NFL Combine 2016: What to Watch For on Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. The previous three days have already brought surprising results as early arrivals went through the on-field workouts. It’s time for group one to step aside as the spotlight hits the other positions over the next few days.

Saturday will be a busy day for the offensive playmakers. Quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends will work through key drills that could forever alter their football careers. One good 40-yard dash can be the last piece of the puzzle for evaluators who are looking for the next star.

We have you covered for the fourth day of the combine on the next slides. We will break down what is at stake and who must perform for each of the participating positions. Let’s jump into what’s in store on Day 4.

All Eyes on Offensive Playmakers

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The Day 2 arrivals must go through the strenuous tests that the running backs, specialists and offensive linemen completed on Friday. These timing drills include the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and other trait-based tests. These prospects have been working to improve their craft for this moment since the season ended.

It’s time to see whether that preparation was worth it.

Quarterbacks don’t have as much to gain in the physical drills as much as the interviews, but they’ll throw to the receivers and tight ends. While their stock won’t drastically change from this task, a bad day of throwing and going through drills would be tough to swallow, as the class is so closely stacked together. The mid-round quarterbacks could set themselves apart with well-rounded performances.

The receivers and tight ends do have a huge task on Day 4. They must be on point in all timed stations and skill drills. The glutton of talent available makes the combine the place to show teams why one player is better than another.

Wide Receivers Must Make Their Money

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No position will benefit or suffer more from the 40-yard dash results than the wide receivers. According to Bill Lotter of the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective, the draft position of receivers who perform well in the 40 and bench press are more likely to be drafted higher. This means millions of dollars are literally on the line with these two tests for some players.

We know that star receivers Laquon Treadwell and Corey Coleman (h/t Draft Breakdown) won't participate in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Treadwell’s decision is more concerning because there are questions about his speed. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller reported Treadwell could fall to the end of first round with a poor 40 time.

His decision is highly suspect. Although pro-day times often favor the player more than the results of the laser-timed 40 in Indianapolis, scouts want to see players compete. Even an average time in the 4.5s could have cemented him as the draft’s top receiver.

Regardless, there will be 41 other receivers besides Treadwell and Coleman. Other top receivers such as TCU’s Josh Doctson, Ohio State’s Michael Thomas and Notre Dame’s Will Fuller have room to improve their stock.

Fuller and TCU’s Kolby Listenbee will be among the fastest runners at the event. Each could challenge Chris Johnson’s record of 4.24 in the 40 if their on-field play is any indicator of their potential.

Answering Character Concerns

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The defensive linemen in this class are as impressive of a group as any position. CBS Sports projects 28 defensive tackles as draftable players, and another 30 defensive ends could hear their name called. A strong combine performance by this collective group would be step one in confirming the belief that this is an excellent collection of talent.

Several of the top prospects have major character concerns that could cause them to drop, though. Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche headlines the players who must “win” his private interviews with teams. His media interview Friday was open and refreshing, as he owned up to his off-the-field mistakes and on-the-field laziness. Teams should welcome his honesty and take it as a sign of positive things to come.

Ohio State’s Adolphus Washington and Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence have also taken the same path as Nkemdiche. They have acknowledged their mistakes in media interviews, which should benefit them at the combine. Teams must find these individuals trustworthy. Regardless of their athletic tests, each player has a lot to prove as far as his mental and emotional makeup.

Wearing out the Bench Press

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While the combine results as a whole aren’t always a good predictor of success or draft position, certain drills are better than others. According to Bill Lotter of the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective, both defensive tackles and ends benefit from a high bench-press total. This is especially true for the tackles, who need the upper-body strength to endure the brutal trench play of the NFL.

Strongmen such as Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson and Baylor’s Andrew Billings should put in serious work. Billings has incredible power throughout his body, especially considering he’s just 19 years old. According to Max Olson of ESPN.com, Billings can bench-press 430 pounds, squat 610 pounds and complete five reps of 350 pounds on cleans.

Other interior linemen such as Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins, Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler and Penn State's Austin Johnson should wear out the bench press. It’s a deep group of talent that will literally flex their muscles as they work to show their immense power.

More Players to Watch

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We’ve identified quite a few impact receivers and defenders to this point, but several more are worth mentioning as must-watch prospects.

Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas

At 6’4” and 307 pounds, the fourth-year junior from Texas is one of the most athletic defensive tackles in the draft on tape. Now, he must prove that his upside on film translates to the combine. Teams need to see Ridgeway’s work ethic pay off with impressive results, as his motor on the field left room for improvement at times.

Roger Lewis, WR, Bowling Green

A highly talented receiver from Bowling Green, Roger Lewis has a lot to prove throughout the combine. He has solid size at 6’0” and 201 pounds and produced 85 receptions for 1,544 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2015. But he has to answer questions about his athleticism as he transitions to the NFL, plus a history that includes rape allegations. He must knock the combine out of the park both on the field and off it.

Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

Arguably the top tight end in the 2016 class, Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry could sneak his way into the first round if he performs well enough. He has excellent size, standing 6’5” and 250 pounds. But he also moves in a fluid fashion and comes from a power run offense that relied on his blocking ability. Combining his experience, size and production, Henry could be a big riser this week.

Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

The Carson Wentz hype has continued as national pundits are in love with his ideal size and great arm strength. The 6’5”, 237-pound signal-caller from North Dakota State was compared to Andrew Luck this past week by NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock, per Chase Goodbread of NFL.com. Wentz is much less developed than Luck, but he can prove to be physically similar on Day 4. All eyes will be on his physical drills to see if he can deliver.

All stats used are from Sports-Reference.com.

Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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