(Audric Estime / RB / Notre Dame)
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books and what an event it was. This class is deeply talented but especially at QB, WR, OT, IOL, and IDL and there were several athletes who excelled during measurements and performances on the field. Today, SNS takes a look at the prospects who came into Indianapolis and improved their draft standing…and those who have work to do before the NFL Draft on April 25th in Detroit.
Ten Appreciating (Improving) Stocks
JJ McCarthy / QB / Michigan
6024 / 219 / 9” Hands
6.82 3-cone drill
Of the top QBs in the loaded draft class, McCarthy has the least amount of production on the field. The Michigan QB has been labeled with the moniker “game manager” because Michigan never had to rely on JJ’s arm to win games. At this year’s combine, McCarthy displayed excellent athleticism, NFL-caliber arm strength, and threw with timing and touch on Saturday afternoon. McCarthy clearly has the skills and physical makeup to start, and succeed, at the NFL level. McCarthy could climb into the Top 10 picks in April.
Bo Nix / QB / Oregon
6021 / 214 / 10.1” Hands
Nix, the most experienced college QB in history with 61 career starts, has plenty of tape from his time on the field at Oregon, and at Auburn prior to his time in Eugene, and has been possibly the most studied QB in the 2024 NFL Draft. Nix is highly accurate, throws with anticipation and touch, and has enough athleticism to scramble and run the ball. The question coming into Saturday revolved around Nix’s arm strength due to the nature of Oregon’s underneath passing offense. Consider those questions answered after Saturday. Nix has an NFL-caliber arm, is mature, and a leader. Nix looks locked into the first round next month.
Mekhi Wingo / IDL / LSU
6002 / 284 / 32” Arms / 77.7” Wingspan
4.85 40 / 1.64 10-yard split / 31.5” vertical / 9.1” broad jump
SNS has been higher on the potential of Wingo, the former LSU and Missouri IDL, than just about any other draft analyst and the combine proved that this assessment was spot on. Wingo has an athletic build and it was on display on Thursday in Indianapolis. He is exceedingly quick with an elite first step. Wingo’s burst is outstanding. What was surprising were his measurements. Specifically, Wingo has good arm length and a large wingspan, which were the only concerns about him entering the combine. Wingo doesn’t fit every system but any team looking for a quick, interior DL will consider drafting him. Wingo will be a Top 50 pick next month.
Trey Benson / RB / Florida State
6002 / 216
4.39 40 / 33.5” vertical / 10’2” broad jump
Benson was a mega-recruit who found minimal success at Oregon and then Florida State. On Saturday, Benson displayed prototypical size, fantastic speed, and great athleticism as exhibited by his vertical and broad jump numbers. Benson’s lack of career production is a concern but his physical attributes are elite and he may be a better NFL than college player. Expect Benson to go off the board early on day three of the draft.
Xavier Worthy / WR / Texas
5112 / 165 / 31.1” Arms / 74.2” Wingspan
4.21 40 / 41” vertical / 10’11” broad jump
No prospect has seen his stock rise as much as the Texas Longhorn WR. Running a combine record 4.21 40 will do that. After posting this record, Worthy chose to not do additional work outs, figuring he did enough work to secure his draft position. There is now talk that Worthy has locked in a first round selection in April. Worthy is an outstanding athlete with loose hips, quick feet, and legitimate world class speed. Not to douse all of this excitement, but Worthy is thin. Very thin. He also has inconsistent hands and suffers from concentration drops, although that was more of an issue two years ago than it was last season. Worthy may get selected in the first round in April.
Brian Thomas / WR / LSU
6027 / 209 / 32.6” Arms / 79.5” Wingspan
4.33 40 / 38.5” vertical / 10’6” broad jump
Thomas secured his status as a contender for first round consideration with his unreal performance on Saturday. At nearly 6’3” with 32 ¾ inch arms and a nearly 80-inch wingspan, Thomas makes an ideal target, especially inside the red zone, considering his height, length, and leaping ability. The LSU Tiger ran a stunning 4.33 40 and moved smoothly during on field drills. Thomas will be drafted within the first 40 picks of the draft next month.
Josh Newton / CB / TCU
5105 / 190 / 31.1” Arms / 74.2” Wingspan
4.51 40 / 1.55 10-yard split / 34” vertical / 10’4” broad jump / 7.01 3-cone drill
Newton is flying under radars right now but will rise steadily up draft lists when analysts take a look at his game film. Newton has started multiple years in the pass happy Big 12 and has loose hips, agility, and the short area reaction skills. The Horned Frog CB didn’t “wow” on Friday. He just confirmed that his athletic ability matches his tape. Newton should be a mid-round selection next month in Detroit.
Elijah Jones / CB / Boston College
6014 / 185 / 31.4” Arms / 76” Wingspan
4.44 40 / 1.54 10-yard split / 42.5” vertical / 10’11” broad jump
Another CB that improved his standing on Friday was BC’s Jones, who followed up a solid Senior Bowl week with a quality athletic performance during drills. Jones measured in at 6’1.5” tall, ran well, and displayed ideal leaping ability during the vertical and broad jumps. The NFL is always on the look out for CBs with length and athletic ability to match up with tall WRs in space down field. Jones should be a Top 50 pick in Detroit next month.
JC Latham / OT / Alabama
6052 / 342 / 11” Hands / 35.1” Arms / 84.3” Wingspan
Latham looks exactly like what an OL coach would design if he could – tall, long, big mitts, with ideal length and reach. Latham is also a dominate run blocking OT with enough athleticism and agility to play OLT in the NFL. However, his tape is inconsistent as he has trouble with speed off the edge, as well as picking up games, stunts, and late blitzes off the edge. Latham will almost certainly be drafted high in the first round based on his stature, frame, and run blocking ability. But to avoid becoming a bust, Latham needs to become a more reliable pass blocker.
Kingsley Suamataia / OL / BYU
6045 / 326 / 10.5” Hands / 34.2” Arms / 82.1” Wingspan
5.04 40 / 1.74 10-yard split / 29” vertical / 9’3” broad jump / 31 reps (225 lbs)
The BYU OLT is a great athlete with light feet, natural power, and versatility to line up at either OG or OT position on the line. A cousin to All -Pro Penei Sewell (Lions), the BYU Cougar has a similar level of athleticism and power and excelled during field drills on Sunday. NFL teams are divided on where he will play in the NFL. But there is little doubt that he will play in the league. Suamataia should be a Top 60 selection in April’s draft.
5 Depreciating (Declining) Stocks
Audric Estime / RB / Notre Dame
5113 / 221
4.71 40 / 38” vertical / 10’5” broad jump
Estime looked athletic and fit during drills on the field Saturday. He posted excellent numbers (a 1.58 10-yard split and impressive vertical and broad jumps) and performed in a manner consistent with how he played on Saturdays last fall. Unfortunately, the Notre Dame RB posted a pedestrian 40 time (4.71) that he needs to improve at the Notre Dame Pro Day or risk falling out of the draft. Estime’s running style is based on power and collisions, not speed. But a poor 40 time caused former Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams to fall to the fifth round in the 2022 NFL Draft when he ran a similarly poor 40 time at the combine. Williams was an All-Pro RB last year for the Rams so no door is closing on Estime. But if he doesn’t run a faster 40 time, his bank account will certainly take a hit.
Isaiah Williams / WR / Illinois
5092 / 182 / 30.1” Arms / 72.6” Wingspan
4.63 40 / 38” vertical / 10’3” broad jump / 6.75 3-cone drill / 17 reps (225 lbs)
In a draft as deep in quality and quantity of slot WRs as the 2024 NFL Draft is, running a poor 40 time could cause you to fall out of the draft. Williams, a former high school QB, is experienced and productive and relies more on quickness than speed, as demonstrated by his impressive three cone drill time. Williams also jumped well, indicating explosive traits that are often shown on the field. But his 40 time was subpar and that will impact his draft stock in April. Illinois’ Pro Day will be especially important for Williams and his draft future.
Kalen King / CB / Penn State
5112 / 191 / 30.7” Arms / 74.2” Wingspan
4.61 40 / 37” vertical / 10’2” broad jump
At the start of last college season King was one of the highest rated CB prospects available for the 2024 NFL Draft but he had an inconsistent season in Happy Valley, got exposed at times during Senior Bowl practices, and then ran a poor 40-time last Friday. King also struggled during on field drills where he looked tight in his hips and did not move smoothly. King may need to convert to safety to have an NFL career. King is a late round candidate in next month’s draft.
Marcus Harris / IDL / Auburn
6023 / 286 / 32” Arms / 78.2” Wingspan
5.06 40 / 1.77 10-yard split / 29.5” vertical / 8’7” broad jump
The 2024 NFL Draft has a deep group of undersized 3T DTs who rely on quickness, burst, and agility to push the pocket and pressure the QB. Harris had his best season of his career last year and consistently won at the POA with his first step. But Harris has struggled at both the Senior Bowl and last week at the combine. Harris moved less smoothly than anticipated and although his 40 time and 10-yard split times are quite good, they pale in comparison to the other elite 3Ts in this draft (Byron Murphy / Texas, Michael Hall / Ohio State, and Wingo). Harris is still a very good prospect and should be drafted in the first 100 picks in April.
Blake Corum / RB / Michigan
5076 / 205 / 9” Hands / 28.7” Arms / 70.1” Wingspan
4.53 40 / 1.58 10-yard split / 39.5” vertical / 6.82 3-cone drill / 27 reps (225 lb)
Perhaps it is unfair to include the ultra-productive Corum on the list of depreciating stocks but it is all relative, meaning that expectations were extremely high entering Indianapolis last Saturday for the Michigan All-American and he did not quite meet them. Specifically, Corum has elite lateral agility due to rare ankle flexion that allows him to make cuts that other RBs are not able to do. Unfortunately, this agility was not fully on display during the three-cone drill where he ran a solid 6.82 (the same number posted by JJ McCarthy), but it was not nearly as good as anticipated. Corum remains one of the top RBs in this draft and should get drafted in the first 75 picks next month in Detroit.
(Trevor Keegan / IOL, JJ McCarthy / QB, Blake Corum / RB / Michigan)
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