NFL Combine: Workout Warriors or Legitimate Top Draft Prospects?
A fine line exists between a workout warrior and a legitimate top prospect, especially as the cottage industry known as NFL draft preparation continues to grow.
Most top prospects are workout warriors, while not all workout warriors are legitimate prospects.
Once upon a time, Mike Mamula dazzled onlookers with an exceptional combine performance that prompted the Philadelphia Eagles to trade up in the 1995 draft and select the linebacker with the seventh overall pick.
Mamula did nothing different than every single prospect does now: He trained specifically for the events to improve his testing numbers. If anything, he became a trendsetter as the first to do so.
Now, nearly every draft prospect has a speed trainer, an individual position coach and a nutritionist. The NFL hopefuls also train to answer questions from the media and teams during interview sessions.
Yet they're not automatically deemed workout warriors.
Preparation is needed to reach peak performance, but it falls on evaluators to determine whether the standout individuals are just great athletes or top draft prospects. Since everyone prepares for the event in Indianapolis, it's become harder to determine the difference.
Bleacher Report identified the 2018 combine's best sessions and differentiated between those who are true top talents and others whose performances didn't reflect their natural abilities.
QB Josh Allen, Wyoming
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The legend of Josh Allen continues to grow.
Physically, the Wyoming product is everything an NFL team wants in a quarterback. He did nothing at the combine to disprove this either.
The potential No. 1 overall pick finished first among quarterbacks in weight (237 lbs), hand size (10 ⅛"), vertical jump (33 ½") and broad jump (9'11"). At 6'5", only Marshall's Chase Litton edged Allen as the tallest quarterback in Indianapolis.
Once the prospects took the field, Allen became the showstopper.
He dazzled onlookers with his immense arm strength at Lucas Oil Stadium. He uncorked a nearly 70-yard pass with ease during drills.
Sports performance coach Ryan Flaherty said the 21-year-old may be able to sling the ball 90 yards, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
"Yeah, absolutely," Allen said when asked if he was the top guy in Indianapolis, per SNY's Ralph Vacchiano. "I don't mean to say that in a cocky way, but I think every quarterback should think that. If you're not thinking that you're the best quarterback in this draft, you probably shouldn't be here. If you don't have the mindset that you're the best quarterback in this draft, you're not going to fare well in this league."
Of course, arm strength is both a blessing and a curse. Allen can make every throw, yet his anticipation is lacking.
Where does the legend meet reality?
Nothing Allen did in Indianapolis surprised. Anyone who watched him before this past weekend knew he presented immense physical tools, and the combine setting is made for a prospect like him.
Yet, his 56.2 career completion percentage haunts him every step of the way, and it should. As physically talented as Allen is, he never elevated his play or the play of his teammates. Instead, excuses have been made in regard to his surrounding cast when everyone should be concentrating on his decision-making, pocket presence and ball placement—all areas in which Allen struggled.
Status: Workout Warrior
RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
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"He's the best running back prospect I've seen in 25 years," New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said of Saquon Barkley recently, per The MMQB's Peter King.
What everyone knows is this: Barkley is a damn good football player. Everything else is noise.
His workouts in Indianapolis firmly placed the running back in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick, if he wasn't already there.
At 6'0" and 233 pounds, Barkley ran 4.40-second 40-yard dash, posted a 41-inch vertical and lifted 225 pounds 29 times on bench press. Those numbers are historically good. In fact, Vernon Davis is the only other 230-plus-pound individual to post a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and 40-plus-inch vertical since the combine started to reveal measurements in 2003, per NFL Research.
Meanwhile, 2017 No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett was the only prospect to manage 25 or more reps on bench press and jump over 40 inches in the vertical last year.
No one can deny Barkley's awesome physical tools. But his combine performance didn't come as a surprise after Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated named him his top workout warrior.
How the running back's exceptional athleticism translated to the field is far more important. Barkley became Penn State's second all-time leading rusher in only three years with 3,843 yards. His 43 rushing touchdowns rank first. The running back even contributed 102 career receptions for 1,195 yards and eight scores.
Barkley is a complete back and a dynamic playmaker. He may not be a once-in-a-generation running back, but he'll be a weapon at the next level after becoming a top-five selection in April's draft.
Status: Top Prospect
WR D.J. Chark, LSU
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The LSU Tigers are known for producing top-notch athletes and football players. The spectrum varies, though. Standouts such as Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Leonard Fournette and Tre'Davious White dominated from the onset. Others haven't been quite as successful, despite the program's impressive hit rate.
Wide receiver D.J. Chark is more athlete than polished product at this juncture.
"He has his moments where you see it, but he just hasn't been consistent and he hasn't really gotten a lot better," an NFC personnel direction told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "He's tall and can run, but I'm still torn on whether he is going to make the improvements he needs to be be an NFL factor."
Chark led LSU with 40 receptions for 874 yards and three touchdowns last season, yet he's far from a refined route-runner or nuanced receiver. Instead, he often relied on his immense physical gifts to win against lesser defensive backfields. The senior capped his career with four 100-plus-yard contests; two of those came against pass defenses ranked 75th overall or worse and doesn't include his 103-yard effort against an FCS opponent.
Chark performed well during the predraft process after suffering from erratic quarterback play in a run-first offense, but he's far from realizing his full potential.
Physically, the 21-year-old speedster impressed with a wide receiver-leading 4.34-second 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical at the combine. His natural tools are undeniable after posting a faster 40 time than Beckham, more reps on bench than Landry, a higher vertical than Patrick Peterson and a better broad jump than Tyrann Mathieu, per the SEC Network.
Although, each of those former Tigers was far more advanced entering the professional ranks. If an organization is willing to take the time to properly develop Chark's natural gifts, while improving his technique, he has a chance to be an outstanding target.
Status: Workout Warrior
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TE Mike Gesicki, Penn State
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Penn State's Mike Gesicki is made for the NFL. He also established himself as the top available tight end with his workout in Indianapolis.
Gesicki may be listed as a tight end, but he's an oversized wide receiver with little impact in the blocking game. That's OK, though, because organizations understand it's a dying art.
"There are none. None. None. I don't think tight ends block anymore," an anonymous general manager told NFL.com's Kimberly Jones.
Instead, flexibility found within the passing game holds great value. Gesicki didn't post overwhelming numbers at Penn State, but he still managed 105 receptions for 1,242 yards and 14 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Gesicki's production may not align with that of a top prospect, yet his effectiveness as a red-zone target and deep threat changes an offensive scheme and how defenses respond to his presence.
Professional football hasn't experienced too many athletes the caliber of the former basketball and volleyball standout. At 6'5" and 247 pounds, Gesicki posted the following: 4.54-second 40-yard dash, 22 bench reps, 41.5-inch vertical, 10'9" broad jump, 4.10-second short shuttle, 11.33-second long shuttle, 6.76-second three-cone drill. He finished first among tight ends in every event except bench press, where he ranked second.
The idea of one prospect dominating a position so thoroughly at the combine is mind-boggling, and it will force organizations to place his workout into context with others at the NFL level. According to Three Sigma Athlete's Zach Whitman, Gesicki tested above the 99th percentile of NFL tight ends.
He fits the definition of a workout warrior, right? No, he doesn't, because the Nittany Lions offense utilized his athleticism, and Gesicki responded with highlight grabs after creating mismatches against linebackers and defensive backs.
"If the ball's in the air, I consider it mine," Gesicki said, per NJ Advance Media's Matt Lombardo. "I don't believe in 50/50 balls. With me, it's 80/20. That's just how I look at it."
A suspect tight end class has its lone star in the Penn State product.
Status: Top Prospect
OT Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
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NFL teams search for left tackles who are "easy movers" because the position demands a level of athleticism necessary to counter the league's best edge-rushers. Finding these dancing bears is easier said than done, though, because only so many men on the planet have the requisite size, length and natural ability to protect a quarterback's blind side.
Desmond Harrison is a rare player and fits the mold as a future professional left tackle, but he's far from a polished prospect.
The Texas-turned-West Georgia product is 6'6" and 292 with 34-inch arms. At the combine, few other prospects came close to moving quite like he did. Harrison ran the second-best 40-yard dash among offensive linemen at 4.90 seconds, while the fluidity he displayed during drills was nothing short of astounding.
Harrison's quickness and depth in his pass set made others look like they were struggling to reach their landmark as he waited for the defender to reach the spot. During the mirror drill, Harrison mirrored the rabbit so well it looked effortless.
Everything he did on the field in Indianapolis means little, because the biggest questions aren't answered while working out in shorts and a T-shirt.
"You can see how athletic he is and all that, but he didn't play anyone and he's got some character issues that you better be sure on before you just draft the athlete," an NFC director of scouting told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "No doubt about his talent, though."
Former Texas head coach Charlie Strong dismissed Harrison from the Longhorns program despite being slated to open the 2014 campaign as the starting left tackle. Harrison then spent two years away from football before finding his way to the JUCO ranks and, eventually, one season with the Wolves.
From an on-field perspective, Harrison is a technical mess. He overwhelmed the competition at the Division II level because of his outstanding natural tools. His domination didn't require refinement. His balance, hand placement and patience all need to be developed since he won't be able to handle professional defensive linemen in the same manner.
Status: Workout Warrior
OG Will Hernandez, UTEP
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Some individuals are built to play certain positions.
UTEP's Will Hernandez is exactly what an NFL guard should look like. He's 6'2" and 327 pounds with a barrel chest and thick frame made to bulldoze opponents. When opponents face Hernandez, they know they're facing a ball of fury whose job is to dominate every snap.
"The best thing you can do as a lineman is open up holes for your running back and protect the quarterback like he's your own mother," Hernandez said, per Niners Nation's Jennifer Lee Chan.
Although, many didn't expect the two-time second-team All-American to move as well as he did on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf.
First, Hernandez weighed 13 fewer pounds than his appearance at the Senior Bowl. Second, his movement skills allowed scouts to project him in multiple different schemes. Coming into the combine, the four-year starter's traits defined him as a gap (man) blocker for a physical, downhill running scheme.
His raw strength became apparent when he led the offensive linemen with 37 bench-press reps. Yet Hernandez's movement skills also impressed.
The massive interior blocker tied for eighth overall with a 5.15-second 40-yard dash. At 327 pounds, this feat is more impressive than Pitt's Brian O'Neill and West Georgia's Desmond Harrison running 4.90 or faster at sub-300 pounds. Each of the seven linemen who ran faster weighed at least nine fewer pounds than Hernandez.
Straight-line speed is one thing for a big man once he gets his girth in motion. However, the Las Vegas native showed how well he can move laterally throughout drills. Hernandez looked far lighter on his feet than his size and style of play indicated. In fact, he finished seventh overall with a 7.59-second three-cone effort.
Big, strong, athletic and dominant at the point of attack is a great combination for a future first-round offensive lineman.
Status: Top Prospect
DT Taven Bryan, Florida
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Certain prospects are deemed to have better pro potential than what they showed at the collegiate ranks. Florida's Taven Bryan fits into this category.
Up until this point, Bryan displayed far more untapped potential with exceptional athleticism than dominant defensive tackle play. As a senior, the Wyoming native experienced a slight breakthrough with 40 total tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks. Bryan didn't finish a lot of plays, but the potential to be a consistent disruptive presence in an opponent's backfield is already present.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bryan created 30 total quarterback pressures and contributed to 25 defensive stops. He's a work in progress, because the natural ability to dominate is apparent, yet he fell much further behind others in his football development.
"He's a big old cave man and wants to use all his brute strength," former Florida Gators defensive line coach Chris Rumph said prior to the 2015 campaign, per Gator Country's Nick de la Torre. "But he's athletic for a big guy. His football IQ is really, really low because he hasn't played a lot of football."
Bryan played numerous sports in high school and didn't commit to football until late in the process. His gradual improvement as part of the Gators' program is a direct result of where he started. He's still not quite where he needs to be, but he can get there by leaning on his natural gifs and absorbing everything thrown his way.
Few defensive linemen move like the 6'4", 291-pound Bryan. He provided a tremendous combine workout with a 4.98-second 40-yard dash, 30 reps on bench press, 35-inch vertical jump, 9'11" broad jump, 4.48-second short shuttle and 7.12-second three-cone drill.
The early entrant's physical profile has been compared to J.J. Watt. What makes this interesting is they're similar coming into the professional ranks, yet Bryan is quicker out of his stance. The Florida product posted a 1.68-second 10-yard split compared to Watt's 1.71-second effort, per NFL Research.
Bryan's playing speed is 100 mph, and he can be an effective part of a team's rotation once he gains a better understanding of defensive line intricacies.
Status: Workout Warrior
DT Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
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Alabama's Da'Ron Payne became the forgotten man during the 2017 campaign. Payne displayed top-10 potential during his sophomore season yet didn't perform to expected levels as a junior...until the National Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Payne obliterated the Bulldogs' offensive front and destroyed Georgia's offensive game plan. He couldn't be blocked. The 6'2", 311-pound defensive tackle proved impossible to move all season, yet his disruptive play finally came to the forefront and reminded everyone why he should be considered a top draft prospect.
"Yeah, I think it's more of our scheme, like we try to keep our linebackers clean and let them flow over and make all the plays," Payne said of his role prior to the Crimson Tide's national championship run, per AL.com's Michael Casagrande. "I didn't have a problem with it. I just bought into the system and did anything I could for our team to win."
Alabama serves as an assembly line of NFL talent. Defensive linemen Jonathan Allen, Dalvin Tomlinson, A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed entered the professional ranks in the last two seasons alone. Payne has the potential to be the best among this group, and he left an impression on those within the program.
Power at the point of attack is Payne's greatest asset. The first-team All-SEC performer benched 545 pounds and squatted 635 pounds before his final season on campus.
"He's the best. He's the best I've seen," Alabama strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran said, per Al.com's Matt Zenitz. "I've never seen a guy hit 385 on the power clean every single year. His first year he hit 365 on the power clean, and it was like wow, freshman, that's incredible."
NFL scouts start to drool when Payne's raw strength is coupled with impressive movement skills. The defensive lineman ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash before completing a near-flawless position workout. No other defensive tackle came close to the 20-year-old's performance.
Payne will compete with Washington's Vita Vea to be the first interior defensive tackle selected.
Status: Top Prospect
CB Donte Jackson, LSU
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An NFL player can lean on his speed to bail him out of certain situations. But each position requires an understanding of varying speeds to reach maximum effectiveness.
Donte Jackson running at full throttle is a sight to behold. The LSU cornerback tied for the best 40-yard-dash at the 2018 NFL combine with a 4.32-second effort.
He didn't quite run as fast as he expected. Johnson wanted to challenge for John Ross' crown, but he fell a full tenth of a second short. Granted, the defensive back did suffer slight cramping in his calf. Even so, few can surpass Jackson's ability to run.
"I don't feel any pressure to run fast," he said, per NFL.com's Chase Goodbread. "I've been running fast my whole life."
Speed can be an awesome asset. However, a singular trait can't be an individual's only crutch.
Jackson needs to be fast, because he's only 175 pounds. His track background doesn't come into play when he's asked to read and recognize route combinations, and Jackson lacks a strong feel for the game. When coupled with the possibility of being physically overwhelmed by NFL receivers, speed can only do so much.
Teams want individuals with quick-twitch fibers to overcome other deficiencies, and Jackson's recovery speed helped him defend 21 passes last season. Explosiveness must consistently translate in every area, though.
Right now, Jackson is a man-cover corner who can get lost in zone coverage and struggles to provide a physical presence in the run and passing games. Due to his size limitations, how much he can improve in these areas should be questioned.
Some organization will fall in love with Jackson's speed. The same thing happens every year. As long as his new team understand his limitations and doesn't overvalue his acceleration, Jackson shouldn't be overwhelmed early in his career.
Status: Workout Warrior
LB Shaquem Griffin, UCF
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Never doubt Shaquem Griffin. All he's done is destroy every preconceived notion about what he can and cannot do.
The UCF product went viral twice during the NFL combine. Buzz began when the one-handed young man posted 20 reps on the bench press with the help of a prosthetic.
"We went to go get it fitted for me, and when I started lifting, I could barely bench the bar," Griffin told The MMQB's Peter King afterward. "I mean, I'm shaking all over the place and the bar is falling, and I can't lift 45 pounds. But it just goes to show how much work I put in to get to this point. From shaking with the bar, I remember doing my first pull-up. My mom saw me do my first pull-up my freshman year, and she's emotional and she started crying. She walked out, and I thought, 'You've got to let her be sometimes.' She does that.
"But it's amazing to see how far I came, from not being able to bench the bar to throwing up 20 reps at 225, and being able to compete with the best here."
His performance on the bench served as a precursor to him almost breaking the internet with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. The 227-pound linebacker ran the same exact time as his twin brother, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin, did a year ago.
The performance confirmed what can be seen on film. Griffin led the UFC Knights last season with 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and nine more quarterback hits. He posted even better numbers during his junior campaign, registering 92 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.
A team in search of a multifaceted defender can use the reigning Peach Bowl defensive MVP as a safety, off-the-ball linebacker and edge-rusher. Yes, concerns arise regarding Griffin's ability to disengage from blockers, but he's adapted and succeeded every step of the way so far.
Griffin's work ethic, drive, determination, relentlessness and natural gifts may make him a top-100 pick in April's draft, according to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler.
"I never want to be considered just a feel-good story," Griffin told NFL.com's Kimberly Jones before the combine. "I want to be considered that guy who can be competitive and can make it in the league because I never shy away from competition. I never shy away from any opponent. I'm always up for a challenge. That's how I've been raised."
Status: Top Prospect
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