There are no Joe Biden resurrection stories in the 2020 Combine. Nobody came up bigger than predicted. Nobody got completely written off.
That said, here are some of the leftover Combine stories we missed over the past weekend (we did the wide receivers, running backs and tight ends already):
LEFT TACKLE
Best team fits: Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants.
The screams about Mekhi Becton‘s absence here can be heard from Louisville to Indianapolis. Becton’s 40 was incredible, and he backed it up with 23 bench reps (with 35 5/8-inch arms, a feat). But that’s where his performance ended, as he sat out the rest of the action due to hamstring tightness. Wirfs ran through all of the drills and put together quite an on-field workout, which only further solidified his standing as a first-rounder. Wirfs also showed off his athleticism by recording the highest vertical leap (36.5 inches) and tying for the longest broad jump (10 feet, 1 inch) by an offensive lineman since 2003. That vert beat the marks posted by Lamb and Jeudy, a pair of first-round wideouts. Evaluators worried about his position fit — some have him switching to guard because of his 34-inch arms — can rest easier after watching him run a 4.85 40, hit 24 reps on the bench and cruise through drills with excellent technique. He made himself plenty of dough Friday night.
Honorable mention: Mekhi Becton, Louisville; Austin Jackson, USC; Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas.
LEFT GUARD
Best team fits: Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots.
Ruiz took some reps snapping the ball, demonstrating his versatility as an interior prospect. His brute strength (28 bench reps) showed up while he was powerfully hitting bags in on-field drills, and he displayed quickness with his footwork. His 5.08 40 wasn’t blazing fast, but that was easy to overlook when watching the rest of his workout.
Honorable mention: Jack Driscoll, Auburn.
CENTER
Best team fits: New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles.
There’s a good amount to be said about the players coaches tab to demonstrate each drill at the combine, and with the linemen, it was mainly Harris demoing drills for his group. He was an instant contributor at Washington and the reasons for his impact were easily seen on the field in Indianapolis. His footwork is excellent and his agility is top notch. Harris brings an element of power and explosiveness on the inside that very well could translate into a Pro Bowl center at the next level. Watching Harris run through drills was a treat, and while his 20 bench press reps are a slight concern and could contribute to a slide in the draft, his athleticism is difficult to overlook.
Honorable mention: Matt Hennessy, Temple.
RIGHT GUARD
Best team fits: New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, New York Jets.
This draft class isn’t as deep on the interior as it is at tackle, but Pinter compiled a very good workout in the on-field drills. His athleticism — Pinter was a tight end before converting to tackle in college — was on full display in Indianapolis, and as he’ll continue to slide inside in the NFL, he could offer a guard- or center-needy team an option with high upside. His strength needs to improve, but he put up 24 reps on the bench with sub-32-inch arms, meaning there’s still room to get stronger at the next level.
Honorable mention: Kyle Murphy, Rhode Island.
RIGHT TACKLE
Best team fits: Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns.
As good as Wirfs was in his on-field workout, one could make a realistic argument that Wills was slightly better. Wills was a natural in every drill he ran, displaying excellent feet and hands that looked more like a Pro Bowl veteran than a college prospect. His fit with the Redskins comes as a result of Wills being capable enough to play either tackle position, especially if Trent Williams is indeed going to force his way out via trade.
Honorable mention: Ezra Cleveland, Boise State; Matt Peart, Connecticut; Colton McKivitz, West Virginia.
DEFENSE
EDGE RUSHERS
Best team fits: Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Highsmith is extremely athletic and put that on display Saturday in Indianapolis. His spin move on the five-bag rush-move drill was a work of art, as was his dip on the fourth bag, and his hoop-running performance showed just how smooth he can be around the edge. Highsmith excelled in pass coverage drills too, showing he has a chance to be effective in both areas of the defense off the edge. He wasn’t a big name, but combined with his 4.7 40, 10-foot-5 broad jump and 33-inch vertical leap, Highsmith proved he can develop into an effective edge defender if he can add strength at the next level.
Derrek Tuszka, North Dakota State
Best team fits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills.
A 4.79 40 and 24 reps on the bench illustrated the type of traditional athlete who can work his way to success on the defensive line. Tuszka excelled in pass-rush drills and also shined in pass coverage, perhaps serving as a precursor to an eventual transition to a 3-4 edge defender in order to increase the pool of teams interested in his services.
Honorable mention: Alton Robinson, Syracuse; LaDarius Hamilton, North Texas.
3-4 DEFENSIVE ENDS
Best team fits: Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens.
Zuniga’s standing before the combine wasn’t as high as one might expect simply because his production wasn’t consistent in college. He sure did produce in Indianapolis, though, backing up the flashes on tape with the second-best 40 among D-linemen (4.64 at 264 pounds) and tied for fifth in bench press with 29 reps, out-benching heavier players like Derrick Brown. Zuniga was explosive through change-of-direction drills and looks the part of a legitimate NFL defender, as long as he can stay healthy.
Best team fits: Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals.
Roach moves incredibly well for his size at 6-foot-2 and nearly 300 pounds. He was quick through the bags and change-of-direction drills and powerful in the pass-rushing drills, and his swift 4.84 40 should raise some eyebrows. Roach’s 20 bench press reps fall right in line with his size, and he could do well working as a 3-technique with the capability to power past blockers. His standing with the third-best athleticism score among edge defenders (per Next Gen Stats) only reinforces what we saw on the field in Indianapolis.
Honorable mention: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa; Kenny Willekes, Michigan State.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Best team fits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots.
Gallimore is incredibly explosive and powerful. A 4.79 40 at around 300 pounds showed how quickly he can move, putting him in range of past and present NFL stars Jared Allen and Robert Quinn, and he was violent in the bag drills, blasting them with his hands during clubs and rips before attacking the final bag. Effort with Gallimore was evident in his workout, and he could become a problem-causer with improvement and development at the next level.
Best team fits: Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions.
Brown is large, forceful and explosive. He’ll make a team happy in the first round, especially after the workout he compiled in Indianapolis. His 28 bench reps showed his strength and while he couldn’t break 5.1 in his 40, his weight (326 pounds) should offer him a break. The tape is undeniable and Brown did nothing but further his status as a likely first-round selection.
Honorable mention: Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M; Larrell Murchison, North Carolina State; Davon Hamilton, Ohio State; Khalil Davis, Nebraska.
LINEBACKERS
Best team fits: Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders.
This one is easier to explain than any other. Simmons ran a blindingly-fast 4.39 40, setting the internet ablaze with video of his sprint. It was so good he didn’t even run a second time. Simmons is an athletic freak of nature who is so versatile, folks have argued over what position he’ll play. He earned a linebacker athleticism score of 99 (per Next Gen Stats), and would have also reached 99 if he’d tested with safeties. If he slots in as a weak-side LB, he’ll be expected to contribute from Day 1. Simmons’ 40 time plus his vertical leap (39 inches) only reinforced what we already knew about him: He should be a Pro Bowl talent.
Best team fits: Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals.
Divinity only played in six games in his most recent season due to injury and suspension for repeated failed drug tests, but he passed the on-field test in Indianapolis with flying colors. He ran a less-than-shocking 4.85 40, put up 14 reps on the bench and jumped to 31 inches, but aced his workout. Divinity displayed excellent ball skills and was quick and explosive through the bag drills, showing the skills needed to be a three-down linebacker who should be effective in pass coverage.
Best team fits: Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals.
Baun’s 40 time (4.65 at nearly 240 pounds) landed him among NFLers Lavonte David, Leighton Vander Esch and Josh Allen, and he out-benched the other four linebackers in Bucky Brooks’ top five at the position entering the combine. Baun was solid in the on-field drills, and he was also a top performer in the 20-yard shuttle and three-cone drill, capping a complete performance in Indianapolis.
Honorable mention: Malik Harrison, Ohio State; Dante Olson, Montana; Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State; Shaun Bradley, Temple; Jordan Brooks, Texas Tech; Scoota Harris, Arkansas.
CORNERBACKS
Best team fits: Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins.
Henderson tied for second among corners in the 40 at 4.39, hit 20 reps on the bench press, jumped to 37 1/2 inches and finished with an athleticism score of 99 (per Next Gen Stats). Many of Henderson’s measurables line up with that of eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, though he’s lighter by 15 pounds. His on-field workout displayed fluidity and burst through footwork drills and he showed reliable, natural ball skills, justifying his ranking as a top corner prospect despite a lack of total production in college.
Best team fits: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars.
Terrell is a guy whose size could really make him into something special at the next level. Standing 6-1 1/8, Terrell is a little light at 195 pounds, but if he can gain weight and retain his athleticism, he’ll be a force in an NFL team’s secondary. His 4.42 40 and 10-foot-9 broad jump showed his all-around explosiveness, and he was very fluid through most of his footwork drills. Sure, he was toasted in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, but his future is very bright.
Honorable mention: Javelin K. Guidry, Utah; Darnay Holmes, UCLA; Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame; Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern; Jaylon Johnson, Utah.
SAFETIES
Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
Best team fits: Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos.
Considering his pedigree, should we really be all that surprised? Winfield is small (5-foot 9 1/8), but he shined throughout his workout and testing, posting a 4.45 40 (tied for third-best among safeties), a 36-inch vertical jump (tied for seventh-best) and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. His on-field drills were unsurprisingly his best work, as he cruised through each test and showed the natural ability that made him a force at Minnesota, even at his small stature.
Best team fits: Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns.
Dugger is physically the opposite of Winfield, standing nearly four inches taller and weighing 14 more pounds. His 42-inch vertical led all defensive backs and his total workout was similar to that of NFL stars Derwin James and Eric Berry. He wasn’t perfect in his on-field work, but his ceiling is extremely high thanks to his athleticism, which earned him a score of 99, per Next Gen Stats.
Honorable mention: Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois; K’Von Wallace, Clemson; L’Jarius Sneed, Louisiana Tech.
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