Tag: 2024 NFL Combine

Commanders to host athletic Boston College cornerback on top 30 visit

Elijah Jones was first-team All-ACC in 2023 and had an impressive performance at the NFL combine.

The Washington Commanders can add another to their list of pre-draft visitors. According to Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report, the Commanders will host cornerback Elijah Jones on a top-30 visit.

Jones is an intriguing prospect. While he’s not considered one of the top cornerback prospects, he is of good size (6-foot-1 1/2) and has high-level traits. Jones ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at the NFL combine and had a 42.5″ vertical, tied for first at his position.

He was a full-time starter at BC for his final three seasons and a first-team All-ACC selection in 2023. Jones had seven career interceptions, all coming in his final two years, including five in 2023.

General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have discussed finding players with high-quality traits. Jones’ length and athleticism are an exciting combination. Additionally, he has plenty of playing experience in college. Quinn had no problem finding young cornerbacks to play early in Dallas over the past three seasons.

While the Commanders bringing in Jones for a visit indicates nothing about where he will land in next month’s NFL draft, it does show enough interest to use one of their 30 visits on him.

 

Bob Myers explains his role for the Commanders at the 2024 NFL combine

Bob Myers gives some excellent insight into his time at the NFL combine.

Everyone was confused when Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris announced in January that he was bringing aboard former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers. Myers and former Vikings GM Rick Speilman were hired as consultants to help Harris search for a new head of football operations and head coach.

After all, for as brilliant as Myers is and was in building the Warriors into a dynasty, what did he know about building a football franchise?

The answer was always easy. You don’t get to the top of a professional sports franchise and remain there without being brilliant. For Myers, it wasn’t about 40 times or 10-yard shuttles but about relationships. Myers knows how to build organizations, choose winners, and build an organizational culture.

Harris raised some eyebrows when it was revealed he attended the 2024 NFL combine and was in on the interviews with the top quarterback prospects. It was much ado about nothing. Why wouldn’t Harris want to sit in and listen on potentially meeting the next potential face of the Washington franchise?

Myers also sat in with Harris on the interviews. However, general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn led the meetings. Harris and Myers were present but reportedly just to listen and learn.

Myers explained his role at the combine.

“Meeting with Dan, meeting with Adam about free agency,” Peters said. “Meeting with Josh, spending time with him while he was there. Just honestly being aware that there was a lot I didn’t know. Asking questions in areas that I might see commonality, I would offer, ‘This is the NBA’s version of how we approached free agency.’ Sometimes, when you ask questions, it helps the leaders of the Commanders find answers themselves.”

Myers referenced the 15-minute formal interviews all 32 NFL teams had at the combine.

“Sometimes we talked a little bit about these interviews, these 15-minute interviews or these short snapshots,” Myers said. “Sometimes, you overreact to a good or bad interview, realizing that’s a mistake. That’s not smart. It’s making a determination on a big decision in 15 minutes is never smart. So just sharing ideas like that, sharing experiences, because the NFL and NBA combine have a lot of common threads to them, they have a lot of similarities.”

This is really good stuff from Myers. Harris values critical thinkers, which is why they are both outstanding leaders. Myers wasn’t there to step on Peters or Quinn but to give them an extra sounding board. For instance, if someone came out of one of those interviews believing that the player was their guy, Myers was there to remind them that a 15-minute period isn’t enough to make a complete determination.

Leadership isn’t an issue for the Commanders anymore.

Chase Daniel: ‘Texas football dominated the NFL Combine’

Professional development at Texas has skyrocketed under head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Numerous Texas players shined at the 2024 NFL Combine last week. Continue reading “Chase Daniel: ‘Texas football dominated the NFL Combine’”

Commanders top prospect raises questions at NFL Scouting Combine

Is Jayden Daniels’ decision not to weigh in at the Combine a concern?

Saturday was a big day for the quarterbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine.

It was already an established fact that the top three quarterbacks expected to be selected with the top three picks in April’s draft, were not going to be throwing at the Combine. Saturday would be an opportunity to have all the quarterbacks measured and weighed.

A concern for Commanders fans who love the play of Jayden Daniels from LSU has been his slight frame. LSU is a strong program, and they typically are already much better than the seven teams they play each season. They then win a few additional competitive games as well. But how will Daniels hold up against NFL teams just as good or better? How will he hold up being hit in most games?

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn when asked last week about Daniels had succinctly replied, “Game changer.”  So, what were the measurements for the top six quarterbacks, Saturday? In particular, how did Daniels measure by comparison?

QB measurements

Player Height Weight 40-yard dash Hand size Arm length Wingspan
Caleb Williams (USC) 6-1 1/8 214 N/A 9 3/4″ 32″ 75 7/8″
Jayden Daniels (LSU) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Drake Maye (North Carolina) 6-4 3/8 223 N/A 9 1/8″ 32 1/4″ 76 1/8″
J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) 6-2 1/2 219 N/A 9″ 31 5/8″ 75 7/8″
Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) 6-2 1/4 216 N/A 10 1/2″ 33 5/8″ 81″
Bo Nix (Oregon) 6-2 1/8 214 N/A 10 1/8″ 30 7/8″ 74 1/2″

Clearly, the most significant element of Saturday’s quarterback measurements, was Jayden Daniels choosing to not provide his measurements.

The 2023 LSU roster reads that Daniels was listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. So, on Saturday, Williams and Nix weighed in at 214, only four pounds heavier. At 216 was Michael Penix and J.J. McCarthy at 219. Only Drake Maye was more than ten pounds heavier than Daniels, weighing in at 223.

Thus, why wasn’t Daniels simply weighing in? Who cares if he was lighter, weighing in at 210?

Each NFL team interested in drafting Daniels knew why he was not weighing in. He was attempting to put off stepping on the scales for as long as he can. Consequently, he will be weighed in at his Pro Day workout March 27.

The only conclusion the Commanders and other interested teams were to make is that Daniels does not yet weigh 210. With his frame, it could very well be that LSU exaggerated his weight on the team roster all season.

Owing the second overall selection in April’s draft, will Daniels not weighing in Saturday, raise additional concerns for the Commanders?

Olu Fashanu’s best NFL combine photos

Check out the best NFL combine photos of Olu Fashanu.

Penn State offensive lineman Olu Fashanu is widely expected to be a first-round draft pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and his performance at this year’s combine was the final major audition before NFL teams make their draft selections. Fashanu did not perform as well in individual drills as a number of other offensive linemen, but his performance was not about to knock him out of the first round given all of the scouting footage readily available to provide a full evaluation of the future NFL lineman.

Here are some of the best photos of Olu Fashanu at the NFL combine as he takes his next step toward a first-round draft pick in the NFL draft.

10 offensive players who stood out at the 2024 NFL combine

Here are 10 offensive players who improved their stock at the 2024 NFL combine.

The 2024 NFL combine is over, and now teams turn their attention to pro days and free agency. The Washington Commanders will look much different in 2024 and hold nine picks in the NFL draft. Additionally, only one team has more cap space than the Commanders when free agency opens next week.

But before we look ahead to free agency, we look back at last week’s combine. Which players helped themselves the most? We look at 10 offensive players who improved their stock in Indianapolis.

 

Trio of Ducks selected in first-round of post-combine NFL Draft

PFF says Bo Nix, Troy Franklin and Jackson Powers-Johnson all improved their draft stock with good showings at the combine.

Before the NFL Combine occurred last weekend, former Oregon players Troy Franklin, a receiver and center Jackson Powers-Johnson were slotted as late first-round, early second-round selections by most mock drafts.

But after Franklin sped through the 40-yard dash, Powers-Johnson showed off his brute strength, and Nix showed his arm strength, all are considered strong first-round possibilities.

According to PFF.com, Powers-Johnson shouldn’t have to go that far from Eugene as he could be picked No. 16 to Seattle.

This is what writer Gordon McGuinness had to say about Powers-Johnson and the Seahawks.

Evan Brown is an unrestricted free agent and ranked 27th among starting centers in PFF grade in 2023, while 2023 fifth-round draft pick Olusegun Oluwatimi didn’t show enough to make passing on Powers-Johnson an option. Impressive as both a run- and pass-blocker, he allowed just four total pressures on 758 pass-blocking snaps in college.

Franklin will have a longer flight after he’s drafted as PFF says he could go No. 21 to Miami.

“The Dolphins are top-heavy at the wide receiver position, with little to get excited about beyond Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle,” McGuinness said. “Adding a third option like Franklin could help keep this offense ticking. The Oregon standout averaged 3.32 yards per route run last season, trailing only Nabers and Harrison in this class.”

There’s one more Oregon player that improved their draft stock and that of course is quarterback Bo Nix. Where he might end up is quite interesting. PFF projects Nix to go to the Rams at No. 19. If this is the case, both Nix and Justin Herbert could rule Los Angeles in a few years.

“I ultimately think Nix — or whoever the fourth quarterback in this class winds up being — comes off the board earlier than this, but the fit here makes so much sense to me,” McGuinness said. “Nix earned the second-highest PFF grade among quarterbacks in this class. Drafting him (and the highs he brings) and letting him learn behind Matthew Stafford for a year would give him the best chance of success at the next level.”

JC Latham’s 2024 NFL Combine profile

Roll Tide Wire breaks down Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham’s 2024 NFL Combine profile and results.

One of the top offensive line prospects in the 2024 NFL draft is Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham. The native of Oak Creek, Wisconsin spent three seasons at Alabama and established himself as one of the top offensive tackles to play under former Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

Latham started in 27 of the 41 games that he played in at Alabama throughout three seasons. He was a staple at the right tackle position. In 408 pass sets, Latham allowed just two sacks.

In all likelihood, Latham will be one of the first offensive players taken off the board in this year’s draft. He will likely have the option to play either guard or tackle at the professional level given his positional flexibility. Needless to say, he was able to display that and much more at the 2024 NFL Combine.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down JC Latham’s 2024 NFL Combine profile.

WATCH: Texas WR Xavier Worthy learning he broke the 40-yard dash record

Worthy was ecstatic upon finding out he broke the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine.

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy significantly improved his draft stock at the 2024 NFL Combine. Continue reading “WATCH: Texas WR Xavier Worthy learning he broke the 40-yard dash record”

Three Longhorns among NFL’s 2024 All-Combine team

Three Longhorns made NFL.com’s All-Combine team while three others were tabbed as honorable mentions.

It was an eventful week for former Longhorns at the 2024 NFL Combine. Continue reading “Three Longhorns among NFL’s 2024 All-Combine team”