News, notes and analysis on pro days and individual workouts heading toward the April 22-24 draft:
• Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, having checked out medically after his late-season shoulder surgery, sits atop most team’s draft boards and very well could lock up the No. 1 overall draft pick Monday when he holds a workout for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers.
Monday in Norman, Okla., Bradford must prove he has the arm strength necessary to make all the NFL throws and show consistent footwork and mechanics. After evaluating all his game film, arm strength really is the only question mark.
• On Tuesday, Oklahoma State CB Perrish Cox and Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant will hold individual workouts in Texas; Cox in Waco and Bryant in Lufkin. For both, interviews before and after are as important as the workout itself.
There are not many questions about Cox’s athleticism, but he’s not a first-round prospect because of off-field issues. He still show the elite speed he displayed on film, and if so he’ll move up draft boards because elite prospects typically get more wiggle room when it comes to character issues.
Bryant has questions to answer for, too, but he missed most of the 2009 season after lying to NCAA investigators and must prove he has stayed in good shape. He still must answer questions about his explosiveness and top-end speed because scouts still have questions about his ability to consistently separate from NFL defenders.
• Missouri State TE Clay Harbor had a great workout last week. He ran the 40-yard dash in the high 4.5-second range to low 4.6-second range, depending on the scout holding the stopwatch, and was good in all other drills.
His lack of ideal bulk is a concern, but his display of athleticism and receiving skills at Missouri State, during the Texas vs. Nation practices, at the NFL Scouting Combine and now at his pro day solidified his draft stock. He is a lock to be a third-round pick and could sneak into the bottom of the second round.
He could well end up becoming a pro in the mold of the Colts’ Dallas Clark in a few seasons.
For information and analysis on these and many other players, see the latest Draft Dish in SN’s Pro Football War Room. For more than 640 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
News, notes and analysis on pro days and individual workouts heading toward the April 22-24 draft:
• Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, having checked out medically after his late-season shoulder surgery, sits atop most team’s draft boards and very well could lock up the No. 1 overall draft pick Monday when he holds a workout for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers.
Monday in Norman, Okla., Bradford must prove he has the arm strength necessary to make all the NFL throws and show consistent footwork and mechanics. After evaluating all his game film, arm strength really is the only question mark.
• On Tuesday, Oklahoma State CB Perrish Cox and Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant will hold individual workouts in Texas; Cox in Waco and Bryant in Lufkin. For both, interviews before and after are as important as the workout itself.
There are not many questions about Cox’s athleticism, but he’s not a first-round prospect because of off-field issues. He still show the elite speed he displayed on film, and if so he’ll move up draft boards because elite prospects typically get more wiggle room when it comes to character issues.
Bryant has questions to answer for, too, but he missed most of the 2009 season after lying to NCAA investigators and must prove he has stayed in good shape. He still must answer questions about his explosiveness and top-end speed because scouts still have questions about his ability to consistently separate from NFL defenders.
• Missouri State TE Clay Harbor had a great workout last week. He ran the 40-yard dash in the high 4.5-second range to low 4.6-second range, depending on the scout holding the stopwatch, and was good in all other drills.
His lack of ideal bulk is a concern, but his display of athleticism and receiving skills at Missouri State, during the Texas vs. Nation practices, at the NFL Scouting Combine and now at his pro day solidified his draft stock. He is a lock to be a third-round pick and could sneak into the bottom of the second round.
He could well end up becoming a pro in the mold of the Colts’ Dallas Clark in a few seasons.
For information and analysis on these and many other players, see the latest Draft Dish in SN’s Pro Football War Room. For more than 640 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.