Burning Questions Heading into NFL Combine Workouts
The 2018 NFL Scouting Combine is upon us. General managers, scouts, owners and coaches have gathered in Indianapolis and will spend the next week analyzing the pro prospects who were fortunate enough to be invited.
While talent evaluators have already done large amounts of research on this year's draft class, the combine and upcoming college pro days are important steps in the predraft process. Prospects have put their talents on film, and now they'll get to put official measurements and athletic measurables in the books.
Speed, strength, explosiveness and agility will be tested at the combine. Prospects will undergo medical evaluations, and team representatives will have the opportunity for private interviews and testing. Not only will teams become more familiar with players' abilities, but they'll become more familiar with their health and personalities.
Teams will have questions about all these facets of the prospect spectrum, but naturally, some questions will be bigger than others. Here, we're going to examine the biggest questions concerning this year's top prospects as the combine gets underway.
Can Lamar Jackson Succeed as a Quarterback?
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Lamar Jackson was one of college football's most dynamic quarterbacks during his time at Louisville. Although he was never a pocket passer in the traditional sense, he did improve as a thrower during his college career while also establishing himself as one of the most dangerous scramblers in the game.
During the 2017 season alone, Jackson completed 59.1 percent of his passes for 3,660 yards. He also ran for 1,601 yards and accounted for 45 total touchdowns.
However, some in the NFL believe Jackson would be better off switching positions at the pro level, a move that former quarterbacks like Julian Edelman and Terrelle Pryor have made.
"I think wide receiver," former NFL general manager Bill Polian said on ESPN's Golic and Wingo (h/t Matt Bonesteel of the Washington Post). "Exceptional athlete, exceptional ability to make you miss, exceptional acceleration, exceptional instinct with the ball in his hand, and that's rare for wide receivers."
In Indianapolis, Jackson will have a chance to show teams just what kind of athlete he is. He'll also have the chance to show how his skills can translate to being an NFL quarterback and to prove he's committed to putting in the work to be a signal-caller at the NFL level.
This week will be huge for Jackson because if at least one team views him as a legitimate quarterback prospect, he's going to carry a lot more value into the draft than if teams only view him as a project wide receiver.
Is Courtland Sutton More Than a Possession Receiver?
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There's little sense in arguing that SMU receiver Courtland Sutton wasn't one of the most productive receivers in college football the last couple of years. He racked up 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016, and he amassed 1,085 yards and 12 more scores in 2017.
Sutton has the size and ball skills to be a difference-maker at the NFL level, but some question his ability to be a true game-changer.
"He's got to get quicker and learn to separate or he's going to be wearing coverage around the field," one NFC scout said of Sutton, per NFL Media's Lance Zierlein.
Teams are going to want to see good performances from Sutton in the 40-yard dash and individual receiver drills. If Sutton posts a poor 40 time or fails to show the change-of-direction skills needed to shake tight coverage, teams are more likely to view Sutton as a pure possession receiver—albeit a very good one.
If, however, Sutton shows above-average speed, teams may begin viewing him as a future No. 1 NFL receiver and a viable first-round option.
Can Arden Key Make Teams Feel Safe About Taking Him?
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Had LSU edge-rusher Arden Key been eligible for the draft last year, he likely would have been one of the most coveted sack artists in the entire draft class. He set a single-season school record with 12.0 sacks and posted 14.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.
Unfortunately, Key's junior season wasn't as productive or as appealing. It also brought with it both personal and medical questions.
Injuries limited Key to only eight games and 4.0 sacks in 2017. He missed time at the beginning of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery, he missed time with a knee injury and finger surgery caused Key to miss LSU's bowl game. Before that, he temporarily departed the team in the spring for personal reasons.
"He's got to come clean about that," draft analyst Mike Detillier explained regarding that mysterious leave of absence prior to last season, per Alex Hickey of SECCountry.com. "They know the answers to any questions they give him. You have to be forward about it. It's not the first time a player has had issues off the field."
Teams are going to want to ensure Key is structurally sound at Friday's medical checks. They're also going to want to see if he is back to full speed and strength heading into the draft. They'll be interested in hearing Key's thoughts on the past year and learning what kind of mentality he'll be bringing into the NFL.
If questions linger or Key struggles during his workout, he'll have zero chance of being the first pass-rusher off the board and may fall out of the first-round conversation entirely.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller recently named Key the best pass-rusher in the draft but ranked him as his fourth-best edge-defender and 31st overall prospect. If Key wants to solidify a spot in the first round of the draft, he'll need to alleviate several concerns at the scouting combine.
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Is Harold Landry More Than a One-Trick Prospect?
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Boston College product Harold Landry appears two spots higher than Arden Key in Matt Miller's edge-defender rankings. The only edge-rusher ranked higher than Landry is NC State's Bradley Chubb, whom some view as a can't-miss prospect.
Landry was extremely productive during his first two seasons as a full-time starter, posting 4.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2015 and following that up with 16.5 sacks and 22.0 tackles for loss 2016. The problem with Landry is he seems to rely almost exclusively on his speed and quick first step to get to the quarterback. When hampered by an ankle injury in 2017, Landry's production dipped.
Landry appeared in just nine games this past season and posted a disappointing 5.0 sacks.
At the combine, Landry is going to have to prove a couple of things. First, he'll need to show he's completely past the injury that hampered him in 2017. He'll also need to show he has the size and strength needed to be more than just a pure speed-rusher off the edge.
"You remember how (Vic) Beasley struggled early because he had to learn to be a pass-rusher and not just a sprinter?" one NFC personnel director asked, per NFL Media's Lance Zierlein. "I think Landry might be the same early on. When he puts it together, he'll do what Beasley did."
Most importantly, Landry will need to show that his speed and athleticism are elite enough to make a Beasley-like impact at the NFL level. Beating collegiate tackles off the edge is one thing. Beating the likes of Tyron Smith and Andrew Whitworth off the edge is another challenge entirely.
Does Denzel Ward Have the Size and Strength to Match Up with No. 1 Receivers?
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Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward is widely projected to be one of the first defensive backs taken in this year's draft. Miller ranks him eighth among all prospects and first among cornerbacks. There is little doubt about Ward's ability to shadow receivers at the college level, and there might be even less concern about his athletic ability.
"Straight-line speed, he's as fast as anybody we've had," then-cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs said of Ward back in 2016, per Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com. Coombs also compared Ward to former Buckeye and current Denver Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby.
Here's where the questions come in for Ward. While we won't get an official combine measurement for Ward until Saturday, the Buckeyes list him at 5'10" and 191 pounds. That's less than ideal for an outside cornerback at the NFL level.
Measuring at or above his listed numbers will be important for Ward. So will putting up a respectable number of reps in the 225-pound bench press—assuming he doesn't skip the workout entirely.
If Ward wants to be a borderline top-10 pick like former teammate Marshon Lattimore (11th overall) was last season, he'll need to convince teams he has the size and the physicality to match up with No. 1 NFL receivers.
At 6'0" and 192 pounds, Lattimore isn't much bigger than Ward, but he showed plenty of strength and length as a rookie. Ward's showing at the combine could determine whether teams view him as another Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate or merely a supremely talented slot corner.
Can Minkah Fitzpatrick Be a No. 1 Corner?
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Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick filled a variety of roles for the Alabama defense during his time in Tuscaloosa. He was an excellent back-end safety, more than adequate covering receivers out of the slot and a stud in run support. At times, he'd even line up as a true cornerback on the outside.
The question NFL teams will be asking is whether Fitzpatrick can be a No. 1 corner at the NFL level. Yes, top-tier safeties are valuable, but true lockdown cornerbacks are one of the league's rarest commodities. Teams will be interested in trying Fitzpatrick exclusively on the outside, as the Jacksonville Jaguars did with former safety-corner hybrid Jalen Ramsey.
"Fitzpatrick’s size and skill set will allow him to line up anywhere in the defensive backfield and be highly effective," Luke Easterling of DraftWire recently wrote. "His best fit is probably at free safety, but as was the case with Ramsey, NFL teams will likely be enticed by his size and length and try him at corner."
Listed at 6'1" and 202 pounds, Fitzpatrick has the size GMs look for in a No. 1 cornerback. Teams will want to know if he has the speed and the agility to fill the role at the NFL level. Between the combine and Alabama's pro day (March 7), they'll likely find the answer.
If Fitzpatrick convinces at least one team he can have an impact like Ramsey has on the Jaguars defense, he too could be a top-five selection.
Is Josh Rosen Franchise-QB Material?
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UCLA product Josh Rosen is in contention to be the first quarterback off the board and potentially the No. 1 overall pick. He's widely regarded as the most pro-ready product in this draft class and is Matt Miller's sixth-ranked prospect heading into the combine.
There are questions about Rosen's ability to be an NFL franchise quarterback. He has a notable injury history—including two concussions in 2017—and carries a slight build (6'4", 218 lbs). Plenty of people have questioned if the game of football is Rosen's top priority.
"According to sources who have spoken with people close to Rosen, he has been focused since high school on using football to make money and support the type of lifestyle he wants," Eric Galko of Sporting News wrote earlier this year. "He's OK with challenging the system and being a mouthpiece for divisiveness because he appreciates the attention it draws."
Rosen will have to dispel concerns about his personality and prove he is a competitor and that football is a priority—and not just in individual interviews. Teams will be watching Rosen throughout the combine to see how he carries himself and interacts with others in a variety of situations.
If Rosen can ease uncertainty about his mindset while performing well in workouts and individual drills, he'll likely cement his spot as one of the first two quarterbacks off the board.
Just How Special Is Saquon Barkley?
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Penn State running back Saquon Barkley might just be the safest prospect in this draft class. He was consistently productive at the college level, rushing for 3,843 yards in three years, and has a combination of size (5'11", 223 lbs), power and agility that should make him a force at the NFL level.
Based on statistics and game film, Barkley looks like the type of prospect who could change the fortunes of a franchise.
"Barkley is a big, strong runner with an electric game," one NFL executive said of Barkley, per NFL Media's Bucky Brooks. "He's explosive with the ball in his hands and he's capable of scoring from anywhere on the field as a runner or receiver. When you throw in the positive reviews from his coaches and teammates on his character, work ethic and competitiveness, he seems like a can't-miss guy."
Barkley certainly appears to be a guy who could help rebuild the Cleveland Browns, who own the No. 1 overall pick. He would also be a fit for the New York Giants at No. 2 overall. Would an NFL team really draft a running back that high in today's pass-driven era? Well, that may depend on what Barkley does at the combine.
Barkley is already viewed as special, but if he absolutely owns drills like the bench press, broad jump and, of course, the 40-yard dash, he could secure his status as a generational player. Remember, Leonard Fournette was a premier prospect heading into last year's combine and cemented his spot as a high first-round pick with a 4.51-second 40—the fastest time posted by a 240-pound back since 2003.
If Barkley aces the combine, teams like the Browns and the Giants will seriously have to wonder if he is special enough to justify passing on a future franchise quarterback for him.
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