Tag: 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

How did Chiefs’ draft picks perform at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine?

A look at some of the athletic testing from the Kansas City Chiefs’ draft picks.

Five out of the Kansas City Chiefs’ six 2020 draft picks attended the NFL Scouting Combine in February. The Chiefs’ fifth-round pick Mike Danna was considered a snub from the combine.

Below you will find all of the information on combine performances for each of the Chiefs’ newest draft picks. I’ve pointed out the most impressive scores, the events players didn’t participate in and some extra information. I’ve even added a quote for a few players from their media interviews.

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 5-7 / 207

40-yard Bench Vertical Broad 3-Cone Short Shuttle
4.6s 15 39.5″ 123″ N/A N/A

Most impressive scores – Vertical jump and broad jump.

Omissions – He didn’t run a three-cone or 20-yard shuttle.

Best Quote: “Ultimately I feel like every question was answered this year. Every week it was always something, ‘Does he have breakaway speed?’ And then I bust an 80-yard touchdown. ‘Can he make a guy miss?’ I made plenty of guys miss. ‘Is he going to show up Bama game?’ Ultimately, all the questions were answered, so I feel like my resume is all checked out.”

Info: Edwards-Helaire felt he didn’t have anything to prove and still competed at the combine. That just shows you the type of hard worker and competitor that he is.

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Report: Mekhi Becton’s drug test at the scouting combine gets flagged

Report: Mekhi Becton’s drug test at the scouting combine gets flagged

It’s an annual rite of passage in the NFL Draft. Every year, without fail, some players wind up failing drug tests administered at the Scouting Combine. We now know who some of those are in 2020, thanks to reports from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and others.

One of the biggest names is one of the biggest men, and also one of the biggest potential targets for the Cleveland Browns at the No. 10 overall pick. Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton was specifically named by Rapoport in his tweet report as failing the drug test.

The new CBA has downgraded failed drug tests, but there is a catch for Becton and others. Because they are not officially NFL players yet, they don’t qualify for that protection. Becton and the others will enter the league with a strike on the substance abuse policy.

It’s a minor issue for Becton and teams that want to draft him.

Building the Browns 2020 Ep. 1 breakdown and review

Building the Browns 2020 Ep. 1 breakdown and review of the behind-the-scenes documentary production by the Browns

Episode 1 of Building the Browns 2020 was appropriately titled A New Beginning. In this episode, the Cleveland Browns take us behind the scenes of the initial public reaction to the hiring of head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry.

Fast-forwarding past introductions, the Browns personnel immediately spring into action and begin the process of preparing and arriving at the 2020 NFL Combine where they will have their first introduction to the rookie class of 2020.

When do we get to work

When Stefanski is shown his new digs, he immediately says “When do we get to work?” and as we get to know our new coach throughout the episode his intelligence, work ethic, and expectations are made clear. He even shares “this team is going somewhere, and I want to be a part of that.”

We also hear from Paul DePodesta, Cleveland Browns Chief Strategy Officer, talking about his experience interviewing Stefanski. DePodesta reflects on interviewing Stefanski during the 2019 offseason and also talks about how he now had two opportunities to sit down and dive into what Stefanski brings to the table.

A familiar face

Andrew Berry was the next headliner on the Browns’ marquee. It was mentioned he is the youngest general manager in the NFL at 32-years old and his familiarity with the franchise. Above all, Berry’s interview was different than other candidates. Because of his knowledge of the Browns, Berry was asked to answer questions on a deeper level during the interview process.

My favorite quote from this episode, when Berry is addressing Browns personnel, illuminates his approach to management style, “my expectation for everybody in this room is to come to work with a positive attitude and energy every day they enter the building. Those behaviors they don’t start in the fall, those are habits that we form right now.”

Meet the staff

During this episode, we were introduced to key Browns staff.

Dan Zegers, Personnel Coordinator

Megan Rock, Manager, Fan Experience & Special Events

Rob Pavlas, Video Director

Adam Al-Khayyal, Scout

Formal combine visits

There were five players formal player interviews flashing throughout the NFL combine section of the episode.

Adam Trautman, tight end, Dayton

Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Oklahoma/Alabama

Harrison Bryant, tight end, Florida Atlantic

Hunter Bryant, tight end, Washington

CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver, Oklahoma– Lamb was asked during his interview who the best quarterback he ever played with was and his answer was Baker Mayfield.

Review

During the introductions of Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry it was obvious what the Browns were trying to convey. The Browns want everyone to know they hired “smart people” who know a lot about football and managing people.

Additionally, it is great to see behind the scenes at the NFL Combine. There is still plenty we don’t know, but the comments by DePodesta and Berry show what they are thinking about. Paul DePodesta mentions how he is sifting through the information that’s relevant and what’s not so relevant to see what matters. Andrew Berry comments on how he is scouting for skillsets that fit within the construct of the offense and defense of Stefanski and Joe Woods. This builds the alignment narrative the Browns are really pushing.

This is exactly what I was expecting to kick things off. The Browns need positive momentum and for the fanbase to see this organization as settled. While this was a puff episode, there was plenty to glean from it as there are obvious obstacles ahead for everyone.

Next week: The coronavirus pandemic and how it is impacting the Cleveland Browns operations.

Combine standout Denzel Mims to Bills in TD Wire mock draft

Buffalo Bills select WR Denzel Mims in Touchdown Wire’s post-combine mock draft.

Each year at the combine, the 40-yard dash helps some folks increase their draft stock. It really helps playmakers on both sides of the ball and among those who were aided by a good showing was receiver Denzel Mims.

The Baylor product had a strong Senior Bowl week of practices and followed that up with a massive showing at the combine. Mims ran 4.38 40-yard time, his position’s third-best time, and a 38.5-inch vertical jump, the sixth-best. Mims stands at 6-foot-3, 207 pounds and could be exactly the type of wideout many predict the Bills to target at some point this offseason.

Touchdown Wire seems to think so, at least. In their post-combine mock draft, the Bills use the No. 22 overall pick to select Mims:

One of the more fascinating aspects of the 2019 NFL season was the transition we saw from Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Imagine if, prior to his draft, someone told you that during his second season in the NFL Allen would be more of a timing and rhythm passer, and would struggle with the deep ball?

You would have thought that person was insane.

But that is what happened last year. Under Brian Daboll’s tutelage Allen improved working underneath (the acquisition of Cole Beasley helped in that area) but truly struggled down the field. If the Bills – and Allen – are going to take the leap forward everyone in Buffalo hopes they do, the vertical passing game needs to click.

Mims, the Baylor product, can help in that effort. He was one of the winners of the combine, but when you watch him on film you can see how he can be an impact player early in the vertical passing game. He was at his best working on the vertical stem, whether in the back-shoulder game or on pure vertical routes. His ability to stress the defense down the field would open up room for Beasley, John Brown and Dawson Knox to work underneath, and tax defenses as multiple levels of the field.

That’s the perfect recipe that many peg for the Bills offense. Mims make an impact deep, possibly with Brown’s speed, too. Regardless, the Bills just need one of two things in a receiver this offseason: height and promise.

Since the Zay Jones experience has failed, the Bills have no young talent there. There is talent, yes, but Brown and Beasley aren’t young. They also don’t have size. Getting both of those things for Allen to work with could be solved in Mims.

Previous to the Senior Bowl and combine, Mims was thought of as a Day 2 pick. He has since soared and could be a fair pick for the Bills in the first round.

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Post-combine Draft Wire mock sends Denzel Mims to Bills

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling seems dynamic wideout Denzel Mims as an ideal fit for the Bills in his latest mock draft.

The Buffalo Bills have been linked to several prospective wide receivers in mock drafts. A new name that is rising up the board is Baylor’s Denzel Mims.

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling seems the dynamic wideout as an ideal fit for the Bills in his latest mock draft. Mims would be the fourth wide receiver off the board in Easterling’s draft scenario. Easterling highlighted Mims’ ascent up many big boards:

Josh Allen has a handful of solid role players in his receiving corps, but nobody with the complete skill set to be relied on as a true No. 1 target. Enter Mims, one of the hottest names in this year’s class, especially after his fantastic showing at the NFL Combine. He checks every box in terms of size, speed, athleticism and ball skills, all of which would allow him to make an immediate impact and fill Buffalo’s biggest offensive need.

Mims also compares nicely with another game-changing wideout.

Mims eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark twice during his tenure at Baylor. He reeled in 28 touchdowns during three full seasons of staring duty as a Bear. He averaged 61 receptions and 968 receiving yards per season after taking on full-time starting duty in 2017. In addition, he’s has a slew of astonishing catches to his resume.

With the draft seven weeks away, the simulations and mocks start to take on a fever pitch. Thinking of Mims catching passes from Josh Allen and running alongside Cole Beasley and John Brown in three-wide sets for Buffalo is an intriguing and increasingly realistic option moving forward.

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Bills take 5th receiver again in new PFF mock, but different player

Buffalo Bills select WR Justin Jefferson in Pro Football Focus’ post-combine mock draft.

In Pro Football Focus’ pre-combine mock draft, the Bills take the fifth wide receiver in the first round. In that slate of guesses, it’s Clemson’s Tee Higgins.

This time around following the combine, it’s a new wideout, one that turned some heads at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, LSU’s Justin Jefferson.

Here’s the pick breakdown:

Jefferson ticked every box in Indy with a 4.43 40, 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-6 broad jump. That’s a plus athlete for the position. Jefferson’s absurd 12-of-13 contested-catch conversions last season will pair nicely with Josh Allen.

Heading into the combine, Jefferson had some solid size at 6-foot-1, great running skills, and then some good hands. Those numbers PFF mentioned have put Jefferson right in the Bills’ wheelhouse in the first round of the draft when previously he was thought of as a late first, early second-round pick.

In PFF’s mock, an interesting receiver is actually picked by the Eagles at pick No. 21, right ahead of Buffalo’s selection. Their pick is TCU’s Jalen Reagor. That allows Jefferson to fall to Buffalo, who also have a pick of the litter in Colorado’s Laviska Shenault, Baylor’s Denzel Mims and even Higgins.

The faction of Bills observers wanting a playmaker for Allen should love this mock draft. Jefferson had 111 catches in 15 games for 1,540 yards and 18 scores for the eventual national champs.

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Bears insider says starting QB job is Mitchell Trubisky’s to lose

The Bears are expected to address QB in free agency and the NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean Mitchell Trubisky won’t be the guy in 2020.

One of the hot topics coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine centered around how the Bears are going to handle their quarterback situation heading into the 2020 season.

Mitchell Trubisky’s struggles last season were well-documented, and his future as Chicago’s signal caller is in question. The Bears are expected to address the position in free agency and possibly the NFL Draft, although that doesn’t mean Trubisky won’t be the guy heading into 2020.

ESPN’s Matthew Berry talked to a Bears insider at the NFL Combine, and it sounds like Chicago’s starting quarterback job is Trubisky’s to lose at this point.

I asked a Bears insider who will be under center for the first play of the 2020 season. The answer? “Mitchell Trubisky, and it’s a handoff.” And then they laughed. The expectation is the Bears will bring in a veteran to compete with or back up Trubisky, but while the leash is short, it’s still Mitch’s job for now.

While Trubisky was far from the only issue on offense in 2019, he was one of the biggest. So it’s not really a surprise that offseason conversation has shifted to experienced veterans coming in to challenge Trubisky this offseason.

One of those veterans that has been mentioned as a possible suitor for the Bears is Andy Dalton, who the Bengals are looking to trade this offseason.

General manager Ryan Pace made it clear that the Bears will be bringing in quarterbacks this offseason, which only makes sense considering Trubisky is currently the only quarterback under contract in Chicago.

Whether that quarterback is Dalton or another experienced veteran like a Case Keenum, it sounds like the Bears will give Trubisky one last chance to prove everyone wrong.

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Chargers had formal interview with RB Zack Moss

The Los Angeles Chargers had a formal interview with a productive running back.

According to former Utah running back Zack Moss, one of his formal interviews at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine was with the Los Angeles Chargers, per Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar.

The Chargers could be looking to bring in another running back if they elect to move on from Melvin Gordon, who is a pending free agent.

Moss enjoyed a productive collegiate career for the Utes. He was the first player in school history to have three 1,000-rushing yard seasons while surpassing six school records along the way.

Moss had 712 career carries, 4,167 career rushing yards, 18 career 100-yard rushing games, 38 career rushing touchdowns, 778 career all-purpose plays and 41 career total touchdowns.

The 5-foot-9 and 223 pound back isn’t going to beat defenders with speed, but he will with his instincts, toughness and physical nature, where he is decisive at the line of scrimmage and has the contact balance to stay upright.

One of his red flags is durability concerns. Moss suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2018 and he dealt with a shoulder injury for the majority of his senior campaign.

Moss currently projects as a third or fourth-round selection.

5 standouts from NFL Combine that Bears could target in NFL Draft

Chicago should have a chance at at some of these standouts at the NFL Combine including at some of the biggest areas of need this offseason.

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and there were plenty of prospects that impressed during workouts. Considering the Bears don’t pick until No. 43, there are several of those standout performers that will be off the board well before Chicago’s first pick in the second round.

But there were a slew of prospects that impressed last week that the Bears should have a chance at at some of the biggest areas of need this offseason, including tight end, safety, cornerback, offensive line and quarterback.

Let’s take a look at some prospects that impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Bears could target in the NFL Draft:

S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Jeremy Chinn had already put himself on most teams’ radar during the Senior Bowl, but it was his NFL Combine performance that really set him apart. His measurements were impressive — 41-inch vertical jump, 116-inch broad jump and his 4.45 40-yard dash, all of which ranked in the top three among safeties. And he was equally as impressive during on-field drills.

The Bears are looking for a safety to line-up opposite Eddie Jackson, and Chinn could fit in well in that strong safety role. Chinn was believed to be a sixth-round prospect, but his stock certainly has risen after a strong NFL Combine performance.

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12 offensive combine standouts for the Bills to consider

12 standout prospects on offense from the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine for the Buffalo Bills to consider drafting.

We started off our combine standouts pegged for the Bills defense, but now let’s get to the fun part… the offense.

Buffalo’s offense could stand to use plenty of help all over the place. Playmakers will be a big-time need for the Bills, but the trenches and in the backfield also can’t be overlooked.

Here are 12 offensive prospects who impressed at the combine that the Bills could consider adding at the upcoming draft:

Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Chase Claypool. Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

WR Chase Claypool | Notre Dame

At 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, Chase Claypool was already certainly on the Bills’ draft radar even if he didn’t put up the most prolific numbers at Notre Dame. But his size now comes with some documented speed after the combine. That big body moved the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. Per NFL Research, Claypool and Calvin Johnson are the only wide receivers who stood at least 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds and ran a sub-4.45-second 40-yard time. Good company. He also had a 40.5-inch vertical, fourth-best among wideouts

OL Ezra Cleveland | Boise State

Prior to the combine, Ezra Cleveland was viewed as a developmental tackle prospect but he improved his stock. If it wasn’t for top-10 prospect Tristan Wirfs’ work, Cleveland would’ve taken more headlines after the combine. He had a great three-cone time of 7.26 for a 6-foot-6, 311-pound guy, along with a ridiculous 4.93 40-yard time. He’s an athlete. Cleveland could now be a Day 2 pick and a guy that perhaps could move Cody Ford to the guard position. Many predict he needs to bulk up, though.

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