Fran Duffy’s position-by-position NFL Scouting Combine preview: Defense

I find the NFL Scouting Combine to be a test of expectations. Fast players should look fast. Slow players should look slow. When the results don’t match the expectations, that is when more work must be done. 

Below you’ll find my expectations for all five position groups on defense this week. Who do I expect to stand out? Who does this week mean the most for? What are the drills I prioritize most? Here are my thoughts on all of that and more!

Click to skip to a specific position group or just keep on scrolling …

Defensive line

Edge

Linebacker

Cornerback

Safety

Full Scouting Reports on all of these players can be found in the Diehard Draft Guide!

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Defensive Line

Workout Warriors

These are the players I expect to perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout.

Peter Woods (Clemson)

As of this writing I’ve gotten no word as of yet on whether Woods is going to test. If he does, I would expect him to do well. A good athlete with light feet, the former top recruit has really smooth lateral agility and has the first step to threaten the edges of interior blockers. He should test well across the board. 

Zane Durant (Penn State)

An undersized tackle at just 290 pounds, Durant has explosive traits that should allow him to shine at this event. Whether it’s the jumps or the shuttles, I expect him to be one of the stars of this group. On tape, Durant displays elite lateral mobility and he has the initial quickness to shoot gaps and knife into the backfield. 

Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M)

Onyedim (pronounced ‘OWN-yedum’) has a longer, broader frame than Durant, but he’s got juice off the ball and has that same gap-shooting skillset. He’s really tough to block when he has a two-way go against interior blockers with impressive lateral quicks and ankle flexion that should allow him to show out across the full gamut of testing this week. 

Jackie Marshall (Baylor)

Marshall is short and compact with sub-32-inch arms, but his athleticism stood out to me in-person at the Shrine Bowl last month. He’s a twitchy mover who dealt with injuries in the past. I think he makes his presence felt at this event. 

Kaleb Proctor (SE Louisiana)

An undersized three-technique from a lower level of competition, Proctor is another guy who popped up close at the Shrine Bowl. His size will be a limiting factor, but he has proven to be tough to block thanks to his light feet and quicks off the ball. Small school prospects at this event can be harder to find these days due to the Transfer Portal, but I expect Protctor to be one of the small-school darlings over the course of the week.

The Drill To Watch

I am a big proponent of studying the position work at this event. That is my focus when I’m inside Lucas Oil Stadium – not the athletic tests! Here’s the drill I weigh the heaviest and who I expect to shine when it’s that time of the night.

The Combine is always trying to roll out different drills to challenge prospects at every position, and my favorite recent addition is the ‘Figure 8’ or ‘Run The Hoop’ drill, featuring a pair of large hoops placed on the ground to form an ‘8’. The pass rushers will be asked to run both hoops consecutively, tracing the number and finishing well through a final cone to close it out. Things you may notice in this drill:

• Can the prospects both stay low and keep their balance while running the hoops? They should stay low without stumbling or falling. You don’t want to see them breaking their feet down as they go through it to play it safe either!
• A huge positive is being able to see the prospect accelerate while running the hoop. Not only do these players keep their balance and stay low, but they’re able to build up speed and keep gaining ground before finishing strong with burst through the cone.

Here are the players who have a chance to shine in these drills.

Skyler Gill-Howard (Texas Tech)

It remains to be seen whether or not Gill-Howard, who missed the second half of the season due to an ankle injury, will be able to go this week. If he does, this is a drill where he should shine. A former high school wrestler in Wisconsin who twice finished as the state runner-up, his balance, burst and bendiness on the corner should impress in this group. 

Gracen Halton (Oklahoma)

Halton is a pure three-technique defensive tackle; a nimble athlete with light feet who showed off that skillset with a good week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. He’s got burst to close, but I think his ability to maintain speed while trying to turn the corner should shine in this Figure 8 drill.

Bryson Eason (Tennessee)

Like Halton, Eason is also a twitchy athlete with impressive movement skills. Unlike Halton, I thought that he struggled to keep his balance at times when he was at full-speed. How will that reflect itself in this drill? I’m interested to see it, because his athleticism really popped in spurts both on tape and at the Senior Bowl

Trust The Tape

These are the players I don’t expect to test off the charts athletically, but don’t panic! The tape shows a prospect who is a better football player than he is an athlete. With that in mind, don’t drop him down the board with a subpar workout!

Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)

Hunter is thick with long arms and, on tape, I didn’t see a twitchy athlete. He may shine in a drill or two, but I don’t expect the kind of ‘Whoa’ athletic workout that we got from Jordan Davis a few years ago. Perhaps he proves me wrong, but I didn’t see that level of flashy athlete with the Red Raiders this year. Hunter has light feet with surprising quickness for a big man, so I don’t think he’ll test like a slug, but I don’t think it’ll be eye-popping.

Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)

I do think that Lee Hunter will probably test better than McDonald, who didn’t display much suddenness or explosiveness in the tapes I watched this month. A short-strider who didn’t make a ton of plays outside of his immediate orbit, McDonald has a game more based on pure strength and toughness at the point of attack. I won’t count it against him if/when he does not shine in Indy.

Domonique Orange (Iowa State)

This class has a handful of impressive run-stuffing nose tackles, and Orange is near the top of that list. At 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, ‘Big Citrus’ plays with both strength and power. Of this trio in this tier, I think he has the best chance to post a ‘Wow’ number here or there, but I don’t anticipate the overall athletic profile to be other-worldly. 

Most To Prove

Some players make this trip with a big question (or three!) at this stage of the process. How well does he run? Will he pass the medical check? What is he like off the field in the interview room? These are the prospects with the most notable question marks on their resume at this stage of the process.

Caleb Banks (Florida)

Banks looks the part, had a solid week down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, and backs it up with really good tape … when he’s on the field. The senior missed all but three games this year due to a foot injury suffered at the end of the 2024 season. How does that foot hold up during the exhausting orthopedic exam in Indy (which I covered in last week’s ALL NFL Draft Newsletter)? How teams feel about his long-term durability will have a big impact on how early he’s drafted.

Darrell Jackson (Florida State)

Jackson is what some would call a ‘First off the bus’ guy, meaning that if you had a high school football team – you want that kid being the first one off the bus to get the opposing team’s underclassmen feeling a bit squeamish. He’s got outstanding size and the flashes are great, but it rarely resulted in production. I don’t expect him to blow the doors off the workout, but if he can check the boxes there and interview well enough that teams feel his best football is ahead of him? He could go higher than people think.

Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati)

Corleone has a unique body type in that he’s extremely short with tiny arms and a thick frame, but he also has light feet and could post some surprising numbers at his size. The medical will be big for him, as he’s dealt with foot and pulmonary issues in the past. He chose not to weigh in at the Shrine Bowl, so all eyes will be on his weight in Indy as well.

The Rest Of The Pack

Everyone else who will take part in the events in Indianapolis (in alphabetical order).

Cam Ball (Arkansas), Nick Barrett (South Carolina), Ray Benny (Michigan), Damonte Capehart (Clemson), Brandon Cleveland (NC State), Deven Eastern (Minnesota), David Gusta (KentuckY), Zxavian Harris (Ole Miss), Bobby Jamison-Travis (Auburn), Tim Keenan (Alabama), Chris McClellan (Missouri), Christen Miller (Georgia), Albert Regis (Texas A&M), Gary Smith III (UCLA), Damonic Williams (Oklahoma)

Mr. Average

We get to read all about the measurements for all these players over the next few weeks … but wouldn’t it be nice to have some context? What is considered a ‘good’ 40-yard dash time for this position? What about arm length? The broad jump? Here’s what the average player drafted at each position has looked like over the last decade (by my records).

Height: 6032 (6’3 1/4’’’)

Weight: 304

Hand Size: 1000 (10’’)

Arm Length: 3328 (33 1/4’’)

Wingspan: 8000 (80’’)

40-Time: 5.01

10-Yard Split: 1.73

3-Cone Drill: 7.64

Short Shuttle: 4.64

Broad Jump: 109’’

Vertical Jump: 29.5’’

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Edge

Workout Warriors

These are the players I expect to perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout.

David Bailey (Texas Tech)

As of Monday morning, there has been no word on whether Bailey, a presumed top-five pick, will test this week. If he does, I expect him to put on a show. A slippery rusher with outstanding flexibility and lateral agility to go with an explosive first step, Bailey should really stand out in these drills. I think he’ll look great across the board.

An interesting subplot, and one that I believe his reps should take into account, is that he is slated to be back-to-back with Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. (the order is alphabetized) throughout the workout. Bain, who is also projected as a top-12 pick, is not known for his athleticism. Bailey looking like a lightning bolt while immediately preceding another high selection at that position is a great comparative tool.

R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma)

Thomas is a compact rusher with a fast first step. He can get off the ball well enough for a guy his size, but where he really shines is at the top of the arc. His ability to turn the corner is matched by few in this class. That should show itself in the agility drills (as well as in some of the field work).

Romello Height (Texas Tech)

Height is another Red Raider whom I expect to test well, particularly in the tests that look for linear speed and explosiveness. He closes in a blur on the field and he can fly out of his stance. The one aspect of the testing that I’m interested to see with him will be the shuttles. Height is what I would call ‘high-cut’, meaning he has long limbs with a high waist. Rushers that are high-cut can struggle to drop their weight and turn the corner (just as high-cut receivers can struggle to get in and out of breaks when they’re out running routes). He may have the stride length to make up for it, but I’m interested to see the time.

Josh Josephs (Tennessee)

Tennessee has churned out a couple of explosive, bendy rushers over the last couple of years, and Josephs is next in line. I have concerns about his ability to hold up in the run game in the NFL, but there’s no questioning his get-off and he has an extra gear that he can tap into mid-rush. On tape, he looks like a player who should test well — he looks like he has springs in his ankles at the snap of the ball.

The Drill To Watch

I am a big proponent of studying the position work at this event. That is my focus when I’m inside Lucas Oil Stadium – not the athletic tests! Here’s the drill I weigh the heaviest and who I expect to shine when it’s that time of the night.

The Combine is always trying to roll out different drills to challenge prospects at every position, and my favorite recent addition is the ‘Figure 8’ or ‘Run The Hoop’ drill, featuring a pair of large hoops placed on the ground to form an ‘8’. The pass rushers will be asked to run both hoops consecutively, tracing the number and finishing well through a final cone to close it out. Things you may notice in this drill:

• Can the prospects both stay low and keep their balance while running the hoops? They should stay low without stumbling or falling. You don’t want to see them breaking their feet down as they go through it to play it safe either!
• A huge positive is being able to see the prospect accelerate while running the hoop. Not only do these players keep their balance and stay low, but they’re able to build up speed and keep gaining ground before finishing strong with burst through the cone.

Here are the players who have a chance to shine in these drills.

Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)

I’m definitely lower on Howell than the consensus, as most see him as a potential first-round pick in this draft after he led the SEC in sacks this season. The former Bowling Green star who tied for the MAC lead in sacks back in 2023 definitely has a knack for getting after the quarterback, but his overall athleticism at a listed 6-foot-4, 248 pounds did not blow me away. The area where I do think he stands out is with his ability to flatten and corner when he gets the edge on tackles, and that’s the trait that should shine in the Figure 8.

Keyron Crawford (Auburn)

Crawford has an intriguing profile as a compact, athletic rusher with a short runway of football experience. He did not play the sport until his senior year of high school and started just two years in college (one at Auburn and one at Arkansas State). He’s a smooth, fluid athlete who should test well across the board, but I expect him to look good in this drill, in particular. 

Quintayvious Hutchins (Boston College)

An undersized rusher who began his career at BC on offense, Hutchins is a twitchy athlete who gains ground in a hurry. His frame is built to crush this drill, and based off what I saw from him in Mobile, I fully expect him to shine in this area.

George Gumbs (Florida)

Here’s a guy who is flying under the radar a bit. A former walk-on wide receiver at Northern Illinois, Gumbs eventually moved to tight end for the Huskies in the 2022 season before switching to defense in 2023. He transferred to Florida the following offseason and put on nearly 20 pounds. He has just 10 sacks in three seasons on defense, but there is reason to believe that his best football could still be ahead of him. As a former wideout, he should have athletic upside to track in this event, and I’m hoping to see him stand out in the field work.

Trust The Tape

These are the players I don’t expect to test off the charts athletically, but don’t panic! The tape shows a prospect who is a better football player than he is an athlete. With that in mind, don’t drop him down the board with a subpar workout!

Reuben Bain Jr. (Miami)

Simply put, Bain is a menace. An extremely violent, urgent, intense player who yearns to destroy blockers and hunt ball carriers, he’s not a freaky athlete. He will check the box fine, particularly as a guy who is listed at 275 pounds, but I don’t anticipate him blowing the doors off the testing if he does, in fact, do the full workout. If he doesn’t post great numbers, don’t fret. 

TJ Parker (Clemson)

One of the reasons why I struggled seeing Parker as the potential top-10 pick that some billed him as coming into the season is that he’s not a special athlete. Like Bain, I think he will check the boxes fine and should be around ‘average’ for most numbers (check on what those are down at the bottom of this piece). His game is based more on strength, power and effort than quickness and explosiveness. 

Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State)

One of the bigger pass rushers in this class, coming in at over 6-foot-5 and nearly 270 pounds, Dennis-Sutton is another guy that wins with strength and tenacity as opposed to winning with athleticism. Many times when he was seen capturing the edge on Big Ten tackles it was thanks to him being wired into the snap count to get the jump on blockers. All that said, Penn State players have a recent history of surprising us by outperforming expectations at the Combine, so maybe Dennis-Sutton will follow suit.

Gabe Jacas (Illinois)

Like these other guys in this category, Jacas is a no-nonsense rusher. No frills with this player. A former two-time state champion wrestler in high school, Jacas is a bit stiff as an athlete and won’t wow anyone with his ability to win off the ball. He had a pretty good week in Mobile with the pads on, but in shirts and a T-shirt I don’t think he’ll have that same lasting effect on people watching him for the first time. 

Most To Prove

Some players make this trip with a big question (or three!) at this stage of the process. How well does he run? Will he pass the medical check? What is he like off the field in the interview room? These are the prospects with the most notable question marks on their resume at this stage of the process.

Keldric Faulk (Auburn)

My No. 1 edge rusher coming into the week (I explained why here), Faulk has the ability to remind people why he was viewed as one of the top prospects in the country entering the season. I hear concerns from fans and media alike about his explosiveness, without any mention of the fact that he is listed by the school at 288 pounds! I’m very interested to see what Faulk measures in at, and then how he tests at that size. The junior captain had just two sacks this year, so if he’s going to go as high as I think his tape says he should, he will almost certainly need to test well. 

Akheem Mesidor (Miami)

Mesidor’s tape is good. I do not think that he is a bad player. So why is he so far down my board? The soon-to-be 25-year old has a startling history of foot injuries going back years, starting in 2023 as he transferred from West Virginia. He bounced back and forth between EDGE and DT throughout his career at both programs, saving his best and most productive campaign for his sixth year in college. It’s a tough profile to bet on. The medical check will be big for him (check last week’s ALL NFL Draft Newsletter for what Mesidor can expect to go through in his orthopedic exam on Wednesday before he meets the media). 

LT Overton (Alabama)

Like Faulk, Overton is a young (he’ll remain 21 years old well into his rookie year) rusher who didn’t quite produce up to his expectations this season. As a heavier (278 pounds) edge rusher, his raw testing numbers will require context, but he will have questions to answer with his overall upside this week. There are traits to work with, but how high is the actual upside and how likely is he to reach it? That’s what scouts want to know about him. 

Nadame Tucker (Western Michigan)

If Mesidor is a tough profile to love, then Tucker’s is the chewiest steak you’ve ever seen. The sixth-year senior turns 26 years old before Training Camp. He spent two years at junior college before three years at Houston, where he racked up just two TFLs and two quarterback hits in 13 games played. He moved to WMU this season and dominated the MAC, leading the country with 14.5 sacks to go along with 21 TFLs and four forced fumbles. He’s really undersized. To me, if he’s going to be anything more than a late-round pick, he has to blow the doors off the testing. ‘Average’ won’t do it. 

The Rest Of The Pack

Everyone else who will take part in the events in Indianapolis (in alphabetical order).

Vincent Anthony JR (Duke), Jaishawn Barham (Michigan), Caden Curry (Ohio State), Logan Fano (Utah), Aidan Hubbard (Northwestern), Marvin Jones (Oklahoma), Nyjalik Kelly (UCF), Malachi Lawrence (UCF), Max Llewellyn (Iowa), Anthony Lucas (USC), Derrick Moore (Michigan), Trey Moore (Texas), Patrick Payton (LSU), Jack Pyburn (LSU), Mason Reiger (Wisconsin), Tyreak Sapp (Florida), Wesley Williams (Duke), Zion Young (Missouri)

Mr. Average

We get to read all about the measurements for all these players over the next few weeks … but wouldn’t it be nice to have some context? What is considered a ‘good’ 40-yard dash time for this position? What about arm length? The broad jump? Here’s what the average player drafted at each position has looked like over the last decade (by my records).

Height: 6036 (6’3 3/4’’’)

Weight: 256

Hand Size: 968 (9 3/4’’)

Arm Length: 3348 (33 1/2’’)

Wingspan: 8028 (80 1/4’’)

40-Time: 4.68

10-Yard Split: 1.62

3-Cone Drill: 7.15

Short Shuttle: 4.36

Broad Jump: 120’’

Vertical Jump: 34.5’’

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Linebacker

Workout Warriors

These are the players I expect to perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout.

Arvell Reese (Ohio State)

I (and others) have Reese listed with my edge rushers in this class, but he will be working with the linebacker group on Thursday night. At a listed 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, he’ll be one of the bigger ‘backers at the event and, if he tests, should test like a freak show. His explosiveness is evident the moment you watch him play. This one is a no-brainer, as long as he actually goes through a full workout.

Sonny Styles (Ohio State)

If Reese doesn’t go, then all eyes will be on his teammate for the Buckeye defense in Styles, who also boasts an eye-popping combo of height-weight-speed. Styles has outrageous range for a guy his size (listed 6-foot-4, 235 pounds) and his overall athleticism is a huge strength at that size. It’s important to note that he does not sacrifice toughness or instincts with these traits; this former safety has really developed into the total package as a linebacker prospect. 

Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh)

Louis is built opposite of Styles in that he’s extremely short and slight, but he has outstanding athletic traits. Louis spent a ton of time playing in space in that Pitt defensive scheme, and while he needs to do a better job of playing through contact and defeating blocks, his abilities in coverage and as a blitzer should not be discounted. He was one of the best players at the Senior Bowl and should continue that positive momentum here in Indy.

Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma)

Daniels has a similar skillset to Louis, but he’s built more like Styles. Listed 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, he has good size and, like Styles, is a former safety who played the ‘Cheetah’ position in the Oklahoma defense (making his usage similar to Isaiah Simmons’ in that same scheme at Clemson). I don’t think he’s as refined as Styles, and I think Louis is a better football player right now, but Daniels’ ceiling may be higher than Louis’ because of his frame. He should test well this week, as long as he’s able to go (he pulled out of the Senior Bowl late in the process). 

Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)

When I first watched Rodriguez, I saw a player with decent size across the board who flashes solid athleticism. I didn’t think the combination was enough to move the needle. After seeing him up close, I feel a bit different about that assessment. I think Rodriguez tests a bit better than I previously anticipated, and after some conversations on the road during the All-Star circuit I think he could really impress with the athletic testing portion of the workout (especially with the jumps).

The Drill To Watch

I am a big proponent of studying the position work at this event. That is my focus when I’m inside Lucas Oil Stadium – not the athletic tests! Here’s the drill I weigh the heaviest and who I expect to shine when it’s that time of the night.

Like most positions in football, teams want to find linebackers who can impact the passing game. If you’re not going to rush the quarterback, that means you have to be viable in coverage. Can you efficiently flip your hips in space, turn and run, and find the football? Some of the coverage drills we’ll see will put that to the test. Some things to notice while watching these drills:

• You want to see the defenders flip their hips without losing much speed, if any. Want an easy way to look for this? Watch their head. If their head pops up, that typically is a sign of some lateral stiffness when they’re asked to execute that kind of athletic maneuver. 
• After the linebacker flips his hips, you want to see a strong burst to the catch point. Can they change gears, or are they a one-speed kind of player? 
• Lastly, can they finish at the catch point? You don’t need a true ballhawk underneath, but any production on the ball is good production in the passing game. 

Here are the players who have a chance to shine in these drills.

Jake Golday (Cincinnati)

A former pass rusher at Central Arkansas, Golday has legit size at 6-foot-4, 237 pounds, but surprisingly spent a ton of time at Cincinnati playing out in the slot. His versatile usage at the college level could be very attractive for teams, and to see a guy with his size looking natural dropping in reverse, a lot of teams will have their interests piqued. 

Kaleb Elarms-Orr (TCU)

Elarms-Orr is built like a prototypical ‘WILL’ linebacker and showed off good coverage chops at the Senior Bowl, making a handful of plays in 1-on-1 drills against running backs in space. I would expect that fluidity to continue in these drops. 

Lander Barton (Utah)

Barton stands at nearly 6-foot-4 and over 230 pounds, so he’s another tall, rangy athlete with length and fluidity. There are a handful of those guys in this class! The senior with NFL bloodlines also saw some time as a tight end this past year, catching passes for the Utes on offense. His athleticism and natural comfort in space should stand out here at this event.

Jimmy Rolder (Michigan)

Rolder was slated to head to the Shrine Bowl but pulled out of the event late, and in the flashes I’ve seen from him he looks competent dropping back in coverage and making plays on the ball. I’m really interested to see this kid up close this week.

Trust The Tape

These are the players I don’t expect to test off the charts athletically, but don’t panic! The tape shows a prospect who is a better football player than he is an athlete. With that in mind, don’t drop him down the board with a subpar workout!

CJ Allen (Georgia)

In terms of pure, throwback ‘MIKE’ linebackers, my favorite in this class is Allen. At a listed 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, he’s not the biggest and I don’t think he’ll be the fastest one at the event either. I don’t see an explosive athlete on tape, and it’s one of the reasons why I struggle seeing him crack the first round in April. That said, my expectations are set there, so if he doesn’t impress as a tester this week, I won’t be dropping him at all. 

Keyshaun Elliott (Arizona State)

Elliott is another guy who has a winning skillset predicated on toughness and instincts at the position. I don’t think he’s going to test well; in fact, I think it will be a concern as to whether or not he cracks certain thresholds at the position to be viewed as draftable for some teams. If he can get into the 4.6s range in the 40-yard dash, I think that will be a win for him. Does that make me dislike him as a player? Absolutely not. I think he can play starter-level football in the league despite those limitations. 

Anthony Hill (Texas)

Like Allen, Hill is a player who has received first-round buzz over the last year from those in the media and, frankly, I just don’t see that level of athletic upside from him. He’s young and has been productive in the SEC. He was the signal-caller of that defense as a sophomore. There is a lot to like in the profile. I just don’t see a high-end athlete, especially when it comes to chasing things down from sideline to sideline. I’m hoping he proves me wrong, because if he does I do think the Top 40 is within his sights.

Most To Prove

Some players make this trip with a big question (or three!) at this stage of the process. How well does he run? Will he pass the medical check? What is he like off the field in the interview room? These are the prospects with the most notable question marks on their resume at this stage of the process.

Josiah Trotter (Missouri)

Trotter’s game is based on instincts, technique and physicality. Knowing his bloodlines, there’s no shock that he’s a throwback player. The level of athleticism is going to be the big question. He doesn’t need to be a speed demon, but can he at least check the box? If he can get into the 4.65-range, that will be enough, in my opinion.

Taurean York (Texas A&M)

I’d put York in the same bucket. I love his film. He’s got a quick processor. He’s always square to the line of scrimmage. He presses holes well and can navigate traffic. He’s a field-general type. But I don’t see a good athlete on tape. Testing will prove crucial for York. 

Eric Gentry (USC)

Gentry is basically the opposite of Trotter and York. He’s tall, long and rail thin with good athleticism on film. For that reason, with such a unique body type, he NEEDS to test like a great athlete. He can’t just check the box, because he’s such an outlier physically he has to make up for it. If he can get evaluators and coaches’ creative juices flowing thanks to a unique athletic profile, it will be a long way towards him getting drafted earlier than currently projected. 

The Rest Of The Pack

Everyone else who will take part in the events in Indianapolis (in alphabetical order).

Wesley Bissainthe (Miami), Aiden Fisher (Indiana), Owen Heinecke (Oklahoma), Justin Jefferson (Alabama), Jack Kelly (BYU), Deontae Lwson (Alabama), Red Murdock (Buffalo), Namdi Obiazor (TCU), Karson Sharar (Iowa), Xavian Sorey (Arkansas), Scooby Williams (Texas A&M), Wade Woodaz (Clemson)

Mr. Average

We get to read all about the measurements for all these players over the next few weeks … but wouldn’t it be nice to have some context? What is considered a ‘good’ 40-yard dash time for this position? What about arm length? The broad jump? Here’s what the average player drafted at each position has looked like over the last decade (by my records).

Height: 6014 (6’1 1/4’’’)

Weight: 234

Hand Size: 948 (9 1/2’’)

Arm Length: 3218 (32 1/8’’)

Wingspan: 7738 (77 3/8’’)

40-Time: 4.60

10-Yard Split: 1.59

3-Cone Drill: 7.06

Short Shuttle: 4.29

Broad Jump: 121’’

Vertical Jump: 35’’

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Cornerback

Workout Warriors

These are the players who I expect to perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout.

Avieon Terrell (Clemson)

He’s unlikely to be drafted highest in this cornerback group, but my favorite of the class is Terrell. He’s undersized, but this is a competitive corner who will scrap with anyone on the outside. He has really good instincts and is a loose, fluid athlete. He’s light on his feet, smooth in transition and has the speed to carry vertical routes with ease. At his size, he kind of NEEDS to test like a freaky athlete to get drafted in the first round, but I think he will come through.

Devin Moore (Florida)

In a class with a low supply of players with blue-chip ceiling, Moore is on the short list. He has the tools to be one of the best corners in the league with his combination of size and speed at over 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds. His ease of movement stands out the moment you turn the tape on, with natural ability to flip his hips and turn and run with vertical routes in the SEC. Injuries have been a huge issue, so the medical will be big here, but I expect him to test really well. 

Brandon Cisse (South Carolina)

Cisse is a bit of an undersized man-to-man corner who I think has matchup ability both inside and outside (he played in the slot in their Dime package and could play nickel in the league). Does he have a playmaking dimension? I’m not really sure. But he’s a good athlete and should test like one this week.

The Drill To Watch

I am a big proponent of studying the position work at this event. That is my focus when I’m inside Lucas Oil Stadium – not the athletic tests! Here’s the drill I weigh the heaviest and who I expect to shine when it’s that time of the night.

One of my favorite drills for the DBs is called the ‘Box’ drill, where a player will backpedal, drive forward, come to balance, run back as if he’s reacting to a vertical route, then break again to find the football. A couple of things to note in this drill:

• As always, these drills are designed to put stress on the prospects. After executing a couple of athletic moves on command from a coach on the field, can the player find the ball and finish at the catch point for an interception? This will indicate his comfort in reeling in any pass that comes their way in coverage. 
• Before that point, however, you want to see easy change-of-direction and body control. Can the prospects execute these movements with good pad level, light, active feet, and a change in speed on the break? This all speaks to a player’s overall athleticism, which is obviously very important when it comes to his ability to stay in a receiver’s hip pocket in man-to-man coverage.

Here are the players who have a chance to shine in these drills.

Colton Hood (Tennessee)

Hood has certainly taken the road less travelled to this point as just a one-year starter on the outside, having played at three Power-4 programs in three seasons. I don’t know if he’s going to blow the doors off the testing portion of the workout, but he has shown really good flashes of being able to play the ball in the air. Drills like the ‘Box Drill’ should play well into his skillset.

Chris Johnson (San Diego State)

I like Johnson on tape, though I don’t like him as much as others do. I have questions about the overall speed and athletic profile, but I think he’s fairly smooth in his change of direction and he can finish on the ball downfield. I’m very interested to see how he tests, but in terms of the field work? He should be one of the better guys there.

Trust The Tape

These are the players I don’t expect to test off the charts athletically, but don’t panic! The tape shows a prospect who is a better football player than he is an athlete. With that in mind, don’t drop him down the board with a subpar workout!

Mansoor Delane (LSU)

Again, the combine is all about expectations. I like Delane. He’s my type of cornerback. I’m not as high on him as others, and so people have questioned why I’m so low on him. To me, I don’t see the explosiveness required for a corner to go as high as we are talking about him going in the draft. He’s instinctive and physical and can play the ball in the air, but I don’t know if he’s going to test like a great athlete across the board. For others, that may ‘drop’ him. For me? That matches what I see on the tape. I’m very interested to see how he runs on Friday.

Malik Muhammad (Texas)

Like Delane, Muhammad is the style of corner that I think plays well in the league. He has excellent instincts. He’s hyper-competitive and physical. He flashes real ability to take the ball away. His athleticism is the big question. It shows up on tape and it was an issue, at times, at the Senior Bowl when matched up one-on-one. I’m not expecting him to test overly well, so he won’t be dropping down if that’s the case this week.

Most To Prove

Some players make this trip with a big question (or three!) at this stage of the process. How well does he run? Will he pass the medical check? What is he like off the field in the interview room? These are the prospects with the most notable question marks on their resume at this stage of the process.

Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)

This one is simple. McCoy did not play a down this year for Tennessee after tearing his ACL 13 months ago. He had the opportunity to go to the Senior Bowl and did not go in order to prepare for this event. He should go through EVERY drill possible and, maybe more importantly, his knee has to pass through the medical check (for more on what he can expect there, check out last week’s ALL NFL Draft Newsletter). 

D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana)

I love Ponds’ tape and I do expect him to test well. Here’s the problem: he’s going to be an extreme outlier size-wise. He’s listed by Indiana at 5-foot-9, 173 pounds, and he is going to come in smaller than even that this week. If he’s going to go in the Top 50, he has to test like an insane athlete. It can’t be average or even just ‘good’. He needs some 90th percentile-plus numbers in his corner to outweigh the size limitations, even with the ideal production and compete levels.

Julian Neal (Arkansas)

Neal is one of the bigger corners in this class at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds with over 33-inch long arms. He really looks the part. The big question everyone has is how well he’ll run. I, personally, think he may be one of the ‘stopwatch shockers’ of the week. There were flashes of him turning and running in the SEC. That said, he’ll also have to answer for being a fifth-year senior who did not become a starter until this season, despite beginning his career at a lower level of competition with San Diego State. 

Davison Igbinosun (Ohio State)

This cornerback group is really deep in the middle of the class, with a lot of players all bunched together in what people would describe as the ‘round two to round four’ range. Igbinosun is in that group, and I think it’s likely he’s near the upper tier of that group. He’s a well-rounded corner who is truly battle tested with four years of starting experience in the Big Ten. It hasn’t all been pretty for him (he was penalized 16 times in 2024), but the tools are all there. He can really help himself with a big week this week.

Keith Abney II (Arizona State)

Like Igbinosun, Abney has been a bit of a flag magnet over his career, as penalties have been a consistent issue for him. I don’t think he’s great at playing through contact either, and the run game with him is more of a spectator sport. With that in mind, he has to counterbalance that by testing like a freaky athlete. I’m not sure he has it in him, but if he can do that, I think Round 2 is in the cards. 

The Rest Of The Pack

Everyone else who will take part in the events in Indianapolis (in alphabetical order).

Marcus Allen (UNC), Tacario Davis (Washington), Charles Demmings (Stephen F. Austin), Thaddeus Dixon (UNC), Daylen Everette (Georgia), Andre Fuller (Toledo), Jaylon Guilbeau (Texas), TJ Hall (Iowa), Ahmari Harvey (Georgia Tech), Domani Jackson (Alabama), Will Lee III (Texas A&M), Hezekiah Masses (Cal), Latrell McCutchin (Houston), Toriano Pride (Missouri), Ephesians Prysock (Washington), Chandler Rivers (Duke), Keionte Scott (Miami), Avery Smith (Toledo), Collin Wright (Stanford)

Mr. Average

We get to read all about the measurements for all these players over the next few weeks … but wouldn’t it be nice to have some context? What is considered a ‘good’ 40-yard dash time for this position? What about arm length? The broad jump? Here’s what the average player drafted at each position has looked like over the last decade (by my records).

Height: 5117 (5’11 7/8’’’)

Weight: 185

Hand Size: 918 (9 1/8’’)

Arm Length: 3138 (31 3/8’’)

Wingspan: 7558 (75 5/8’’)

40-Time: 4.45

10-Yard Split: 1.53

3-Cone Drill: 6.96

Short Shuttle: 4.22

Broad Jump: 124’’

Vertical Jump: 36.5’’

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Safety

Workout Warriors

These are the players I expect to perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout.

Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)

Thieneman became a starter at Purdue as a true freshman and earned All-American status, proving to be a ball magnet on the back end and one of the best deep safeties in the country. He further proved himself this year after transferring to Oregon and succeeding in a brand new defense with the Ducks, seeing more versatile usage in the slot. I think he’ll test well and open some eyes in a homecoming for the Indiana native.

Michael Taaffe (Texas)

A smooth athlete with really fluid and efficient movement skills, Taaffe is an experienced safety who showed good flashes of playing the ball in the air in the games I’ve studied so far. His size could be a concern at just over 190 pounds, but in this environment he should shine. I expect him to test like one of the better athletes in this safety class.

Genesis Smith (Arizona)

A tall, rangy athlete with long strides, Smith is a junior who has been pretty productive the last couple of seasons for the Wildcats. I have reservations about his ability to play downhill in the run game, but he more than holds his own in space and should look good at an event like this one.

The Drill To Watch

I am a big proponent of studying the position work at this event. That is my focus when I’m inside Lucas Oil Stadium – not the athletic tests! Here’s the drill I weigh the heaviest and who I expect to shine when it’s that time of the night.

One of my favorite drills for the DBs is called the ‘Box’ drill, where a player will backpedal, drive forward, come to balance, run back as if he’s reacting to a vertical route, then break again to find the football. A couple of things to note in this drill:

• As always, these drills are designed to put stress on the prospects. After executing a couple of athletic moves on command from a coach on the field, can the player find the ball and finish at the catch point for an interception? This will indicate his comfort in reeling in any pass that comes their way in coverage. 
• Before that point, however, you want to see easy change-of-direction and body control. Can the prospects execute these movements with good pad level, light, active feet, and a change in speed on the break? This all speaks to a player’s overall athleticism, which is obviously very important when it comes to his ability to stay in a receiver’s hip pocket in man-to-man coverage.

Here are the players who have a chance to shine in these drills.

Bud Clark (TCU)

Clark was one of the best safeties at the Senior Bowl and made his presence felt whenever he stepped between the lines. I’m not sure how well he will test at just 185 pounds, which is a concern, but he’s quicker than fast and his ability to attack and finish on the ball is one of his redeeming qualities. I expect him to be one of the better performers in the Box Drill.

Treydan Stukes (Arizona)

A versatile DB who has played every position in the secondary in his career, Stukes is a sixth-year senior who profiles well as a specialty player in the league. With his coverage background I could see him becoming a matchup player against tight ends in the pros, and he’s had some of the best-looking plays on the ball of this safety class this year. He should look good in these types of drills.

Deshon Singleton (Nebraska)

Singleton is one of the bigger safeties in this class and he has a lot of experience to be a matchup player against the tight end. With teams looking for the ‘big nickel’ skillset, he will present a lot of value. He has the smooth fluidity and natural ballskills to excel in drills like this one.

Trust The Tape

These are the players I don’t expect to test off the charts athletically, but don’t panic! The tape shows a prospect who is a better football player than he is an athlete. With that in mind, don’t drop him down the board with a subpar workout!

Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

Downs is a phenomenal player and checks a ton of boxes. Here’s the thing though … his physical tools are a bit further down the list in the ‘strengths’ column than most think. He’s not the freaky athlete that Nick Emmanwori was last year. His physical dimensions are average and I think he’ll be a fine tester, but I don’t think it’ll be eye-popping numbers. I’m not going to fret with that stuff. He’s a great football player.

AJ Haulcy (LSU)

I got to Haulcy’s tape recently for the first time and really liked what I saw. This is a player who has been productive at three different stops; first at New Mexico, then at Houston and then at LSU this past year. He’s a proven finisher at the catch point and profiles well as a pure deep safety in the league, despite having just average athletic tools. I won’t be overthinking it if he doesn’t test overly well. 

Zakee Wheatley (Penn State)

Wheatley’s game is not based on athleticism and range, but rather toughness, instincts and ballskills. A traditional ‘strong safety’ type, Wheatley can excel in a split-safety scheme or in a down role closer to the line. I don’t think he’s going to be a great matchup player against tight ends, but that’s okay. I like the player and think he has staying power in the league with his skillset.

Most To Prove

Some players make this trip with a big question (or three!) at this stage of the process. How well does he run? Will he pass the medical check? What is he like off the field in the interview room? These are the prospects with the most notable question marks on their resume at this stage of the process.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)

McNeil-Warren is a personal favorite. He’s big, long, physical and can take the ball away. I think he shows good flashes of having range and closing the distance fast, but people are concerned about how he’s going to run. He can quell those concerns this week in Indy.

Louis Moore (Indiana)

Moore started on the back end for the National Champion Hoosiers this year as a seventh-year senior, and at his advanced age he already has a pretty big anchor on his draft value (he turned 25 last month). That said, he finished tied for second in the country in interceptions this season and had some really nice plays tracking the ball downfield. He’s very undersized at under 5-foot-11 and just over 190 pounds with short arms, so he will NEED to test well if he plans on being more than a late-round pick.

Ahmaad Moses (SMU)

Like Moore, Moses comes in tight, compact packaging; he’ll be the shortest safety drafted in the last decade if he gets drafted this spring. A big determining factor on whether or not that dream comes true is how he tests this week.

The Rest Of The Pack

Everyone else who will take part in the events in Indianapolis (in alphabetical order).

Bishop Fitzgerald (USC), Jalen Huskey (Maryland), Dalton Johnson (Arizona), Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina), Xavier Nwankpa (Iowa), VJ Payne (Kansas State), Kamari Ramsey (USC), Robert Spears-Jennings (Oklahoma), Jakobe Thomas (Miami)

Mr. Average

We get to read all about the measurements for all these players over the next few weeks … but wouldn’t it be nice to have some context? What is considered a ‘good’ 40-yard dash time for this position? What about arm length? The broad jump? Here’s what the average player drafted at each position has looked like over the last decade (by my records).

Height: 6001 (6’0 1/8’’’)

Weight: 203

Hand Size: 938 (9 3/8’’)

Arm Length: 3158 (31 5/8’’)

Wingspan: 7600 (76’’)

40-Time: 4.50

10-Yard Split: 1.55

3-Cone Drill: 6.99

Short Shuttle: 4.27

Broad Jump: 123’’

Vertical Jump: 36.5’’