starting slot corner.
Another player who impressed here was Andre Dillard who managed a 4.4 20 yard shuttle at 315lbs – that’s pretty agile for a big man. He was second fastest among the OL men in the 3 cone drill and his horizontal jump was the best in his class too. Just don’t ask him to jump vertically as at 292 he was joint last. He was a big part of Washington States great 2018 season in which he protected star quarterback Gardner Minshew’s blind side and he has probably cemented himself as a 1st round pick, with the Vikings, Chargers or Packers being possible landing spots.
