The end of the NFL Combine signals the next step in a long evaluation process made longer by the NFL’s decision to push the draft back to May. They’ll hold interviews and host prospects for the next several months, while attending Pro Days to confirm their findings from the Combine.
But they mustn’t look too far ahead, because the last day of the Combine features the NFL’s best athletes: the defensive backs. With skills relating directly to every general test and a few position-specific drills, NFL evaluators need to make sure that fatigue from the long weekend hasn’t worn them down. From the final day of the Combine, here are ten important takeaways.
1. The top of the cornerback class may be the most athletic yet
Every year, 4 or 5 CBs finish with an official 40-yard dash time below, 4.40 seconds. But this year, a crop of already highly-ranked CBs accomplished the feat and paired it with stellar 3-cone times (average 6.73 seconds), short shuttle times (average 4.02 seconds) and good broad jumps (average 10’5”). All of those cornerbacks also finished with a vertical leap higher than 35”.
2. The Olympics are invading the combine
Already, a minor equipment controversy involving Nike cleat nubs designed to increase performance has caused consternation among combine officials, who want them banned. The Olympics had to deal with this issue during the 2008 Summer Olympics and swimming (and the inverse issue for American men’s speed skating in Sochi), but the difference is that every prospect wore the Nike shoes that were blamed for quick times.
3. Darqueze Dennard may be drafted in the top ten
Before the combine, concerns about Dennard’s top-end speed and overall athleticism depressed his stock, despite largely being considered the top cornerback. His official 4.51 (and unofficial runs of 4.46 and 4.42) 40-yard dash times go a long way towards assuaging that concern, though a purported 1.60 second ten-yard split isn’t perfect. Nevertheless, his biggest issue was his athleticism, something he’s gone a long way towards proving.
4. Justin Gilbert could be the next Richard Sherman
It is of course hasty to compare a raw prospect to one of the top corners in the country, but there’s clearly been a priority placed on the Seahawks’ model of defensive back and that model demands the comparison. Gilbert is not as technically as sound as the All-Pro from Seattle, but his length, fluidity and athleticism could allow a well-coached team to groom him. His arm length (33 1/8”) means he plays taller than his 6’0” frame, and he ran one of the fastest times at the combine at 4.37. With 20 bench reps, he also has the potential to turn into a top-tier press corner.
5. Terrance Mitchell has been overlooked
The “other” cornerback at Oregon, Mitchell has had to compete with Ifo Ekpre-Olomu for attention from national evaluators and media. With an excellent short-shuttle time (4.00 seconds) and second-best 3-cone time (6.57 seconds) among defensive backs, he has elite short-area quickness that should suit him well to slot play, and his excellent ten-yard split for 1.53 seconds should suit him well to zone-coverage. His long speed (4.63 40-yard dash) is questionable, but his play on the field at Oregon should at least be considered a third cornerback.
6. Florida State continues to be a hotbed of athletic defensive talent
Last year, Xavier Rhodes came out of FSU with the top vertical leap (40.5”) and broad jump (11’0”), and he also posted a quick 40-yard dash of 4.43 seconds. This year, Lamarcus Joyner—a slot cornerback and safety prospect—has posted a very fast short shuttle of 4.40 seconds and a high-level vertical leap (37.5”) to go along with his explosive ten-yard split (1.50 seconds). They also have the fastest draft-eligible safety in Terrence Brooks (4.42), a player who also boasted 38” in the vertical.
7. Brock Vereen might be the most intriguing safety in the draft
Brother of Patriot Shane Vereen, the Minnesota graduate has flown under the radar the entire year (in part due to his streaky play) before showing up as an exciting athletic talent that can be developed. He not only topped all defensive backs in the bench press (25 reps), and had the second-fastest 40-time (4.47 seconds) at his position. His agility scores (4.07 second short shuttle and 6.9 second 3-cone) will encourage at least one team to take a chance on his athleticism and bloodlines.
8. Slot corners arrived just in time
With the NFL moving more and more towards three-receiver attacks and nickel defenses, slot cornerbacks have been at a premium. The position values agility and fluidity, as well as the ability to take on tackles in the running game. Hard-hitting players like LaMarcus Joyner join fluid players like Jason Verett in what might be one of the richest slot-friendly drafts in a while. A number of defensive backs finished with excellent agility scores but more importantly showed incredible fluidity in the hip position drills. Last year’s class also featured a healthy dose of nickel players and it seems the college game is feeding the NFL’s needs perfectly.
9. Length matters
The discussion surrounding the combine has always been a little hyperbolic, but NFL teams are emphasizing the importance of arm length at CBs more than ever before. Not all 6’0” prospects have the same range, and players like Justin Gilbert (33 1/8” arms) stand at 6’0” with a much different value from body type alone than Ross Cockrell, whose arms don’t even crack 30”. If anything knocks Dennard off his perch, it will be this, as his 30 1/4” arms don’t stand up to some of the rangier corners in the draft. Now, general managers are focusing on clogging passing lanes and tightening windows over other measurables and are changing the evaluation process.
10. Front offices hold more value in the combine than they’ll admit
While the general consensus at the combine from media reports of personnel executives (current and former) seems to be that the tests don’t affect a player’s “draft stock,” scouts continue to measure obsessively over times and lengths that their bosses claim don’t matter. Aside from confessions nearly every year from former scouts about players they passed over because of poor combine scores (Anquan Boldin being the poster child of this phenomenon), it’s evident that the athletic tests matter based on chatter on the floor. Moreover, many teams continue to maintain policies where prospects must meet minimum standards in order to stay on their board. At the very least, general managers relish the opportunity to finally see dozens of athletes at each position finally put their skills in context on an even and controlled playing field.
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