Players that upped their stock at the NFL draft combine
The NFL Combine, an annual event where draft prospects get to add value to their name however, it also can decrease the value to their name by putting up a poor performance in various drills. This past Sunday concluded the 2020 NFL combine in which 337 players participated. Many players shined and in the process made a name for themselves. Few players who were highly ranked and talked about did not impress teams and now have teams rethinking if they should select them. Here are 5 players who raised their stock in the upcoming draft with their impressive performances.
#5 Justin Jefferson | Wide Receiver
Jefferson is part of one of the deepest wide receiver classes the NFL has ever seen and with Jefferson behind top prospects such as CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Tee Higgins and many more players the combine turned into a proving ground for Jefferson. Something concerning Jefferson was his speed however, his 40-yard dash showed he is not slow as people say he is finishing with a 4.44-second dash ranking 8th among receivers and a better time than Lamb and Jeudy.
Draft Projection
Jefferson definitely mixed his name up to become a top 5 receiver in the draft.
#4 Jeremy Chinn | Safety
Chinn wasn’t the most talked about player in the 2019 college season and is an example of a player making a name for himself with his impressive combine performance. At 6’3 and 221lbs Chinn recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.45 seconds ranking third among all safeties, an impressive broad jump of 11’6 that ranked first and third all-time by a safety since 2006, and with a 41” vertical tying for second by a defensive back.
Draft Projection
Chinn who was already capable of being a starter in the NFL definitely had one of the best combines by a defensive player and with that, he could be picked up in the late 1st round or early 2nd round.
#3 Tristan Wirfs | Offensive Tackle
Wirfs is one of the top linemen entering the draft if not the best and proved why he should be considered the best with one of the best performances in recent combine history by an offensive lineman. At 6’5 and 320 lbs, Wirfs broke the combine record for the vertical jump by an offensive lineman with a 36.5” vertical, Tied the combine record for the broad jump by an offensive lineman with 10’1 jump.
Draft Projection
Wirfs just bumped himself up to a for sure top 10 pick and his performance can verify he deserves to go top 10 in the draft.
#2 Jalen Hurts | Quarterback
When Hurts declared for the draft it had people questioning if the dual-threat quarterback would stay at quarterback or convert into a wide receiver in the NFL. Hurts responded to doubters that said he would need to convert to a receiver to be successful in the NFL by putting on one of the best quarterback performances in this year’s combine. Hurts recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.59 ranking second among all quarterbacks and impressing many with throwing drills doing better than quarterbacks like Justin Herbert, and Jake Fromm players who are considered the best thing after Joe Burrow.
Hurts is considered to be picked in the 2nd or 3rd round may have just bumped himself up to a late 1st round pick.
#1 Isaiah Simmons | Linebacker
Simmons before the Combine was already considered a top 10 draft pick just because of his freakish athleticism that allowed him to play any position needed on defense. Although Simmons did not participate in on-field drills, what he did show was enough for him to be considered a top 3 pick. Simmons at 238 lbs recorded a 4.39 time during his 40-yard dash ranking first among all linebackers, an impressive 39-inch vertical to go along with a broad jump of 11 feet.
Simmons is a lock for a top 5 pick, and very well could move into the top 3.
