5 Biggest Takeaways from Day 1 of the NFL Scouting Combine
Friday marked the opening day of workouts at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. On Day 1, offensive line and running back prospects work out in front of the 32 NFL teams in attendance.
Stuff can get relatively weird when players are in front of the media prior to their workouts inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Stories range from players’ hand sizes to the quickest 40-yard dash times, making the combine a rather unique event.
As the combine kicks into high gear with quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends up next for workouts on Saturday, here’s a glance at some of the key takeaways from the first four days.
The criteria for this ranked list is simple: The first two items will involve matters of current NFL topics, while the ranked items on the list involve events at the combine.
Kirk Cousins: Washington's New Franchise Quarterback?
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The answer to the question of where Kirk Cousins will play next season is simple: Washington.
After team president Bruce Allen announced that former No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III wouldn't be with Washington in 2016 this week, Washington’s next move was placing a tag on its new franchise quarterback.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Washington will tag Cousins, but the debate now surrounds which tag the team will put on him.
If Washington places the franchise tag on Cousins, it would be a one-year offer with the greater number between the average of the top five salaries at his position or 120 percent of Cousins’ salary. The deadline for that tag is March 1.
If the transition tag is placed on Cousins, the tag is similar to restricted free agents in the NBA and NHL. Washington would be able to match any offer that Cousins receives.
Is Alshon Jeffery's Future with the Chicago Bears?
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Similar to Cousins, it appears that Alshon Jeffery will remain a member of the Chicago Bears through at least next season.
Along with the Cousins report, Schefter tweeted that the Bears plan to franchise tag Jeffery for the 2016-17 season. Jeffery’s camp is in Indianapolis during the combine, so there’s still a legitimate possibility that the Bears could avoid using a tag on Jeffery and just re-sign him outright.
The trouble with that is Jeffery’s health.
The former second-round pick in the 2012 draft only played in nine games last season for the last-place Bears. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the most gifted wideouts in the game with his hands, size and ability to high-point the football in the air.
If the Bears do decide to tag Jeffery, the wide receiver position has the third-highest tag price among NFL players—$12 to 14.4 million—which shouldn't be a problem for the Bears.
The bank is open.
5. Rico Gathers: Future NFL Tight End?
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If you’re a college basketball fan, you might have heard of the name Rico Gathers.
If you haven’t, he’s basically the most genetically gifted specimen in the college hoop game.
Gathers currently leads the Baylor Bears and the Big 12 conference in rebounding per game this season, but he’s looking to go down a familiar route.
Tight ends like Jimmy Graham (Miami (FL)) of the Seattle Seahawks, Julius Thomas (Portland State) of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Antonio Gates (Kent State) of the San Diego Chargers all played college basketball before becoming stars on the gridiron.
"Football has been in my heart," Gathers told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
If it wasn’t for the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament taking place during Baylor’s NFL pro day on March 16, Gathers would be participating.
He’s 6’6” and 275 pounds.
If Gathers lands on his feet somewhere, good luck trying to tackle him.
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4. Ezekiel Elliott Running for More Than His Own Cause
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Over the past few years, domestic violence has been a hugely debated topic surrounding the NFL and all of the major sports for that matter.
It’s a serious issue, and many around their respective sports have taken a stand against domestic violence and abuse.
One of the soon-to-be NFL stars did just that on Friday.
Former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott wore a pair of Nike cleats and a pair of Adidas cleats on Friday during his workout with the other RB prospects in Indianapolis.
Elliott posted a close-up picture of the cleats on his Instagram account and mentioned that both pairs will be auctioned off to help charities in Columbus, Ohio, and St. Louis that support victims of domestic abuse. (Elliott was born in Illinois, but lived in St. Louis.)
It was a wonderful gesture by Elliott, who ran a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash on Friday, which was tied for fifth best among all the running backs who performed.
3. Robert Nkemdiche's Future Remains Bleak
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Arguably the most freakish prospect at the NFL Scouting Combine didn’t work out on Friday, but he spoke. He spoke the truth.
When he was asked about his fall from an Atlanta hotel room before the Sugar Bowl in December, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche said that he was drunk—not high—before falling out of a fourth-story window.
"I told them the truth: It was a rash decision by me. It was uncharacteristic and that's not who I am. That's not what I stand for, that's not what my family stands for," Nkemdiche said, per ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky.
The curious thing wasn’t that Nkemdiche said he didn’t use drugs.
The most intriguing aspect of Nkemdiche’s time in front of the microphone was him mentioning that potential No. 1 pick and former Ole Miss teammate Laremy Tunsil was in that same hotel room the night of Nkemdiche’s fall.
"A lot of people don’t know about Rob, man," Tunsil said on Nkemdiche's situation, per Darin Gantt of NBC's ProFootballTalk. "He’s a great guy, a humble guy. He had a little few off-the-field incidents, but you know, you have little hiccups."
The landing spots of Nkemdiche and Tunsil for that matter, remain a mystery.
2. Derrick Henry Isn't a Normal Running Back Prospect
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Alabama running back and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry is 6’3”, 247 pounds and ran a 4.54 40-yard dash on Friday.
It took Henry 4.54 seconds to run 40 yards.
He’s 247 pounds.
That’s not normal.
During Henry’s sprint, NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and Mike Mayock spoke on Henry’s heavy workload during his final season in Tuscaloosa. In his Heisman campaign, Henry logged 406 touches, which averages out to 27 touches a game.
You can debate on whether Henry lands in the first round on draft night or not, but there’s no denying how ridiculous of an athlete he is.
What turned out to be the most insane part about Henry’s measurables and workout on Friday wasn’t just his 40-yard time. His height, weight, 40 time and vertical leap resembled one of the NFL’s best athletes today.
You know him as Von Miller, or the Super Bowl 50 MVP.
And he’s a running back.
Best wishes to the front sevens all across the NFL this season.
1. "The Assessments"
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On Friday, Bleacher Report NFL columnist Mike Freeman wrote a column on NFL teams and executives not being fooled by combine prospects in front of the camera and in interviews.
Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was used as the prime example.
"He [Manziel] charmed us," an NFL executive told Freeman in an interview.
"We spent time with him, and we completely misjudged him."
One of the interesting aspects of the column was Freeman mentioning how players are getting "better" with the in-depth interviews held by teams.
"I've been amazed at how smooth and practiced the players have become in just a few years," an NFL general manager said to Freeman. "It's different from even just five years ago."
It’s truly a fascinating topic.
How can teams honestly pick the prospects that can help their franchises on and off the field? One way to help the process of doing that: Stop asking players such idiotic questions.
Asking players if their mother is attractive to them isn’t helping matters.
This may come off as irrelevant and silly to some, but executives should just keep it simple; like a guy taking a woman out on a casual date. Obviously you want to ask questions and learn about the other person (the prospect in this case), which brings me to my next point.
Plenty of players have had off-the-field issues. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions.
If you want to learn who these players really are, don’t kid yourselves into thinking they’ll just spill the beans. Get to know these players.
After all, you have to pay them a lot of money someday soon. Make sure they’re worth the investment.
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