Category: 2024 scouting combine

2024 NFL Draft: Oregon QB Bo Nix scouting report

Oregon’s Bo Nix has shown all kinds of development in his college career, but is he ready for the NFL?

The 2024 scouting combine is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to take a more critical and detailed look at this year’s draft prospects. With that in mind, we here at Touchdown Wire are doing as many thumbnail scouting reports as possible before the combine gets going on February 29. We will of course be doing more comprehensive reports before the draft, but here’s a good starting point.

Our next evaluation is Bo Nix, the Oregon quarterback, who transferred from Auburn after the 2021 season. In two seasons with the Ducks, Nix displayed a major uptick in efficiency and production, completing 74.9% of his passes for 10.4 yards per attempt, after completing 54.9% of his passes for 6.9 YPA with Auburn.

Last season, the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year completed 361 of 467 passes for 4,454 yards, 45 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 135.7. Only LSU’s Jayden Daniels had a higher passer rating in 2023 among quarterbacks in this draft class. On throws of 20 or more air yards, Nix completed 26 of 51 passes for 999 yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 119.9.  Under pressure, Nix completed 43 of 64 passes for 619 yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 131.4. When blitzed, Nix completed 86 of 126 passes for 1,148 yards, 21 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 136.5. Nix also gained 256 yards and scored six touchdowns on 34 carries.

PLUSES

— Not a lot of deep passing volume, but clearly has the ability to turn it loose downfield with anticipation and accuracy.

— Compact, consistent over-the-top delivery which he retains under pressure and on the move.

— Will work through his second and third progressions to make the right throw.

— Can be a real load to tackle on designed runs and scrambles, and he has a good eye for open gaps.

— Mobility extends to boot and pocket movement throws.

MINUSES

— Mechanics can get a bit off-kilter, leading to some inaccurate passes.

— Accuracy is random to a point; occasionally he’ll just uncork one in the general direction of his target when he should be more specific.

— Arm arrogance can be a plus, but can also get him into throws he shouldn’t make.

— Still working on the nuances of off-speed pitches; fade balls and deep timing throws are mixed bags.

I like Nix as a developmental starter in a highly structured system with some wiggle room as he puts the little things together. There’s a lot to like, but some room for growth.

2024 NFL Draft: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins scouting report

If your NFL team is looking for a plug-and-play starter at outside cornerback, Clemson’s Nate Wiggins should be high on the list.

The 2024 scouting combine is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to take a more critical and detailed look at this year’s draft prospects. With that in mind, we here at Touchdown Wire are doing as many thumbnail scouting reports as possible before the combine gets going on February 29. We will of course be doing more comprehensive reports before the draft, but here’s a good starting point.

Next man up is Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, who played as well as anybody at his position in this draft class through the 2023 season. In his second year as a starter for the Tigers, Wiggins allowed 18 receptions on 41 targets for 176 yards, 38 yards after the catch, one touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 44.4.

PLUSES

— Ideal potential match cornerback because he played a ton of off in Clemson’s scheme, but will clamp well at the route stem.

— Smooth transitions through the routes allow him to also be a very good press defender.

— Has the recovery speed to make up for any delays upfield.

— Works well in space to stay with his landmarks; he’s good with option routes and scramble drills.

— Times his closure in on underneath stuff; allowed just 38 yards after the catch on 18 receptions allowed

MINUSES

— Could stand to be a a bit quicker and less deliberate out of his stance and into the route.

— Needs to work on route combos at the next level; he’ll get lost between routes at times.

— Occasional lateness to close on crossers is odd, because he clearly has the speed to do it.

— Most cornerbacks at his height (6-foot-2) can get out of sorts on quicker angular routes and he does at times.

Overall, Wiggins has the tools to play in any scheme as an outside cornerback with slot value. Set it and forget it.

2024 NFL Draft: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean scouting report

Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean is one of the best at his position in this draft class, and there may be even more to unlock with the right NFL coaches.

The 2024 scouting combine is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to take a more critical and detailed look at this year’s draft prospects. With that in mind, we here at Touchdown Wire are doing as many thumbnail scouting reports as possible before the combine gets going on February 29. We will of course be doing more comprehensive reports before the draft, but here’s a good starting point.

Our next subject for evaluation is Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. In 2023, his third season on the field for the Hawkeyes, DeJean was a leader in Iowa’s top-tier defense, allowing 20 catches on 46 targets for 194 yards, 44 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an an opponent passer rating of 37.8 — which means that opposing quarterbacks had as much luck throwing the ball into the dirt as they did targeting him.

Unfortunately, DeJean suffered a lower leg injury in mid-November, which ended his 2023 season early and will prevent him from working out at the combine. But as they say, tape don’t lie, and DeJean’s tape is full of compelling reasons to take him seriously as a first-round cornerback prospect who can shut things down outside and in the slot,

PLUSES

— Opposing offenses kept trying to beat him with comebacks and stop routes in off coverage, and he kept making them look silly with outstanding recovery speed.

— Tremendous in bail coverage where he’ll work back to or though the receiver to take the ball away.

— Expert route-jumper.

— Rarely played press in his 2023 targets, but has most of the skills to match and follow.

— Closes with nasty intentions on screens and swing passes.

— Times his hits to deflect and has no issue whatsoever getting grimy in the run game. Tough guy.

MINUSES

— Might take a second to become a great press cornerback at the NFL level; he’ll get a bit lost at the top of the route stem.

— Tracks the ball as a receiver would and is able to throttle up and down accordingly, but he could be better at keeping his eye on the receiver.

— Hesitates at times to match targets; this may because he played an inordinate amount of off coverage. His NFL coaches should work on DeJean trusting his technique through the rep and not thinking too much.

As good as DeJean was in college, I think there’s some unlocked potential as a press/match DB. Hopefully, he’ll go to an NFL team that just wants him to hunt.

2024 NFL Draft: Illinois DL Johnny (Jer’Zhan) Newton scouting report

Don’t let his size get in the way of the evaluation — Illinois DL Johnny (Jer’Zhan) Newton is a first-round talent with monstrous upside.

The 2024 scouting combine is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to take a more critical and detailed look at this year’s draft prospects. With that in mind, we here at Touchdown Wire are doing as many thumbnail scouting reports as possible before the combine gets going on February 29. We will of course be doing more comprehensive reports before the draft, but here’s a good starting point.

Next man up here is Illinois defensive lineman Johnny (Jer’Zhan) Newton, who now goes by a new first name, but the game is the same, and it’s pretty ridiculous. In 2023, his fourth year on the field with the Fighting Illini, Newton totaled eight sacks, seven quarterback hits, 28 quarterback hurries, 32 stops, and 33 solo tackles, At 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds (unofficial), Newton can disrupt just fine inside, but he also saw 25% of his snaps last season either over or outside the tackles, and he brings an interesting set of techniques to foil blockers on the edge.

Newton should be seen as among the best interior defensive linemen in this draft class, though he can do much more. He will not work out at the combine due to a Jones fracture in his foot — which he played through the second half of his junior season… which makes his 2023 tape all the more impressive.

PLUSES

— Capable of pressure from every gap; spends most of his time at 3-tech, but he’s a disruptor all over the place.

— Gets skinny through gaps like a running back would; gets it done with more than just pass-rush moves.

— Violent with his hands to push through blocks with ridiculous speed — Hits the edge with burst around the turn; can beat tackles with edge techniques.

— Can run multiple gaps at the snap and has good vision to penetrate.

MINUSES

— Size deficits (6-foot-2, 295) show up when he’s doubled and can’t break free.

— Slides will have him lost in the wash and trying to recover at times.

— Needs to be less upright off the snap more often; that’s where he loses leverage.

I’ve always had a bias for smaller defensive tackles who can move around. Newton could wind up being another one of those Geno Atkins-style agitators if he gets his leverage together and devises strategies to beat double teams. Overall, about as fun a player to watch as I’ve seen in this draft class.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-combine first-round projections with scouting reports

Before the 2024 scouting combine begins, here’s one first-round mock draft that takes tape entirely into account before the rumor mill gets rolling.

The scouting combine begins in earnest early next week, and for the coaches and executives who go, it’s just as much about discussing potential trades and free agency signings over shrimp cocktails at St. Elmo’s as it is about watching the draft prospects on hand to show their talents at Lucas Oil Stadium.

For the prospects themselves, it’s all on the line. Not only in the workouts (for those who are working out), but also in the round-robin 15-minute meetings with those coaches and executives. Basically, this is where you might secure your next domain as a player.

With all that in mind, here’s one first-round projection just before the scouting combine rolls around. This is the last mock draft of the year that’s based primarily on tape, as the rumor mill starts hard and heavy once boots are on the ground in Indianapolis.

A couple notes:

— The Chicago Bears stick with Justin Fields, and start to surround him with much more credible weapons.

— The Denver Broncos trade with the New England Patriots to move up from the 12th overall pick to the third overall pick to take their next franchise quarterback, hoping that works better for them than it did for the San Francisco 49ers and Trey Lance a few years back.

— We also have thumbnail scouting reports for a lot of these prospects; that library will grow and be added to this mock over the next few days.

Now, let’s get to the pre-combine mock!

NFL invites 321 prospects to 2024 Scouting Combine

A who’s who of college football will attend the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL doesn’t waste time trying to stay in the spotlight after the Super Bowl.

On Tuesday, the league released the names of the 321 draft prospects that are invited to the Scouting Combine.

It will take place in Indianapolis from February 26 through March 4.