2022-03-04 08:00:00
Because athletic qualities are essential in this sport, the NFL Combine allows certain players to score points with NFL staff. Who shone and earned places in the 2022 draft?
Quarterbacks
Winners
Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati)
Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh)
What Desmond Ridder being athletic is no surprise but he demonstrated it once more during the workshops: 3.22 meters when exploding forward, 91 centimeters of dry relaxation and a time of 4.49 seconds in the sprint. Author of a superb season in 2021, he is a quarterback offering a dual threat and the power of his arm was at work in Indianapolis. More traditional in his game, Kenny Pickett nevertheless showed interesting athletic qualities. Those that allowed him to perform well in throwing on the move at university. His Combine began with the annual “hands too small.” This will not prevent him from being drafted because it did not handicap him from throwing 42 touchdowns in 2021. But in 2022, he will be the QB with the smallest hands in the NFL, despite his height of 1m92.
But also
Sam Howell (North Carolina) did not participate in the athletic workshops but he threw. Plus, he reportedly did very well in his interviews. And that’s the most important thing. Dustin Crum has shown that he is an athletic quarterback, which explains his 12 rushing touchdowns in 2021. He might hear his name called during the draft, but not until the 6th round. same for me Cole Kelley (Southeastern Louisiana) who comes from the second level of university. Over two meters (2m04), he has a powerful arm and was able to show touch during his throws. His university production is dizzying, with 44 passing TDs and 16 on the ground in 2021. Of course, the opposition encountered puts the performance into perspective before coming up once morest the absolute level. But a franchise might take the gamble at the end of the draft, that of taking a replacement and more if there is an affinity.
Malik Willis did not show his athletic qualities in the workshops but he did throw: and as with Liberty University, he showed a disconcerting ease in throwing deep. Without pass rushers disrupting his timing or cornerbacks to mark the receiver, this deep throw drill at the Combine would not be likened to a long pass in the NFL. But the quality of the arm is there and it is an asset in terms of his rating for the draft. In the intermediate zones, these pitches also had plenty of velocity.
Catchers
Winners
Tyquan Thornton (Baylor)
Calvin Austin (Memphis)
Skyy Moore (Western Michigan)
Velasquez Jones (Tennessee)
Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
Chris Olave (Ohio State)
Christian Watson (North Dakota State)
Of course, with such a time Tyquan Thornton was reported. Official time 4.28, while the manual time might have made the record believe to be 4.21! After a season with 948 yards and 10 touchdowns to help Baylor win the Big 12 conference, he was among these players “in the bubble”: on the border between the 6th and 7th round of the draft. Obviously, this speed will make many NFL managers rewatch their games. Especially since his athletic qualities were also highlighted during other athletic workshops, particularly jumps (height and length).
Author of 19 touchdowns his last two seasons, Calvin Austin III finished his career at Memphis being considered a dynamic receiver worth a 5th or 6th round pick. After his performance at the Senior Bowl, he had already won two draft rounds. After this NFL Combine, his athletic qualities make him a possible candidate to enter the top 50: 4.32 seconds in the sprint, 99 centimeters in dry relaxation and 3.43 meters in the long jump from a standing start. We were talking regarding it two days ago, as a possible Patriots pick in the 2nd round and Skyy Moore confirmed his value: dynamic player, capable of playing outside and inside, his explosiveness was evident in the workshops with measurement and those with receptions. Velasquez Jones is a weapon for attacking depth. His great time in the sprint reinforces this idea: 4.31 seconds, the 2nd best time. In addition, he is very efficient at returning kicks (628 yards and 1 TD in 2021) so despite his age (he will be 25 at the start of the 2022 season), he will be of interest to a franchise from the 4th round.
Strong, Treylon Burks had shown surprising speed for his size with Arkansas. His time of 4.50 in the sprint confirmed the visual impression. He posted an impressive average of 16.9 receiving yards (65 rec) in 2021 and that was nothing new: 16.2 yards in 2020 (50 rec) and 16.4 yards in 2019 (29 rec). Chris Olave made his reputation with his quality in routes at Ohio State, he also showed qualities of speed there. He confirmed with a fantastic time of 4.39 in the 40 yard dash. Christian Watson is a player to follow, despite coming from the second university level. His name was already known to fans, he confirmed it with magnificent athletic tests: best performance in length, 6th in height and 7th in the sprint! He also showed great ease in workshops with receptions.
But also
Kevin Austin (Notre Dame) had a good season in 2021 (888 yards and 7 TDs) but it was the only one sportingly. In addition, he was suspended several times during his studies, notably for smoking prohibited herbs. Possessing good height (1m89), he was very athletic and might represent a bet on potential, from the 5th round. Much smaller, Bo Melton is also much more lively. And he also knew how to put his best foot forward, both during the athletic workshops and during those with receptions. Alec Pierce also ran fast (4.33), especially for a player of 1m92 and 95 kilos. He also exceeded the meter in dry relaxation: his mix of size, elevation capacity and speed makes him a candidate for the end of the 2nd round, following his 884 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2021 and his participation in the NCAA playoffs. Other receivers with size have shown they also have speed: George Pickens (Georgia) and Jalen Tolbert (South Alabama), for example. Less tall, Khalil Shakir (Boise State) confirmed that he would hear his name called during the Friday of the draft (rounds 2 and 3). It will be good Thursday for Garrett Wilson (Ohio State) who once more showed a lot of fluidity and reliability in the workshops.
Tight Ends
Winners
Daniel Bellinger (San Diego State)
Chigoziem Okonkwo (Maryland)
Greg Dulcich (UCLA)
Evolving in a less competitive conference, Daniel Bellinger was primarily a capable blocking tight end in the Mountain West Conference. Only two touchdowns in two seasons but an effective role in helping the ground game. During the 2022 Senior Bowl, he showed more receiving qualities than expected. At the Combine, he showed more speed than expected: 4.63 seconds for 40 yards, 4th fastest at his position. 4th performance also in dry relaxation among the tight ends. He also performed well running between the cones, showing an ability to change direction. And of course, in the workshop where the player must push a sled simulating an opponent, he confirmed his ability as a blocker. Here is a player who greatly increased his rating during this draft process.
Player of average size (1m88) and light for the position, Chigoziem Okonkwo is a tight end more intended to be a target for the quarterback, than a player capable of blocking. His great sprint time (4.52 seconds) confirms his profile, following his 52 receptions in 2021 (447 yards and 5 TDs). Greg Dulcich also is more in the “receiver” mold rather than a blocker but he is fast (4.61) and showed a lot of ease in all workshops with receiving a ball.
But also
Player over 2 meters tall, Jelani Woods most often lifted the 100 kilo bar among tight ends (24 times). This is not a guarantee of success in the NFL but in addition to being very tall and therefore rather strong, he signed the second fastest time in the 40 yard dash (4.61). Author of 8 touchdowns in 2021 with Virginia, his NFL dream gained momentum in Indianapolis. Relatively new to the position, recruited as a quarterback, he still has technical work to accomplish. His physique as well as his profile do not remember Logan Thomas (Commanders), enough to attract a franchise for a 5th round choice? Trey McBride confirmed that he is one of the best of this vintage, with his mix of power and landing skills. It is rumored that he might be the first tight end chosen, probably in the 2nd round. Others have confirmed, such as Charlie Kolar, Jalen Wydermyer, Isaiah Likely, Peyton Hendershot, Grant Calcaterra, the all-rounder Connor Heyward et Jake Ferguson : if the vintage does not offer an exceptional player, there will be many good deals in this position between rounds 3 and 6.
The absents
Expected to be chosen in the 1st round, Matt Corral (Ole Miss) decided not to throw and save that for their Pro Day (March 23). Also absent due to injuries, the receivers Drake London (USC), John Metchie et Jameson Williams (Alabama) were unable to justify their status as future 1st round. Also absent, Romeo Doubs (Nevada).
Losers
David Bell (WR, Purdue)
Carson Strong (QB, Nevada)
David Bell is especially recognized for its quality in terms of routes but in a vintage with a lot of competition, its athletic workshops have undoubtedly made it lose a few points. No, neither his sprint time (4.62) nor his below-average results in the jumps will make us forget the quality shown in the NCAA. But while some receivers scored points, the game of communicating vessels made him lose them. Carson Strong did not participate in athletic workshops, but that is not his primary quality. During the workshops with throws, several of his balls were too low: difficult in this case, for the receiver, to make a comfortable reception and then gain yards. Granted, these t-shirt and shorts workshops are not game situations and Carson Strong performed well in college. But the NFL Combine is a competition, with fierce competition, and he didn’t perform to his advantage. Carson Strong loser at the Combine? Not quite because he confirmed the power of his arm for deep throws. But he failed to change his status as, at best, the 6th quarterback in this class.
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