Spring is not far off and neither is the NFL draft. The NFL Combine is that stopping place between college play and an NFL team submitting that player name in Detroit sometime between Thu, Apr 25, 2024 – Sat, Apr 27. This is the first time college players get officially measured, where quarterbacks may get shorter, running backs weigh less, and receivers slow down from what their college bios may have claimed.
This is where fantasy football starts for the new year. There are always rookie surprises and plenty of reasons to take the chance on a new player, hoping you landed a big value (cough-cough-Puka Nacua-cough). This is the official start of the hype machine stoked by player agents and highlight films, bought into by franchises trying to appease the fan base and the source of tremendous optimism. Many will not measure up in the long-run, but many will. And it all starts here.
NFL Combine schedule
Thursday, February 29th, 3 PM ET – Defensive Linemen/Linebackers
Friday, March 1st, 3 PM ET – Defensive Backs, Tight Ends
Saturday, March 2, 1 PM – Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers
Sunday, March 3, 1 PM – Offensive Linemen
Saturday is the day when you get a first look at players that will likely show up in nearly every round in your fantasy drafts. Tight ends test on Friday but have historically been minor contributors in their first season, at least until last year when Sam LaPorta shattered that concept when he ended as the No. 1 fantasy tight end.
Invited Players
Here’s the list of players that will appear, and a quick breakdown of the top players in their positions so you’ll know who to pay extra attention.
QUARTERBACKS
Top prospects
Caleb Williams, USC – Widely expected to be the 1.01 pick of the draft by the Bears. Two years starting at USC totaled 8,170 pass yards, 72 pass TDs, 524 rush yards and 22 rush TDs. Highly coveted franchise quarterback.
Drake Maye, North Carolina – Can run well but the 2-year starter in North Carolina is a deadly passer who peaked with 4,321 pass yards and 38 TDs in 2022. Huge at 6-4, 230 pounds and can make any throw, and ran for up to 698 yards in a season. Expected to be a Top-5 pick.
Jayden Daniels, LSU – Heisman Trophy winner. Mature, experienced, dual-threat fifth-year quarterback who peaked in 2023 with 3,812 pass yards, 40 pass TDs, 1,134 rush yards and ten rush TDs. Top-5 pick likened to Lamar Jackson but maybe even a better passer.
Rest of field
- Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
- Devin Leary, Kentucky
- J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
- Joe Milton III, Tennessee
- Bo Nix, Oregon
- Michael Penix Jr., Washington
- Michael Pratt, Tulane
- Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
- Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
- Kedon Slovis, BYU
- Jordan Travis, Florida State
RUNNING BACKS
Top prospects
Jonathon Brooks, Texas – Tore his ACL late last year and will not participate in combine drills. Three-down back that can offer dynasty league value that pays off in 2025. May have been the first RB selected prior to injury.
Trey Benson, Florida State – Two-year starter for FSU, averaged 6.1 YPC as a rusher and scored 24 TDs total with two 900+ yard seasons as a rusher. Downhill runner may be first back selected and can offer two-down skillset while upgrading his role as a receiver.
Braelon Allen, Wisconsin – Another bruising runner at 6-2, 238 yards who offers two-down rushing at first and can grow into a better receiver. Three-year starter for Badgers who may end up as the Thunder in a committee backfield but can play all roles. Only 20 years old.
Audric Estimé, Notre Dame – Took over as the primary back in 2023 and ran for 1,341 yards and a school-record 18 TDs while catching 17 passes for 142 yards. Tough to tackle combination of speed and power should be a Top-5 pick for the position.
Blake Corum, Michigan – Team captain of the National Champs is smaller at 5-8, 200 pounds but four-year back started the last three with 2023 serving up 1,245 rush yards and 27 TDs after tearing meniscus at the end of 2022. Elite back that played behind an elite O-line. Will be 24 in November.
Rest of field
- Rasheen Ali, Marshall
- Emani Bailey, TCU
- Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
- Ray Davis, Kentucky
- Daijun Edwards, Georgia
- Frank Gore Jr., Southern Mississippi
- Isaac Guerendo, Louisville
- George Holani, Boise State
- Bucky Irving, Oregon
- Dillon Johnson, Washington
- Jawhar Jordan, Louisville
- Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
- MarShawn Lloyd, USC
- Jase McClellan, Alabama
- Kendall Milton, Georgia
- Keilan Robinson, Texas
- Cody Schrader, Missouri
- Will Shipley, Clemson
- Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., Purdue
- Kimani Vidal, Troy
- Michael Wiley, Arizona
- Miyan Williams, Ohio State
- Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
WIDE RECEIVERS
Top prospects
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State – As hyped as any rookie wideout in recent history. Will be the first wideout taken. Big, fast, elusive, and won the Biletnikoff Award as best receiver. Two years at Ohio State both ended over 1,200 yards and 14 TDs. Considered a tier above all other college wideouts.
Rome Odunze, Washington – Led the nation with 1,640 receiving yards on 92 catches with 13 TDs. Expected to go in first half of Round 1. Great size at 6-3, 215 pounds with elite hands and a quarterback’s best friend with catch radius and ability to get open.
Malik Nabers, LSU – Junior season exploded for 89-1,569-14 stat line playing with QB Jayden Daniels. May be the No. 2 WR selected. Only 20 years old and likely a Top-10 overall pick. Tough to tackle and a speedster that averaged 17.6 YPC last year. Expected to provide Year 1 fantasy starter production.
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU – The other half of LSU’s deadly wideouts led team with 17 TDs on his 68 catches for 1,177 yards and averaged 17.3 YPC in his breakout season. Solid speed with 6-5 frame will be a difference-maker at the next level and should be a Round 1 pick with immediate fantasy value.
Keon Coleman, Florida State – Transferred to FSU as a Junior and ended with 50 catches for 658 yards and 11 TDs as their leading receiver. Plenty fast enough with a 6-4, 215 pound frame. Projects as a productive No. 2 NFL wideout for a team that needs a possession receiver and end-zone target.
Troy Franklin, Oregon – Improved all three seasons with the Ducks and ended with 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 scores in 2023. The 6-3 speedster was timed at a 4.35 40-time and expects a Day 1 call as a premier deep threat that can still play the middle.
Xavier Worthy, Texas – Another potential field-stretcher who topped out at 75 catches for 1,014 yards last year and scored 26 times in his career as a third-year Longhorn. The 6-1 receiver has his 172-pound weight work against him but he’s expected to run a 4.3-ish 40-time and can offer a valuable role as a returner that may see him sneak into Day 1.
Ladd McConkey, Georgia – Struggled with injury last year but turned in 58 catches for 762 yards and seven scores for the Bulldogs as a sophomore and projects as a slot receiver at 6-0 and 185 pounds. Precise route runner that shined at the Senior Bowl and should be called on Day 2.
Rest of field
- Javon Baker, UCF
- Jermaine Burton, Alabama
- Jalen Coker, Holy Cross
- Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
- Jacob Cowing, Arizona
- Ryan Flournoy, Southeast Missouri State
- Anthony Gould, Oregon State
- Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State
- Jha’Quan Jackson, Tulane
- Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
- Xavier Legette, South Carolina
- Luke McCaffrey, Rice
- Jalen McMillan, Washington
- Bub Means, Pittsburgh
- Adonai Mitchell, Texas
- Ricky Pearsall, Florida
- Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington
- Brenden Rice, USC
- Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky
- Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia
- Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
- Jamari Thrash, Louisville
- Devaughn Vele, Utah
- Devontez Walker, North Carolina
- Malik Washington, Virginia
- Tahj Washington, USC
- Xavier Weaver, Colorado
- Jordan Whittington, Texas
- Isaiah Williams, Illinois
- Johnny Wilson, Florida State
- Roman Wilson, Michigan
TIGHT ENDS
Top prospects
Brock Bowers, Georgia – If there is another Sam LaPorta in this draft (and there had never been before), then it would clearly be Bowers who led the Bulldogs in catches, yards, and receiving TDs in all three of his seasons. As a freshman he scored 13 times. As a sophomore, he caught 63 passes for 942 yards. He’s expected to be a Top-10 pick and offer fantasy value even as a rookie. He’s in a tier all by himself for college tight ends.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas – He may be the second tight end drafted, but is considered a significant drop from Brock Bowers. Sanders is a 6-4, 256-pound receiving tight end who turned in around 50 catches for 650 yards for the last two years. He’ll be more of a development player than a Year 1 contributor.
Rest of field
- Erick All, Iowa
- AJ Barner, Michigan
- Jaheim Bell, Florida State
- Devin Culp, Washington
- Dallin Holker, Colorado State
- Theo Johnson, Penn State
- Trey Knox, South Carolina
- Tanner McLachlan, Arizona
- Tip Reiman, Illinois
- Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
- Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
- Cade Stover, Ohio State
- Jack Westover, Washington
- Jared Wiley, TCU
Combine drills and tests
Players are allowed to participate or opt out of any activity. Below are the seven tests used and their current record holders.
40-yard dash – WR John Ross, Washington (4.22, 2017)
Bench press (225 pounds) – DT Stephen Pea, Oregon State (49 reps, 2011)
Vertical jump – Tie WR Chris Conley, Georgia (45″, 2015) and CB Donald Washington, Ohio State (45″, 2009)
Broad Jump – CB Byron Jones, U. Conn. (12’3″, 2015)
3-cone drill – WR Jeff Maehl, Oregon (6.42, 2011)
Shuttle run – WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon State (3.81, 2014)
S2 eval testing – The NFL relied on the Wonderlic Test but the results were not made available to the public and the test ceased to be used starting in 2022. The test did no favors to QB Vince Young and RB Frank Gore, who both scored a “6” on the 0 to 50 scale. Ryan Fitzpatrick was the top quarterback with a score of 48.
The new S2 evaluation measures visual learning, instinctive learning, impulse control, and improvisation. The results are not made public either and came under scrutiny after the NFL released the scores of three rookie quarterbacks – Bryce Young (98%), Anthony Richardson (79%), and C.J. Stroud (18%). Stroud was the second pick of the draft behind Young, and easily outperformed the others despite the rating.