NFL Combine 2016 Results: Monday Highlights, Reaction and Recap

After three days of players defying what we thought was physically possible, defensive backs took the field at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday with a lot to prove. They did not disappoint.  

Jonathan Jones scorched the field with a blazing 40 time, Jalen Ramsey established himself as perhaps the draft's best player, and William Jackson III had a solid day and should be soaring up boards.

Considered a fourth-round selection by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller prior to the combine, Jones ran a Monday-best time of 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His unofficial time was 4.28 seconds, which would have ranked among the fastest in combine history. NFL Network captured his first attempt:

The Auburn product later added 19 bench-press reps, a 36-inch vertical leap and a 123-inch broad jump. While the leaping numbers were closer to the middle of the pack, Jones' strength and speed combination is unique for someone who will be a mid-rounder. At the very least, he should be moving up boards after backing up his strong week at the Senior Bowl.

"He certainly showed speed and competitiveness," Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said, per James Crepea of AL.com. "He's been impressive. I think the first day we kind of had our eye on him but the last couple of days now I think he's really showed up, just his competitiveness and his spirit. He's had an impressive couple of days now."

Still, it's hard to be impressed with anyone more than Ramsey. The Florida State product, who is so good he could feasibly star at safety or cornerback at the next level, flashed all of the physical skills in workouts. His 4.41-second time in the 40 ranked among the 10 best of the day, and he led everyone with a vertical leap of 41.5 inches and a 135-inch broad jump. 

Miller thinks Ramsey should be on the Tennessee Titans' radar:

"I can play where they need me to. I feel like I can work outside, in the slot or play deep," Ramsey said of his NFL position, per Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website. "I have a lot to learn, have to study receivers, learn the defense I’m in, but I think if I put the work in, I’ll be able to move around if they need me to, but I’ll do whatever a team, or the coaches want me to do.’’

Ramsey wasn't the only top prospect with a strong showing. Florida's Vernon Hargreaves III started off with a solid 4.5-second time in the 40 before finishing among the day's best in the leaping categories. Hargreaves ranked fifth in the vertical (39 inches) and was fourth (130 inches) in the broad jump.

The NFL captured Hargreaves' broad jump:

Solid performances from Ramsey and Hargreaves may leave Mackensie Alexander questioning his decision to not participate in the combine. Alexander, who is competing with Hargreaves to be the second defensive back taken, instead made headlines with his mouth, per Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated:

"

I'm gonna say it and a lot of you guys will say that I'm the best cornerback in this draft class. You look at stats, my numbers, who I am as a person, who I'm competing against—I went against the best wide receivers in the country, I went against more of the top wide receivers than anybody in this draft class, and I'm going step for step. I'm moving outside, I'm going inside, I'm playing zone, I'm able to blitz, I'm able to show my versatility ...everything.

"

Jackson will also be looking to work his way into the first-day conversation after a solid showing. The former Houston cornerback ran an official time of 4.37 seconds in the 40, which was enough for Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network to move him up his board (via College Football 24/7):

Jackson's 40 time tied Texas A&M's Brandon Williams for fourth on the day. Jones (4.33), Clemson's T.J. Green (4.34) and Purdue's Anthony Brown (4.35) each ranked slightly ahead. 

The highest bench press totals came from Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew (22) and Maryland defensive back Sean Davis (21). Both are considered second-day selections by CBSSports.com, and their work on the bench will give credence to their reputation as potentially solid options against the run. Killebrew's 4.65-second time in the 40 will knock down his stock a little, while Davis' 4.46 time ranks him among the better overall performers.

Burke is already in on Davis:

Ohio State's Eli Apple could be in line for first-round consideration after impressing in drills and on-field work. Apple had perhaps the highlight of the day with a brilliant one-handed grab captured by the Browns:

Add in a 4.4-second 40 time and a solid 13 reps on the bench, and Apple did enough to at the very least keep his draft standing. CBSSports.com currently has him No. 32 overall, which is right on the border of first-round distinction.

Clemson's Jayron Kearse is another prospect who impressed, with Miller saying the safety "did very well in interviews" and "stood out in positional drills."

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Boise State's Darian Thompson may have been better off skipping out on the drills. Thompson, who had a second-round grade before the combine, disappointed with a 4.69-second time in the 40. He was also among the worst performers in the vertical leap (32.5 inches) and broad jump (118 inches).

Overall, the final day at the combine came and went without all that many headlines. Ramsey is the name atop this defensive backs class, and he put on a masterful show that should lock him into top-five consideration. There may be some shuffling after Ramsey on big boards, but there were only a handful of players who performed poorly enough to be worried about their stock. 

All stats and combine numbers via NFL.com's tracker.