INDIANAPOLIS — An analytical look at the players whose performance at the NFL Scouting Combine most dramatically affected their stock:
His workouts at the Combine helped improve Jacoby Ford’s draft status to a possible second-round pick.
Winners
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. Although we War Room scouts always have had a high grade on Campbell, opinions around the league seemed to vary greatly — from first-rounder to fifth-rounder. After his dominating workout at the Combine, he proved he is a rare athlete and has assured himself of being a first-round pick. He could move into the top 15 if he performs well in his on-campus workout March 10.
Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pitt. He helped himself more than any other player at the Combine because he had struggled so much at the Senior Bowl. Personnel men didn’t know if he was a wide receiver or tight end and if he had the athleticism to create mismatches in the passing game. He erased all doubts in his workout as a guy who can create matchup problems and make big plays. He could be drafted as high as the second round.
Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson. After a stellar Senior Bowl week, Ford displayed blazing speed and explosiveness in drills Sunday and convinced personnel men he can be a dangerous slot receiver and return man despite his lack of height. He now rates as a third-round prospect who could move into the second.
Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami (Fla.) . He is tall and well built and has been receiving a lot of hype in postseason because of his background and limited football experience. He struggled at the Senior Bowl, showing a lack of athleticism. He quelled some of those fears Saturday, looking like a good athlete without pads. If able to repeat his Combine performance at Miami’s on-campus workout March 26, he could move into the third round or even late second.
Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida. Mitchell, a junior, looked great on film but scouts wanted to see him up close, to see if his timed quickness and explosiveness matched his game play. He did not disappoint. He is big and ran well and looked athletic in drills Sunday. He is unlikely to be drafted in the first round, but if he catches the ball well at his on-campus workout March 30 he should move into the second round.
Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana. He is having an outstanding spring. He dominated defenders at East-West Shrine Game practices to move into third-round consideration. After showing good athleticism at the Combine, he proved capable of playing left tackle and now is a second-round prospect. He even could get taken at the end of the first round by a tackle-needy team, a la Sam Baker and Duane Brown in ’08.
Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale. He was one of the most athletic offensive linemen in workouts Saturday, rebuilding his draft stock after he failed to impress during Texas vs. The Nation practices. Although he didn’t dominate at Hillsdale, he is big and has rare athleticism and thus moved up draft boards at the Combine. He now projects as a third-round prospect, fourth round at worst.
Colt McCoy did not throw at the Combine, but he’ll workout for the pros in his on-campus pro day March 31.
Losers
Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas. He left Indianapolis still needing to prove he has the quickness and athleticism to be as productive in a pro-style offense as he was in Kansas’ spread attack. He certainly did not look quick, explosive of fast in Combine drills Sunday and his stock has tumbled into the middle rounds.
Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU. He had a disappointing senior season and then failed to show quickness and speed Sunday. He showed only adequate explosiveness and speed at the Combine and thus certainly will fall out of the first round.
Colt McCoy, QB, Texas. Even without throwing, McCoy’s draft status fell when he measured in at 6-1 1/8. Personnel men still have major questions about his arm strength, wondering if he can make all the NFL throws. Considering his lack of height, his stock will take a big tumble down draft boards unless he lights up his on-campus workout March 31. Even with a strong pro day performance, it would not be a surprise to see him fall into the third round.
Preston Parker, WR, North Alabama. Parker was a top prospect as a junior in ’08 at Florida State but was forced to transfer. At North Alabama, he was productive and was on his way to winning back the scouts. However, he ran the 40-yard dash Sunday in the high 4.6-second/low 4.7-second range, depending on the scout working the stopwatch. His stock really will tumble now because shorter receivers lacking explosiveness and speed struggle to make it in the NFL.
Dace Richardson, G, Iowa. Many scouts considered him a "sleeper" before the Combine because his on-field production had been greatly hindered by a number of injuries. After running poorly (high 5.7-second range) and failing to distinguish himself in other drills Saturday, he will not get drafted.
Former NFL scout Russ Lande evaluates college players for Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room and GM Jr. Scouting LLC.
INDIANAPOLIS — An analytical look at the players whose performance at the NFL Scouting Combine most dramatically affected their stock:
His workouts at the Combine helped improve Jacoby Ford’s draft status to a possible second-round pick.
Winners
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. Although we War Room scouts always have had a high grade on Campbell, opinions around the league seemed to vary greatly — from first-rounder to fifth-rounder. After his dominating workout at the Combine, he proved he is a rare athlete and has assured himself of being a first-round pick. He could move into the top 15 if he performs well in his on-campus workout March 10.
Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pitt. He helped himself more than any other player at the Combine because he had struggled so much at the Senior Bowl. Personnel men didn’t know if he was a wide receiver or tight end and if he had the athleticism to create mismatches in the passing game. He erased all doubts in his workout as a guy who can create matchup problems and make big plays. He could be drafted as high as the second round.
Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson. After a stellar Senior Bowl week, Ford displayed blazing speed and explosiveness in drills Sunday and convinced personnel men he can be a dangerous slot receiver and return man despite his lack of height. He now rates as a third-round prospect who could move into the second.
Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami (Fla.) . He is tall and well built and has been receiving a lot of hype in postseason because of his background and limited football experience. He struggled at the Senior Bowl, showing a lack of athleticism. He quelled some of those fears Saturday, looking like a good athlete without pads. If able to repeat his Combine performance at Miami’s on-campus workout March 26, he could move into the third round or even late second.
Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida. Mitchell, a junior, looked great on film but scouts wanted to see him up close, to see if his timed quickness and explosiveness matched his game play. He did not disappoint. He is big and ran well and looked athletic in drills Sunday. He is unlikely to be drafted in the first round, but if he catches the ball well at his on-campus workout March 30 he should move into the second round.
Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana. He is having an outstanding spring. He dominated defenders at East-West Shrine Game practices to move into third-round consideration. After showing good athleticism at the Combine, he proved capable of playing left tackle and now is a second-round prospect. He even could get taken at the end of the first round by a tackle-needy team, a la Sam Baker and Duane Brown in ’08.
Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale. He was one of the most athletic offensive linemen in workouts Saturday, rebuilding his draft stock after he failed to impress during Texas vs. The Nation practices. Although he didn’t dominate at Hillsdale, he is big and has rare athleticism and thus moved up draft boards at the Combine. He now projects as a third-round prospect, fourth round at worst.
Colt McCoy did not throw at the Combine, but he’ll workout for the pros in his on-campus pro day March 31.
Losers
Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas. He left Indianapolis still needing to prove he has the quickness and athleticism to be as productive in a pro-style offense as he was in Kansas’ spread attack. He certainly did not look quick, explosive of fast in Combine drills Sunday and his stock has tumbled into the middle rounds.
Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU. He had a disappointing senior season and then failed to show quickness and speed Sunday. He showed only adequate explosiveness and speed at the Combine and thus certainly will fall out of the first round.
Colt McCoy, QB, Texas. Even without throwing, McCoy’s draft status fell when he measured in at 6-1 1/8. Personnel men still have major questions about his arm strength, wondering if he can make all the NFL throws. Considering his lack of height, his stock will take a big tumble down draft boards unless he lights up his on-campus workout March 31. Even with a strong pro day performance, it would not be a surprise to see him fall into the third round.
Preston Parker, WR, North Alabama. Parker was a top prospect as a junior in ’08 at Florida State but was forced to transfer. At North Alabama, he was productive and was on his way to winning back the scouts. However, he ran the 40-yard dash Sunday in the high 4.6-second/low 4.7-second range, depending on the scout working the stopwatch. His stock really will tumble now because shorter receivers lacking explosiveness and speed struggle to make it in the NFL.
Dace Richardson, G, Iowa. Many scouts considered him a "sleeper" before the Combine because his on-field production had been greatly hindered by a number of injuries. After running poorly (high 5.7-second range) and failing to distinguish himself in other drills Saturday, he will not get drafted.
Former NFL scout Russ Lande evaluates college players for Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room and GM Jr. Scouting LLC.
