Category: 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Kool-Aid McKinstry passes the medical re-check on his injured foot

Kool-Aid McKinstry passes the medical re-check on his injured foot, which required surgery and kept him out of the Combine

During the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry was discovered to have a foot injury. The Jones fracture, a break at the base of the pinkie toe, forced McKinstry to have surgery and not work out at the combine.

McKinstry had his medical reevaluation by the NFL this week. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Jones fracture is healing properly. Surgery to repair a Jones fracture is common and generally results in a 6-to-8-week recovery range before full activity is permitted.

That’s good news for McKinstry, who is generally projected to be a first-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, which takes place in two weeks in Detroit.

Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright climbs the draft rankings with excellent combine performance

Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright climbs the draft rankings with excellent combine performance

This years crop of running back talent is a little different from last years. With no clear cut running back at the top of the class akin to Bijan Robinson, or really any definite first round grades from any of the backs. It is becoming a close competition for who will be the first running back off the board come draft time, and Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright continues to make a very good case to be that guy.

Wright was always in contention to be one of the top backs selected given his versatility and explosion, but a dominant performance at the combine showcased the top tier athleticism every NFL team is looking for out of a modern day running back. With a blazing 4.38 40 yard dash time, 11’2′ broad jump, and 38″ vertical jump, Wright proved to be a top tier athlete whos tape converts to his physical skills.

Given how good Wright’s tape already is, and his versatile skills as a runner and pass catcher, teams could fall in love with him early and launch him into day two of the draft as the classes top running back in a crowded class.

Biggest winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Biggest winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon after a long week in Indianapolis

Four days of on-field workouts in Indianapolis concluded on Sunday with the offensive linemen taking the stage at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Over 300 prospects participated in the interviews, medical examinations, on-field testing and more during the week. Scores of those players performed very well and augmented their appeal to the NFL decision-makers. But a few separated themselves at the top of the most impressive combine performers.

Here are the biggest winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

2024 NFL draft: NFL Scouting Combine and huge trade shakes things up in new 2-round mock draft

Our new two-round mock draft has lots of new names and it solves the Justin Fields problem.

The NFL Scouting Combine is in the books and several players pushed themselves way up draft boards with strong performances. We decided it was time for a huge update to our two-round mock draft with lots of new names included.

We also decided to take care of the Justin Fields problem. We see plenty of mock drafts that give the Chicago Bears a quarterback No. 1 overall but don’t account for Fields. In this two-rounder, we have the Pittsburgh Steelers trading their second-round pick this year (as well as a third-round pick in 2025) so in evaluating this, the Bears now have an extra second and the Steelers hope they have their quarterback of the future.

Two OL suffer injuries while running the 40-yard dash at the combine

The injuries in a drill that is largely meaningless for the position should lead to a greater debate about having the linemen run just 10 yards

The final day of the NFL Scouting Combine belongs to the offensive linemen. Unfortunately, the combine workouts ended prematurely for a couple of O-line prospects.

Two linemen suffered injuries while running the 40-yard dash.

Amarius Mims from Georgia suffered a right hamstring injury at the end of his 40-yard dash. He was able to hobble off on his own and got some treatment in the form of an ice wrap. Mims told Stacey Dales of the NFL Network that he was hoping to keep participating in the rest of the drills.

Shortly thereafter, Tulane’s Prince Pines fell to the Lucas Oil Field turf about 30 yards into his first 40-yard dash attempt. He was clutching at his hamstring and needed medical assistance to be cleared from the field.

Oklahoma center Andrew Raym also pulled up at the end of his run, but he appeared to be okay. Penn State OT Olu Fashanu, a likely first-round pick, also pulled out of further testing after tweaking a thigh, according to the NFL Network.

The injuries in a drill that is largely meaningless for the position should lead to a greater debate about having the linemen run just 10 yards.

NFL Draft analyst explains why Georgia TE Brock Bowers is a good fit for Jets

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper pinned former Georgia TE Brock Bowers to the Jets in his latest mock draft.

Brock Bowers is expected to be one of the most highly sought-after prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, pinned as an early first-round pick. And it doesn’t take long into the film-watching to see how he could bring a significant boost to practically any NFL offense.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper sees that particular offense as being the one owned by the New York Jets.

Kiper sent Bowers to the Big Apple with the 10th overall pick in his latest mock draft.

“Love Brock Bowers. I think he’d be great with Aaron Rodgers,” Kiper said. Obviously, they need somebody to help out Garrett Wilson. You say, well, they have to take an offensive lineman.”

Some believe the Jets should address the offensive line with their first selection — which they could very well do — but the pairing of Rodgers and a versatile Bowers could bring instant electricity to the Jets on that side of the ball.

“Think about it: Aaron Rodgers is returning, they have a void at the position and they might jump at the opportunity to add a pass-catching tight end with rare run-after-the-catch ability. That’s a natural fit,” Kiper wrote. “And yes, New York has a bigger hole at offensive tackle, but what if it doesn’t totally love its options here?”

There’s a lot to like about Bowers’ game between the multiple ways he can be utilized, his abilities as a blocker and his pure impact as a steady playmaker.

He finished out the 2023 season with 56 receptions for 714 yards with 6 receiving touchdowns and 1 rushing score over 10 games. Over 40 total games at Georgia, he reeled in 175 passes for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Expect to see Bowers come off the board sooner rather than later on April 25, whether that’s with the Jets or in another landing spot.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Tyler Owens leaps into Scouting Combine history

Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens leaps into Scouting Combine history with an amazing broad jump

Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens has had himself quite the couple of days at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

On Thursday, Owens created some interesting buzz by proclaiming that he doesn’t believe that space or other planets exist. That didn’t remain the most notable part of Owens’ week for too long.

During Friday’s athletic testing, Owens proved to be quite the prodigious leaper. The 12 foot-2-inch broad jump is the second-lkngest leap in comvjne history. It’s one inch behind Byron Jones’ record.

Unfortunately for Owens, his combine ended shortly thereafter. Owens pulled up quickly in his first 40-yard dash attempt with a groin issue and was ruled out for the rest of the testing.

Top CB prospect to miss NFL Scouting Combine with foot injury

Top CB prospect Kool-Aid McKinstry to miss NFL Scouting Combine with foot injury

One of the primary purposes of the NFL Scouting Combine is the extensive medical evaluation all players go through in Indianapolis. It proved quite important for one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL draft.

Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, a likely first-round pick, will not be working out at the combine after the medical evaluation determined he has a foot injury. Specifically, McKinstry has a Jones fracture in his right foot.

What exactly is a Jones fracture?

From the Cleveland Clinic,

Jones fractures are a type of broken bone. They happen when you break your fifth metatarsal — the bone that joins your pinkie toe to the base of your foot.

Jones fractures are caused when you put sudden force on the outside of your foot with your foot twisted away from your body. Repeated overuse, sports injuries and falls are the most common causes of Jones fractures. You might need surgery to repair your bone. Most people need a few months to recover from a Jones fracture.

McKinstry expects to be cleared for full action before training camp.

Chop Robinson and Dallas Turner successfully play their ‘athletic freak’ cards

Chop Robinson and Dallas Turner successfully play their ‘athletic freak’ cards at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

NFL draft prospects who are marketed as incredible athletes carry something of a burden into the annual scouting combine. When the lead story is being an amazing physical specimen, there is some heavy pressure to actually perform like one.

For two highly regarded defensive prospects, the marketing campaign based on being almost superhuman athletes proved to be true. Now the real work comes in proving the product can live up to the successful sales pitch.

Dallas Turner and Chop Robinson both checked the boxes everyone expected them to on Thursday here in Indianapolis. They did so with incredible displays inside Lucas Oil Field in the athletic testing.

Turner, a defensive end from Alabama, was one of the biggest “winners” from the first day of combine workouts. Measuring in at 6-foot-2 and 247 pounds but with arms nearly 35 inches long, Turner wowed by running the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds. He logged a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches. Those testing metrics land Turner in the top five percent of athletes at the combine. No, not just this year. Top five percent ever.

Robinson, from Penn State, measured in at 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds. All he did was run the fastest 10-second split ever for a player over 250, doing so in 1.54 seconds. His total testing numbers were also elite, even topping Turner in speed.

Both players have some size concerns. Turner is much shorter and a little lighter than ideal, though he compensates well with freakishly long arms and an 83-inch wingspan that defies his 6-2 frame. Robinson is a little taller but has very short arms (32 1/4 inches, about 1.5 inches shorter than expected for his height) and smallish hands for his size.

They can’t control their measurements. At the combine, they can only control how well they use them athletically. Robinson and Turner both stated their case to be top-20 draft picks as best as they can on Thursday.

Testing as an athletic freak doesn’t necessarily translate to being a very good football player, but it’s hard to become the latter without being at least a little of the former. The trick now for Turner and Robinson is to explain to NFL teams why they didn’t dominate in college more than in fits and spurts despite their undeniable physical gifts, and convince those same teams that they will be able to make more impactful plays more often while facing a higher level of competition.