Saturday was a massive day for the NFL Scouting Combine with quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers taking the field. Here are our main takeaways from an eventful day.
Who's QB4? The top three quarterback prospects in the class (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels) didn't throw, giving guys on the second tier the stage to themselves to show why they deserve to be drafted in the first round.
J.J. McCarthy had some nice throws on in-routes and going deep but struggled on out-routes to his left.
Good visual of J.J. McCarthy and his easy velocity here. He’s got a live arm.
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) March 2, 2024
pic.twitter.com/TMUVHeEwPn
.@jjmccarthy09 airing it out
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1B6NSNT3N4
Can JJ throw left? pic.twitter.com/qN1dgD5ZGF
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 2, 2024
Michael Penix Jr. had impressive measurables, with NFL insider Peter Schrager calling them "the buzz" of the combine on Saturday. He also showed off his beautiful deep ball on a pair of passes that should have been caught.
.@themikepenix letting it fly.
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3bJnAyMKNq
Bo Nix answered questions about his arm strength, and Joe Milton wowed with the best throws of anyone on Saturday.
The QBs are putting on a show with the deep balls.
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
A beauty from @BoNix10
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tuTV2cB4mc
Joe Milton III with the laser rocket arm. pic.twitter.com/O2oisJJva4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2024
Based on Saturday's performances, Penix should be the No. 4 quarterback on big boards, although McCarthy and Nix largely passed their tests, giving both the proper foundation to move up draft lists.
Adonai Mitchell cements himself as a first-round pick: The former Texas wideout established himself as a first-rounder with an outstanding day. He ran the fastest 40-time of the early session for wide receivers (4.35) and scored highly on his Relative Athletic Score. Mitchell's 9.98 out of 10 is the eighth-highest score out of 3,063 wideouts from 1987-2024.
Adonai Mitchell just turned in the top 40 time at the Combine with a 4.35. Just made himself some money today.
— Cedric Golden (@CedGolden) March 2, 2024
Adonai Mitchell is a WR prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.98 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 8 out of 3063 WR from 1987 to 2024.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2024
Splits projectedhttps://t.co/c09xGIzxUh pic.twitter.com/H2EeaLzw8r
Chiefs may have found a Baby Cheetah: Xavier Worthy stole the show, running a historic 4.21 40-yard dash, the fastest in combine history.
XAVIER WORTHY WITH AN UNOFFICIAL TIE OF THE 40 RECORD.
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/PesQjtLyzE
Worthy's blazing speed will cause his stock to rise, perhaps to the Chiefs at No. 32. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has already taken notice.
my bad 4.22…. https://t.co/LAEvPiHNty
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) March 2, 2024
The former Longhorns receiver could play the role vacated by speedster Tyreek Hill when he was traded to the Dolphins in 2022.
Trey Benson could be the best running back prospect: The former Florida State running back ran an explosive 4.39 40-yard dash, giving him even more in common with excellent young Jets running back Breece Hall, who captured the same time on his run at the combine in 2022. Benson is slightly taller, but the two also are nearly identical in weight.
Last season, Hall came back from a torn ACL and had 1,585 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. If teams believe Benson can duplicate those numbers, too, he'll be a no-brainer to be the first running back off the board.
Wide receiver class has remarkable depth: Mitchell and Worthy stole the show, but Rome Odunze and Brian Thomas Jr. proved why they are locked in as first-round picks.
Xavier Legette is already built like an NFL wide receiver, and his sub-4.4 40 will add to his intrigue as a prospect.
Ladd McConkey ran a 4.39 and demonstrated his crisp route-running later in the day.
Next to Odunze, Tulane's Jha'Quan Jackson ran arguably the cleanest gauntlet drill.
Jha'Quan Jackson gauntlet. Clean pic.twitter.com/iAtUxrLV5D
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 2, 2024
Johnny Wilson recorded the longest wingspan by a wide receiver in combine history, and his Florida State teammate Keon Coleman made up for a disappointing 40-yard dash time with the fastest performance in the gauntlet.
Keon Coleman (@FSUFootball) reached the fastest speed of group 8 during the gauntlet drill (20.36 mph), despite recording the slowest forty time (4.61s).#NFLCombine x @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/1SioPdOPNU
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 2, 2024
Keon Coleman reached a top speed of 20.36 mph during the gauntlet drill, the fastest speed by any receiver over the last two seasons.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 3, 2024
Isaiah Williams reached a top speed of 19.04 mph during the gauntlet (5th-fastest), despite running the slowest forty at his position (4.63s). pic.twitter.com/kdw5lyEeCx
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