Top Takeaways from the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine
The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine officially concluded Monday after hundreds of the best collegiate football players eligible for the 2016 draft put on a show in front of evaluators and media. Before pro days begin, it’s worth looking back at the top takeaways from the mega-event.
It’s important to keep the results of the combine in context as to their ability to project NFL talent. There are exceptions to the size and measurable standards teams set forth, but franchises work off a mold to help mitigate the possibility of missing on draft picks. Merging what scouts have seen on film with the results of the combine help provide a clearer picture of how players will translate to the pros.
We’ve kept track of the results closely and have amassed the eight biggest takeaways from the six-day NFL Scouting Combine. Let’s jump in and see how things played out.
Jalen Ramsey Showed Out
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Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey is arguably the top player in the 2016 draft class. The star playmaker has experience playing both cornerback and safety and proved physically capable of excelling in either role. His combine performance was jaw-droppingly good, further solidifying his elite status.
At 6’1” and 209 pounds, Ramsey had a ridiculous 4.41-second 40-yard dash, 41.5-inch vertical jump and 11’3” broad jump. The latter two marks were tied for the best among all participants at the event. Between his raw athleticism and impressive tape, he’s officially emerged as a rare prospect.
The lack of great safeties throughout the NFL should make Ramsey especially attractive to teams. He remains raw at cornerback as far as his technique, but finding long and athletic press defenders is still valuable. Whichever position a team sees as his best fit, Ramsey is undoubtedly a top-five pick.
Joey Bosa Is a Future Star
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At 6’5” and 269 pounds, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa had an excellent combine performance. Already known for his immense power and ability to draw double- or even triple-teams, Bosa proved he is an above-average athlete. He ensured he’ll be a top-five value when the draft arrives.
Short-area quickness and lower-body explosion are the most important traits for a pass-rusher. Bosa excelled in the drills that test those physical capabilities. The three cone, short shuttle and broad jump are what evaluators pay attention to for these traits.
According to MockDraftable.com, Bosa’s three-cone time of 6.89 seconds ranked in the 94th percentile of all defensive ends since 2006. His 20-yard shuttle time of 4.21 seconds was also dominant, as he finished in the 90th percentile. Finally, his broad jump landed in the 78th percentile with a 120-inch leap.
While his 40 time wasn’t elite, a 4.86 at his size is nothing to brush off. Bosa has the production, disruption ability and athleticism to be a long-term impact starter. That’s worth a top-five pick.
Plenty of Cornerback Speed
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The 2016 cornerback class is deeper than it is top-heavy with talent. If Jalen Ramsey is seen as a safety, then we’re left with several solid but not elite cornerbacks. Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves and Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander are among the biggest names, but they will need the right scheme that plays to their strengths.
Despite the group lacking the Day 1 impact talent, there’s plenty of speed to build on. Houston’s William Jackson III is potentially the best cornerback in the class, and he created momentum by running a 4.37 40 at 6’0” and 189 pounds. Ohio State’s Eli Apple also has solid size at 6’1” and 199 pounds, and he ran a 4.40 40.
Other potential Day 2 cornerback prospects with impressive 40 times include Maryland's Sean Davis (4.46), Purdue's Anthony Brown (4.35), Virginia's Maurice Canady (4.49) and Rashard Robinson, formerly of LSU (4.49).
Speed is critical to help corners recover from losing early in routes. While it’s preferred they don’t lose early, even the best defenders do on occasion. Recovery speed helps mitigate the damage done.
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The Tight Quarterback Race
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Regardless of what else is going on with an organization, finding a franchise quarterback is its most important task. That’s why the 2016 class of quarterbacks is being put under a microscope as the draft nears.
The combine gave quarterbacks a chance to show off improvements since the end of the season. The drill stations favored Cal’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, according to NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock, via Jim Reineking of NFL.com.
"Goff is the most ready to play quarterback in this draft," Mayock said. "The ball comes out so quickly for him; love his feet, love his release. He can throw it at all three levels (short, intermediate and deep)."
Mayock also praised Wentz, as he saw improved footwork and a quick release. Of course, the buzz he heard from teams was positive, via Reineking. "Wentz ripped it today; he had a real nice day," Mayock said. "The more I hear from teams about him, the more I'm convinced he's a top-10 pick."
I prefer Goff due to his polish and downfield throwing ability, but Wentz’s terrific athleticism and thick frame will endear him to teams. It’ll be a fascinating process until we see who gets picked first.
Character Concerns Still Exist
5 of 8Two of the most physically imposing talents at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine were defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and defensive end Noah Spence. Each entered the event with massive character question marks, particularly about substance abuse. Neither was able to completely quell the concerns teams had.
According to NFL Media’s Kimberly Jones, via Chase Goodbread of NFL.com, one general manager wasn’t sure if he could trust Spence. His average combine performance aside, Spence’s past usage of ecstasy and subsequent dismissal from Ohio State will continue to weigh on the minds of decision-makers.
Nkemdiche was brutally honest to the media about his lack of effort in games and off-field decisions. He surely took the same approach with teams. While this should be commended, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reported he was not impressive in interviews. His lack of reliability as a person could cause him to drop significantly in the draft.
Deep Defensive Line Class
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There’s no question what the strength of the 2016 NFL draft class is. The defensive linemen are stout, figuratively and literally. The collective group had a strong showing at the combine throughout the drills.
There’s no clear leader among the group, but Oregon’s DeForest Buckner, Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins and Baylor’s Andrew Billings are three of the best. Regardless of scheme, there are multiple players capable of playing at a starting level, if not better. The depth of draftable talent is bad news for NFL quarterbacks who must face these young athletes.
CBS Sports has 12 defensive tackles and 13 defensive ends projected to be selected on Day 1 or Day 2 of the draft. That number could swell if a run on tackles or ends happens early. Don’t be surprised if this deep class produces more than a dozen quality players in the next three years.
Injury Concerns Run Deep
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The biggest injury storyline of the combine was at the expense of Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith. The star linebacker tore his ACL and LCL in his final collegiate game and may miss all of the 2016 season, if not more. According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, three teams have taken Smith off of their draft boards entirely until he undergoes further medical checkups.
His injury is unfortunate and could cause him to drop to Day 3 or even undrafted free agency. It’s still early in his recovery, so his pro day looms large as the next milestone to check his knee.
Todd Archer of ESPN.com reported that another top linebacker prospect could have injury flags. UCLA linebacker Myles Jack is a defensive weapon, but a torn meniscus is nothing just to brush to the side. He'll also need to show a clean bill of health at his pro day.
A Meat-and-Potatoes Draft
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This draft class touts stars such as Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, Florida State safety Jalen Ramsey, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa and running back Ezekiel Elliott. But the injury concerns with others and lack of more top-notch prospects makes this draft more like the 2013 class. While that group had several Pro Bowl-caliber players, it lacked a plethora of special playmakers at the top.
There is a clear drop-off after the top handful of players. The middle of the first round should produce quality contributors, especially at defensive tackle. But the absence of stars is disconcerting.
Instead of loading up on a slow receiver class or the weak edge-rushers, this is a meat-and-potatoes type draft. Adding bulk in the trenches or quarterback depth should be in the fold. After all, adding depth is at least better than whiffing on players completely.
All stats used are from Sports-Reference.com.
Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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