NFL Combine 2015: Grading the Most Notable Invitees
Many of the 2015 NFL draft's most highly projected prospects were full participants in the NFL Scouting Combine this year. That had not always been the case in the past, but it should become the norm in the future, as most of the top prospects only helped themselves by showcasing their talents in Indianapolis.
For the most part, it was evident at the combine who the future first-round picks were in each position group, and not simply because their names were already well known. With impressive measurables and/or proficiency in on-field drills, the top prospects displayed why they are held in high regard by NFL scouts.
Each of the following players has been widely projected as a first-round pick by draft prognosticators and did not necessarily need to participate in the combine to be among the draft's top selections. Nonetheless, they decided to put themselves to the test against their peers at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Some of them, such as West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White, stole the show with spectacular results. Others, such as Florida edge defender Dante Fowler Jr., had ups and downs. Most of them, however, did more to help themselves than hurt themselves in regards to their draft stocks.
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
1 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.97 seconds
Vertical Jump: 28.5"
Broad Jump: 8'7"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.16 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.36 seconds
If we were to judge Jameis Winston's combine solely by the numbers, the Florida State quarterback would not grade out well. In each of the five athletic measurable drills in which he participated, his marks ranked within the bottom half of his position group.
Winston's workout numbers, however, were never going to make or break his draft stock. Where he really needed to shine was in the on-field throwing workout and in the interview room.
By all accounts, he did. In the positional drills, Winston threw the ball with accuracy and velocity on both deep and short throws. In meeting with teams, he "was so impressive with his knowledge of X's and O's" that he drew comparisons to Peyton Manning, according to Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman.
There had been some ambiguity in regard to Winston's draft stock leading up to the combine, largely because of his questionable past off the field. His positive impression in Indianapolis, however, left virtually everyone convinced that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will draft him with the No. 1 overall pick, per CBS Sports' Dane Brugler.
Grade: A
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.52 seconds
Vertical Jump: 36"
Broad Jump: 10'1"
Three-Cone Drill: 6.87 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.11 seconds
Although Winston left Indianapolis in the driver's seat to be the No. 1 overall pick, his top competition—Oregon's Marcus Mariota—was arguably the most impressive quarterback at the combine.
Mariota looked to be the best athlete at his position, as he ran the fastest 40-yard dash and three-cone drill among quarterbacks while finishing in the top four in all five on-field measurable athletic tests. In the throwing session, he went toe-to-toe with Winston and held his own, as he too showed the ability to launch the ball deep downfield with accuracy and velocity.
Perhaps most importantly, Mariota was "absolutely killing it" in combine interviews, according to ESPN's Louis Riddick, who said Mariota was as impressive or perhaps even more impressive than Russell Wilson in his combine interviews.
Mariota might not be the first pick in the draft or even the second, but his combination of throwing ability, athleticism and intelligence will ensure that he is not on the board long.
Grade: A
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
3 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.52 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 35"
Broad Jump: 10'6"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.04 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.07 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.00 seconds
For a running back who set NCAA defenses ablaze by running for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns this past season, Melvin Gordon's combine performance can be described as average. His numbers did not stand out the way his play on the field did at Wisconsin, but his stock as a likely first-round pick remains intact.
Gordon's 4.52-second 40-yard dash was a solid time for a 6'1", 215-pound back and the fifth-fastest among running backs. It's a number that indicates Gordon has more than enough speed to be a great NFL runner but not enough speed to break away from next-level defenders.
The most impressive numbers in Gordon's combine were his times in the shuttle drills. His 20-yard shuttle time was the second-fastest among running backs, while his 60-yard shuttle time was the second-fastest among all players. Those numbers indicate how quickly he can change directions, which is what makes him a special talent.
No part of Gordon's combine, however, was more important than showing he could catch the ball cleanly. He did so—at least in the drills that were shown on television—which should help alleviate concerns that scouts might have about his ability to contribute as a receiver.
Grade: B
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Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
4 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.35 seconds
Bench Press: 23 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.5"
Broad Jump: 10'3"
Three-Cone Drill: 6.92 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.14 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.52 seconds
Kevin White's 40-yard dash very well might have been the Kim Kardashian moment of the combine. The West Virginia wide receiver temporarily broke the Internet when he completed the run in 4.35 seconds, showing elite-level speed that many did not realize he had.
Most already considered White one of the top three receivers in this year's draft, but his 40 time gives him a strong case for being the No. 1 wideout in the class. At 6'3" and 215 pounds, he arguably has the draft's best combination of size and speed at the position, and he is coming off a 109-catch, 1,447-yard, 10-touchdown senior season.
The 40 was not the only drill in which White shined. He tied for the lead among receivers in the bench press and put up solid numbers across the board. In positional drills, he made consistent hands catches and ran clean routes.
Thanks to his stock-boosting showing in Indianapolis, White will now be widely projected to be a top-10 pick.
Grade: A+
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
Vertical Jump: 33"
Broad Jump: 10'0"
Three-Cone Drill: 6.71 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 3.98 seconds
As outstanding as Kevin White's senior season and combine showing were, he remains no lock to be the first receiver drafted this April. Alabama's Amari Cooper, the 2014 Biletnikoff Award winner and also one of the draft's top talents, had an impressive combine showing of his own.
In terms of explosiveness, White outshone Cooper, as the West Virginia receiver is bigger than Cooper yet posted better numbers in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump. Still, Cooper's 40 time was impressive in itself; his 4.42-second run was 0.01 faster than the 40 run last year by Sammy Watkins, who was the exact same height and weight as Cooper (6'1", 211 pounds) and went on to be the No. 4 overall pick.
That said, quickness and route-running precision are what make Cooper special. His 20-yard shuttle time was the fastest among all wide receivers, while his three-cone drill time was fifth-fastest. During the on-field drills, Cooper's routes looked as sharp as ever, as he made clean breaks and caught everything with his hands.
Many draft analysts believe White emerged as the draft's top wideout with his combine performance Saturday, but Cooper showed why he is also among this year's cream of the crop.
Grade: A
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
6 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.45 seconds
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.5"
Broad Jump: 10'5"
Despite putting up impressive numbers for a 6'3", 209-pound wide receiver, DeVante Parker might not have done enough at the combine to keep pace with Amari Cooper and Kevin White in the competition to be one of the first two wide receivers selected in this year's draft.
Outperformed in the 40-yard dash by Cooper and White, who both measured in at heavier weights than Parker, the Louisville receiver had a good all-around day but did not stand out in any area. His on-field drills were clean but not outstanding, as he appeared to be loafing through them at times.
Parker is coming off an intriguing but abbreviated senior season, in which he played in just six games yet caught 43 passes for 855 yards and five touchdowns. He has a legitimate case for being a top-10 pick this year. That said, it looks as though he will fit in as the draft's No. 3 wideout at this point.
Grade: B-
Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
7 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.78 seconds
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Jump: 34.5"
Broad Jump: 9'9"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.30 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.37 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 12.31 seconds
By failing to break 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Maxx Williams left palpable disappointment as he didn't stand out among an underwhelming crop of tight end prospects. That said, his overall performance at the combine should still be enough to help him maintain his spot atop the ranks at his position for the 2015 draft.
Many expected Williams to run the dash in faster than 4.78 seconds, but that was still brisk enough for him to finish his workout Friday as the third-fastest tight end in Indianapolis.
We can apply a similar sentiment to most of Williams' other measurable drill performances. While he did not post any memorable numbers, he finished among the top five tight ends in all drills except the bench press and 60-yard shuttle.
Where Williams really did stand out was in pass-catching drills. He has terrific hands and put those on display with clean snags while running good routes in on-field drills. He might not have ideal athletic traits for a 6'4", 249-pound tight end, but he still projects as a dangerous inside receiving threat, which should make him the first player drafted at his position in April.
Grade: B-
Brandon Scherff, OT/G, Iowa
8 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 5.05 seconds
Bench Press: 23 reps
My pick as the draft's top offensive lineman going into the combine, Brandon Scherff started to show why at the beginning of his on-field workout Friday when the 6'5", 319-pound blocker completed the 40-yard dash in 5.05 seconds.
Unfortunately for Scherff, he suffered a hamstring injury during his first drill of on-field positional work, which ended his day prematurely.
The 40 time confirmed the athleticism that was already apparent on Scherff's tape. His bench press performance was somewhat disappointing, though, as he managed just 23 repetitions of 225 pounds despite having relatively short arms for an offensive tackle at 33.375 inches.
Overall, however, Scherff's combine cannot receive a full grade because of its abbreviated nature. That makes his Iowa pro day an important event, as that will be his opportunity to go through a complete workout, assuming his hamstring is fully healed.
Grade: Incomplete
La’el Collins, OT, LSU
9 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 5.12 seconds
Bench Press: 21 reps
Vertical Jump: 27"
Broad Jump: 9'0"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.70 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.63 seconds
Going into the combine, many draft analysts questioned whether La'el Collins had enough athleticism to continue playing offensive tackle in the NFL. In a great performance in Indianapolis, he sure made it look as though he does.
Collins ran the seventh-fastest 40-yard dash among offensive linemen. He also looked as fluid as any player in his position group when running through game-like movements in the on-field positional drills.
It still might be in a NFL team's best interest to move Collins inside to guard. He has subpar length for an offensive tackle, with 33.25-inch arms. He is also a better athlete moving forward than he is laterally, as evidenced by his 40 being more impressive than his three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle.
Regardless of what position he ultimately projects to, Collins dispelled some myths about his athleticism with the foot skills he showed on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. That should lock in the LSU offensive lineman as a top-15 pick in this year's draft.
Grade: B+
Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
10 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.53 seconds
Bench Press: 35 reps
Vertical Jump: 41"
Broad Jump: 10'10"
Three-Cone Drill: 6.91 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 seconds
From his weigh-in Friday to his on-field workout Sunday, everything went well for Clemson edge defender Vic Beasley at the combine.
Listed at only 235 pounds by Clemson's official athletics website, Beasley faced legitimate concerns about his size and strength going into the combine. By weighing in at 6'3" and 246 pounds, he alleviated the size concern. Then, in the bench press Saturday, Beasley erased all doubts about his strength by hoisting 225 pounds skyward 35 times, tying him for the best bench-press number among all defensive players in Indianapolis.
Those numbers were just the appetizer for what Beasley, who is best known for his explosive athleticism, did Sunday. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash among all defensive front seven players and posted top-five marks in every measurable drill in which he participated. Furthermore, he looked as good as any player in the on-field skill drills, where he exhibited natural footwork and change-of-direction quickness.
With concerns that he might not be a fit for a 4-3 defense, Beasley's draft stock was in flux prior to the combine. His outstanding performance in Indianapolis, however, all but ensured that he will be a top-10 pick come April.
Grade: A+
Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
11 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.56 seconds
Vertical Jump: 42"
Broad Jump: 11'6"
Even with Vic Beasley's outstanding performance, no defensive end/outside linebacker prospect displayed more explosiveness in his on-field workout Sunday than Kentucky's Alvin Dupree.
At 6'4" and 269 pounds, Dupree tied for the third-fastest 40-yard dash among defensive front seven players. He had the best broad jump of the group by a six-inch margin and had the second-best vertical jump of the day.
Like Beasley, Dupree might have cemented himself as a top-10 draft pick with his performance in Indianapolis. He is not as polished as Beasley, but his combination of size and athleticism is off the charts.
The only reason Dupree does not grade out with top marks is that he did not participate in a full slate of drills. In addition to only competing in the three measurable tests that best suited his strengths, Dupree did not go through the on-field skill drills.
Grade: A-
Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
12 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.60 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 32.5"
Broad Jump: 9'4"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.40 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.32 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.89 seconds
Rated as my best pass-rushing prospect going into the combine, Dante Fowler Jr. validated his upside with a great 40-yard dash time but underwhelmed in the rest of his testing.
By completing the 40 in 4.60 seconds while wearing a gold watch, Fowler demonstrated great speed for a 6'3", 261-pound defensive end and showed why he is in the conversation to be one of the top five players selected in this year's draft.
The rest of his testing results, however, paled in comparison to those achieved by Beasley and Dupree. The Florida edge defender also struggled in the positional drills, which exposed some tightness in his hips.
These lackluster showings in the rest of the combine leave one to consider whether Fowler made running a fast 40 his primary focus in training. While his speed is legitimate—his explosiveness is evident on tape—his disappointing results in other areas left the door open for Beasley and/or Dupree to potentially surpass him on draft boards.
Grade: B-
Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
13 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.64 seconds
Bench Press: 24 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.5"
Broad Jump: 10'5"
While Friday's defensive line weigh-in made Beasley an immediate winner of this year's combine, the opposite happened for Randy Gregory. By measuring in at only 235 pounds, the 6'5" Nebraska defensive end left reason for serious concern as to whether he is too thin to play on the edge in the NFL.
According to a graph made by Bleacher Report's Justis Mosqueda, Gregory's density of weight compared to height is not even close to that of any edge player who has been selected in the draft’s first three rounds since 2005.
To Gregory's credit, he still achieved 24 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press, an impressive feat for a 235-pound man with 34-inch arms. As expected, he also showed good athleticism on the field, both in his testing numbers and in demonstrating excellent change-of-direction quickness and fluidity in positional skill drills.
With that being said, Nebraska's pro day looms as an important day for Gregory's draft stock. In order to preserve his status as a potential top-10 draft pick, he needs to not only add good weight before his pro day but also impress in athletic testing again to prove that he can bulk up without sabotaging his explosiveness and agility.
Grade: C
Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC
14 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.97 seconds
Vertical Jump: 29.5"
Broad Jump: 8'10"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.59 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.53 seconds
My projection to be the first defensive player drafted this year, Leonard Williams became the first defensive player in a decade to measure in at 6'5" and at least 300 pounds and then run a sub-five-second 40-yard dash, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Overall, though, Williams' testing results did not stand out. That is in part because his defensive line group was as full of smaller edge defenders as it was interior defensive linemen. Regardless, Williams finished well within the bottom half of the defensive line group in the vertical jump, broad jump and three-cone drill.
Those numbers are not of great concern—especially considering he moved as well as anyone during the on-field defensive line drills—but they validate questions about his explosiveness.
Williams, who told Yahoo Sports' Eric Edholm that he was still recovering from labrum tears in his shoulders prior to the combine, did not participate in the bench press. Overall, his stock as a top prospect should remain unharmed by his combine showing, but the USC defensive lineman, who projects as a 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end, did not perform up to expectations.
Grade: B-
Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
15 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 5.64 seconds
Bench Press: 34 reps
Vertical Jump: 30.5"
Broad Jump: 7'11"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.99 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.65 seconds
Danny Shelton could be one of the fastest defensive linemen to come off the board in this year's draft, but he was the slowest defensive player at the combine, as his 40-yard dash was the second-slowest among all players who participated in the drill in Indianapolis.
Shelton, the heaviest defensive lineman at the combine at 339 pounds, was not expected to run fast. His 40 time is also not particularly important, considering he might never run 40 yards down the field in an NFL game. Still, Shelton's testing results were disappointing for a player who has been regarded as a potential top-10 pick since an impressive week at the Senior Bowl.
A 6'2" nose tackle with 32-inch arms, Shelton exerted his power on the bench press, where he tied for third among all defensive players with 34 repetitions of 225 pounds. On the field, however, his athletic limitations were evident, as he not only finished last among defenders in the 40 but also in the broad jump.
Highly active for the Washington defense in his senior season, Shelton has good movement skills for a man of his size, and that was evident during the on-field positional drills in Sunday's workout. Also evident, however, was that the big-bodied defensive tackle lacks an explosive burst.
Grade: C
Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
16 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.64 seconds
Vertical Jump: 33.5"
Broad Jump: 9'9"
Three-Cone Drill: 6.99 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.08 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.78 seconds
Arguably the most versatile player in the draft, Washington's Shaq Thompson was expected to stand out among his linebacker peers during his workout at the combine, but that did not happen.
Thompson's 4.64-second 40-yard dash did not even put the 6'0", 228-pound linebacker within the top 12 fastest defensive front seven players at this year's event. As his numbers in the vertical and broad jump were even more lackluster, it became evident that his explosiveness had been overrated to some extent prior to the combine.
On the other hand, Thompson exhibited no shortage of change-of-direction agility as he finished fourth in the 20-yard shuttle and sixth in the three-cone drill. He also stood out in the positional drills for his sharp, efficient transitions.
A well-rounded athlete with a diverse skill set, Thompson remains the draft's top off-ball linebacker prospect and is in the mix to be a top-20 pick. That said, he will want to improve upon his numbers at Washington's pro day in order to ensure that he will be one of the first players picked in this year's draft.
Grade: C
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
17 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.31 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 38"
Broad Jump: 10'2"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.06 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.39 seconds
Already ranked as the No. 1 cornerback in the class by many draft analysts, Trae Waynes proved he was the fastest by running a 4.31-second 40-yard dash, the second-fastest time among all participants at this year's combine.
The 6'0", 186-pound Michigan State product also had a terrific showing in on-field drills. He was as fluid as any defensive back on the field, while he put his strength on display by tying for fourth among cornerbacks in the bench press.
One significant blemish on Waynes' overall performance came in the 20-yard shuttle, in which he finished with the rare distinction of actually having a slower time in that drill than in the 40-yard dash. His three-cone drill was also unimpressive, leaving reason to question Waynes' ability to change directions quickly.
It would have also been in Waynes' favor if he had measured in at closer to 200 pounds, as his frame is currently thin. Nonetheless, he likely locked himself in as a top-20 pick and the first cornerback off the board by showing spectacular speed Monday.
Grade: B+
Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
18 of 18
40-Yard Dash: 4.53 seconds
Vertical Jump: 35"
Broad Jump: 10'0"
Three-Cone Drill: 7.38 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.33 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.94 seconds
One would not have mistaken Landon Collins for a cornerback during Monday's defensive back workouts at the scouting combine, but for a player who projects to be a strong safety in the NFL, the defensive back had a solid performance.
At 4.53 seconds, Collins ran a quality 40-yard dash time for a 6'0", 228-pound heavy-hitter who will likely play primarily in the box at the next level. Coming in at the same height and weight as the aforementioned Shaq Thompson, Collins outperformed him in the 40, vertical jump and broad jump.
In change-of-direction drills, Collins had more trouble. He had the worst time among all defensive backs in the three-cone drill, while his time in the 20-yard shuttle tied for fourth-slowest among secondary players. During the on-field positional drills, he looked somewhat stiff in his movements and was inconsistent catching the ball.
Nonetheless, Collins performed well enough to solidify his status as the draft class' No. 1 safety, leaving a big gap still behind him at the position. His numbers were underwhelming—especially considering he reportedly had a 43.5-inch vertical jump in high school, according to Alabama's official website—but they shouldn't stop a team in need of a safety from drafting him.
Grade: C+
All measurables and combine results are courtesy of NFL.com's Combine Tracker, unless otherwise noted.
Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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