NFL Scouting Combine - QBs, RBs, WRs
February 23, 2009 at 7:41 am | Article by Paul Hickey |
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Fantasy owners are glued to this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, as the top wide receivers seem to be dropping like flies. First, Michael Crabtree was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot, which may or may not require surgery or affect his draft stock, and during the Sunday WR workouts, Missouri pass catcher Jeremy Maclin suffered a knee injury. Check out the full update from QB, RB and WR day.
Maclin slipped and fell during a late morning pass drill, and was very slow to get up. He returned to his WR group and finished the drills, but definitely wasn’t 100 percent. He’s expected to undergo on MRI within the next few days, and it remains to be seen if this will affect his draft stock at all. Missouri’s pro day is March 5, so we’ll know more within the next two weeks. For now, we assume Maclin’s injury isn’t serious, and he remains fourth overall on our 2009 Dynasty Rookie Big Board.
Top WR Combine Performances:
- Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey was the fastest pass catcher in the 40 yard dash, clocking an impressive 4.30, and likely leaving scouts drooling. This definitely improves his chances of landing in the first round, possibly as high as 18th to the Chicago Bears, or as late as 30th to the Tennessee Titans. He’ll likely climb up our dynasty rookie big board as the off-season goes on. Heyward-Bey looked like a beast in the vertical and the quick pass catching drills as well.
- Big WRs like Ohio State’s Brian Robiskie and Rutgers’ Kenny Britt looked great in drills and running routes, and will definitely continue to be a solid dynasty sleepers in our eyes.
- Mississippi’s Mike Wallace blazed a 4.33, a performance that will likely garner additional attention from scouts. He’s definitely not a great route runner, but this performance could earn him a spot as a return specialist.
- 6′0″, 185 lb. little known slot receiver and return man Johnny Knox from Abiliene Christian clocked a 4.34, and is now officially on the radar. He reminds us a lot of New Orleans’ Lance Moore, and prior to this combine performance, he was in looking like a top undrafted free agent pick up. Now, he’s likely to be taken in the later rounds.
- Penn State’s Deon Butler ran a 4.40 forty, and was also a top performer in the 60 yard shuttle. He is likely to be a top undrafted free agent, but won’t have much of a fantasy impact.
- Arizona’s 5′8″ Mike Thomas fits the mold of Wallace, Butler and Knox, in that he’s a quick slot guy with blazing speed as well. Thomas clocked in at 4.41, and could get drafted in the middle rounds.
- Florida’s Percy Harvin ran a 4.41, and solidified himself as a first round pick due to his versatility. With regards to injury issues earlier in his career at Florida, he told media that the reason for his lack of durability early on was because at that time he was playing RB full time. We expect a team like Chicago, Tennessee or Tampa or Jacksonville to go after Harvin. Harvin’s college teammate Louis Murphy showed that solid size isn’t his only asset. The 6′2″, 203 lb. Murphy ran a surprising 4.43, and we see him as someone who could end up being taken in the second round and being a much better pro than expected.
- LSU’s Demetrius Byrd ran a 4.42 forty, and could definitely be a solid complimentary receiver at the next level.
Top RB Combine Performances:
- Virginia’s Cedric Peerman clocked the top RB 40 yard dash time, at 4.45. He was also a top performer in the vertical, bench-press and 20 yard shuttle. He’s definitely someone who could move up our rookie RB big board, and become a dynasty draft sleeper.
- Boise State’s Ian Johnson, whose production dipped drastically from his sophomore to his junior to his senior season, redeemed himself with a 4.46 forty yard dash time, which may be good enough to ensure he’s drafted. Johnson could be a return man and role player on third downs at the pro level, but shouldn’t have much fantasy value.
- Purdue’s Kory Sheets is a guy we really started to like a lot when we were putting together our player profiles. He has great size and speed, and does the little things, like pass block out of the backfield. Sheets clocked a 4.47 forty, which means he could be a late second to mid third round selection and a solid fourth or fifth round fantasy rookie draft choice.
- NC State’s Andre Brown, who played well at the Senior Bowl, clocked a 4.49 forty. We’re very intrigued by him, as he’s 6′0″, 224 lbs., and did very well in the bench press and vertical jump. He currently ranks ninth overall on our rookie RB big board.
- We expected a better time from Connecticut’s Donald Brown, who clocked a 4.51. However, the 2,000 yard rusher in 2008 did very well in the vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, and 20 and 60 yard shuttles. He’s Mike Mayock’s second ranked RB, and he’s our fifth, but that could definitely change as backs that fit his profile perfectly have been very successful at the NFL level in recent years - such as Maurice Jones-Drew.
- Texas A&M’s Mike Goodson recorded a 4.54 forty, while Alabama’s Glen Coffee ran a 4.58 and Ohio State’s Chris Wells clocked a 4.59. Wells looked like a freaking man beast in drills, and impressed scouts in general.
- Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno didn’t have a top forty time, but did very well in the vertical and cone drills, and made some spectacular catches in the pass-catching drills.
- Abeliene Christian’s Bernard Scott got noticed with a solid forty time and performances in the cone drills, but we’re not sold on him at all. Especially since he’s 25 years old and played at four different colleges.
Top QB Combine Performances:
- West Virginia’s Pat White clocked a 4.55 forty - and also made reference to the fact that he “wouldn’t mind” dabbling in some other positions at the pro level, while Georgia’s Matthew Stafford ran a 4.81 and showed great athleticism in all drills but did not throw. Sam Houston State’s Rhett Bomar and Hartwick’s Jason Boltus were two of several more QBs to clock a sub 5.0.
- USC’s Mark Sanchez looked good in passing drills, as did Ball State’s Nate Davis, and Kansas State’s Josh Freeman impressed scouts with his stature and footwork.
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