The fast dudes ran fast and the slow dudes ran slow...
Day 2 of the NFL Combine is a wrap! We have all the numbers and we now know who is good and who is bad at football. All of that film work useless. Not really, but it’s an important part of the process. Who won? Who lost? Who is taking the top off NFL defenses? You came to the right place to find out.
This list of winners and losers is purely based on testing and measurements; I’ll re-watch the on-field drills with more scrutiny throughout the process. One tool I use heavily to formulate my athletic score is Kent Lee Platt’s “RAS” (relative athleticism score). Up to this point, they were just projections. This is great to help gain a better understanding of how prospects performed against a large historical database.
Did you miss Day 1 winners and losers? Get it here. But enough shameless plugs, TO THE TAKES!
WINNERS
DK METCALF - WR, Ole Miss
I’ll save you the trouble of scrolling past an extra tweet; his RAS score was a 9.65 out of 10 (elite).
There were betting sites listing the over/under on Metcalf’s 40-yard dash at 4.56. I hope you double stomped the under. What made it even more crazy was his time came directly after Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin blazed a 4.36 at 20 pounds lighter. I believe we now have the ammo to fight the “Laquon Treadwell 2.0” jobbers in our mentions.
I got asked if Metcalf’s tape matched his testing. The answer is yes. I had him sniffing around the top 10 on my big board and today only helped his cause.
MILES BOYKIN - WR, Notre Dame
A player with very little hype coming into the Combine, Boykin made his presence known. These are the types of numbers that send folks running to the tape.
Miles Boykin posted one of the top #RAS at the #2019NFLCombine, which would be a top 20 grade out of over 2,000 prospects dating back to 1987. He did so with great size, speed, amazing explosiveness, and agility.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 3, 2019
*Splits Projected* pic.twitter.com/ffdNsWylos
More on Boykin from The Draft Network’s Brad Kelly:
“Boykin has strong, natural hands that allows him to pluck passes out of the air at full extension. Numerous times, he adjusted to balls thrown slightly behind or ahead of him with ease, always extending towards the catch point. Thriving in the intermediate level, Boykin looks the part of a possession receiver at the next level at 6’4 and 228 pounds... few receivers have his combination of strength and ball skills upon entering the NFL draft.”
HAKEEM BUTLER, WR - Iowa State
Butler is the product of an experiment with pterosaur DNA. That’s the only way to explain his freakish size profile. Along with that, he checked some athleticism boxes.
Hakeem Butler posted an elite #RAS at the #2019NFLCombine with an incredible size and speed combination to go with very good explosion. He did not complete agility drills.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 3, 2019
*Splits Projected* pic.twitter.com/zQymhcXbIu
I would’ve love to have seen the agility drills for Butler as his ability to separate without pushing off was a big concern on tape. Regardless, the rest shows a plus mover at incredible size.
If I only have one tight end to choose as a winner (since the Philadelphia Eagles don’t really need one), it might as well be historic. Fant was billed as a premier athlete and he left no doubt with his performance.
Cards are done, but I'll do a thread later. For now, here's how Noah Fant finished. Top 10 #RAS all time, no biggie. pic.twitter.com/EWJ5VKLMrF
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2019
Fant is surely a round one lock and a prototype move tight end/big slot. Shouldn’t change his stock too much as this was all expected.
LOSERS
HUNTER RENFROW - WR, Clemson
Short, skinny, with kangaroo arms and hands that would make Jack Kelly scoff, Renfrow’s poor physical profile looks worse with below average testing.
Hunter Renfrow posted a below average #RAS at the #2019NFLCombine with poor size, speed, and explosion, but very promising agility drills.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 3, 2019
*Splits Projected* pic.twitter.com/luZgMmkk6A
Teams will have to look past a lot to trust that Renfrow can be the reliable and clutch target that he was for the Tigers over the past four years.
ISAAC NAUTA – TE, Georgia
It’s hard to find examples of tight ends that are successful after running a 4.9. Sure, Witten had some decent years doing it after a decade of play, but he had time to learn the job after running 4.65 at his Pro Day(?).
Isaac Nauta truthers are probably not having a good time. pic.twitter.com/vMtLZSxaUE
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2019
It’s bad news for a player with a poor production profile. That’s not uncommon for Georgia pass catchers, but without decent production or a solid volume of opportunities on film, running like a poor athlete isn’t going to move any needles. He *has* to improve on his time at his Pro Day or he’ll be lost in a class chock full of receiving threats.
JACHAI POLITE - EDGE, Florida
Wait, what? I know I said this was testing/measurement only.. well, I lied to you. What makes me put Polite in this section? For a player with a character flag regarding maturity, it doesn’t sound like his interviews went well or that he handled him well.
#Florida EDGE Jachai Polite said that when he met with the 49ers at the Combine, they didn’t even really talk football with him at all. “They just bashed me the whole time... Idk.”
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 2, 2019
Jachai Polite said Rams were his best meeting “bc they didn’t bash me. Everybody else picking at my game”
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) March 2, 2019
Guessing at what really happened in private meetings is pure speculation, but it’s not the best look for a prospect that had concerns to dispel. In the end it could be nothing, but it’s worth tracking.
In Other News...
If you’re of the mind that the Eagles will be searching for a deep threat, it’s a darn good draft to grab one. Seven(!) receivers ran under 4.40 this year.
t1. Parris Campbell, Ohio State: 4.31
t1. Andy Isabella, UMass: 4.31
t3. Mecole Hardman, Georgia: 4.33
t3. D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss: 4.33
5. Terry McLaurin, Ohio State, 4.35
All but Metcalf and McLaurin were part of my search for a deep threat before the Combine. Don’t ask me why I left off McLaurin, he was on the list to write-up and I blew it like a Nauta Combine. Guess I’m Nauta going to be sleeping on him anymore (sorry). Metcalf was a strategic omission because he was never going to be available at 25 and really, who expected 4.33?
There were two others highlighted, Darius Slayton from Auburn and Emanuel Hall from Missouri. They tied for 6th fastest at 4.39. Plenty of dudes that can scoot in this class.
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