Tag: 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.

ESPN’s mini mock draft has the Saints addressing a top team need

ESPN’s mini mock draft has the New Orleans Saints addressing a top team need with versatile Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu:

The 2024 NFL draft is fast approaching, and mock drafts are coming out left and right. It’s important to take these with a grain of salt, but they can be useful to see who could be joining the Saints. With that being said Field Yates of ESPN has the Saints taking Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu.

Fautanu played 1,005 snaps at left tackle this past season for Washington. In those snaps, he only allowed two sacks. Due to his size, some analysts feel he would be better suited as a guard in the next level, but his success at tackle warrants a look at both spots. He weighed in at 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds with 34 and 1/2-inch arms at the NFL Scouting Combine which is right at the threshold where teams separate tackles from guards.

Here’s why Yates said the Saints should take the Washington product:

“The Saints have been quiet in free agency and guard Andrus Peat is now a free agent. New Orleans restructured longtime right tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s deal, and he said in December he was uncertain of his NFL future. Furthermore, the team has to make a decision about 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning, who has really struggled and might be due for a position switch to guard — or at the very least have to compete for a starting left tackle gig. Considering all of that, Fautanu’s value and versatility is too good to pass up. He was a college left tackle, and despite some talk of him projecting better inside at guard, I believe he has the goods to stay on the outside in the pros. No matter where he plays, he’s just a flatout baller and would make an immediate impact blocking for quarterback Derek Carr.”

Fans may find it boring to select an offensive lineman, but the Saints have glaring holes at the position. This past season, the Saints allowed an exuberant amount of pressure on quarterback Derek Carr. They also struggled to create room to run, and their rushing attack suffered because of it.

Drafting Fautanu would likely give them a plug-and-play starter on Day 1. Football starts with the trenches, and you shouldn’t be surprised if that’s the direction the Saints go.

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Florida State WR Keon Coleman has disappointing combine performance

How far down will Keon Coleman’s combine push him down in the draft.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the depth of talent in the wide receiver class of the 2024 NFL Draft. Coming into draft season there have been as many as seven wide receivers projected to potentially go within the first round. One of those talented pass catchers was Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman, whose chances of hearing his name within the first 32 selections took a hit from his combine performance.

While Coleman was never known as a burner, a 4.64 speed in the 40-yard dash is certainly less than ideal for a number-one receiver in the NFL. Teams may potentially ding Coleman for running under expectations in a league where deep speed is seemingly taking over NFL offenses.

Though Coleman did take a hit from running a poor time, it is unlikely he will fall outside of the second round. On tape, Coleman is one of the best deep ball jumpers in the country and is a monster with the ball in his hands. His game speed on tape clearly trumps his 40 time, and he has more than enough speed to do what he does best on the field. Expect to still hear Coleman’s name called within the first 50 picks.

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2024 NFL draft stock watch on Browns’ DT targets at the NFL Scouting Combine

There are some intriguing defensive tackles in this years class

The 2024 NFL draft class of defensive tackles isn’t the deepest we have ever seen but as we saw at the scouting combine there are plenty of intriguing prospects. The top two prospects are likely going way too high for the Cleveland Browns to consider but there was plenty to like from players that will be.

Cleveland will likely bring back someone like Maurice Hurst but some other long-term players with pass-rush upside tested well in Indianapolis last week. Andrew Berry likes to draft a year early so they could retain someone like Hurst while also drafting a pass-rushing defensive tackle.

However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows as a few of the defensive tackles at the combine saw their draft stock take a hit due to poor testing. You must be careful about paying too much attention to athletic testing as it’s just a small part of the overall evaluation process.

Here’s a look at the defensive tackles who saw their stock rise as well as who saw it fall at the combine last week.

Dolphins will have plenty of offensive line options in draft

The combine showcased a number of offensive linemen that could make perfect Dolphins.

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine has concluded after a week of measurements, interviews, evaluations and on-field workouts of top prospects. NFL coaches and general managers will now take all their notes and the film that comes with it as they construct their updated draft boards before late April’s annual selection meeting, otherwise known as the NFL Draft.

Coinciding this week with the deadline to designate potential franchise tag players, the Dolphins have a lot of due diligence ahead, as this is a massively important draft for the franchise and general manager Chris Grier.

With the recent news that they won’t utilize a franchise tag on defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, Miami and Grier may have to look to other markets to replace the 2019 13th overall pick. Whether that’s the draft or free agency is yet to be determined, but should Wilkins walk in free agency, Miami must do whatever they can to fill those cleats.

Regardless of the defensive line and the Wilkins drama, the combine featured outstanding prospects on the opposite side of the line, that being offensive. With Miami also not guaranteed to re-sign right guard Robert Hunt or center Connor Williams, the Dolphins have major needs within the offensive trench. Further adding to this would be the often-injured veteran, yet elite when available left tackle, Terron Armstead.

So, one could argue that heading into the free agency period and even the draft, Miami could be very much in need of one or two starters on the line and an insurance policy as well, should Armstead return for 2024.

Looking at the crop of prospects this weekend, many linemen caught the national eye while doing their drills and speaking to the media. Most notably, Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, who arguably has been the most talked about non-skill position player dating back to even the Senior Bowl.

Even on Monday morning on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Peter Schrager expressed his thoughts on what could be a generational class of offensive linemen.

“My big takeaway from the 2024 Combine is that it’s the greatest offensive line draft class we’ve seen in some time… maybe ever. There are twelve- yes, twelve- guys who I could see get taken on Day One,” Schrager said.

This could be music to Dolphins fans’ collective ears, as many have been banging the drum for a dominant offensive lineman, especially in the middle at center.

Beyond Powers-Johnson, another interior lineman making waves is West Virginia’s Zach Frazier.

Frazier could be a fine fallback should Powers-Johnson be selected before Miami’s first-round pick at No. 21. Their second-round pick at No. 55 is an area to focus on guys like Frazier, and even Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe could be options should Miami not get a first-round lineman.

Another name to watch if Miami opts to go another way in the first round would be guard Christian Haynes from UConn, who even played a bit of center during the Senior Bowl.

Back to those potential Day 1 selections, Miami will not have a chance at the top tier like Joe Alt of Notre Dame, and it looks like Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State, as well as Troy Fautanu of Washington, raised their stock with their combine performances. Fuaga is definitely a top-20 pick, and if Fautau is available at No. 21, Miami must strongly consider.

So, if the Dolphins are focusing on a top-tier lineman at No. 21, there very easily could be five to seven of these guys selected before Miami gets a chance to make a pick. Add in names like Georgia’s Amarius Mims, Alabama’s J.C. Latham and Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, and that number of 12 names referenced by Schrager for Day One offensive linemen, could hit.

Moreso in Miami’s exact range in round one could be Graham Barton out of Duke. Barton had a Combine Total Score of 87, which ranks him first in that metric and Production Score of 81. He ranked third in Athleticism Score. Barton projects as a late Day-One pick, and Miami could even be in trade-down territory should the above names all be gone by No. 21.

Should Miami entertain a trade back to the mid or late-20s, Barton and Oklahoma Sooner tackle Tyler Guyton could still be there. He could be an option with his ability to play left should Armstead call it a career. Even if Armstead returns, Guyton is a player who could learn from the veteran and, of course, provide sporadic starts. In a pinch, he could play the right side as well.

It seems like there are a very safe 10 names that could be Day One offensive linemen selections, and should teams react to these players flying off the board, you never know if another surprise name or two moves from Day Two to top-32 as the evaluation process continues into March.

Make no mistake; the Dolphins have plenty of needs, especially with the potential of players not returning, so these next several weeks of preparation are extremely important and significant for this franchise’s immediate and foreseeable future.

Jackson Powers-Johnson would love to play for the Bears

The Bears have a huge need at center, and Jackson Powers-Johnson welcomed the idea of playing in Chicago.

The Chicago Bears are in the market for a new center, and it’s one of their top needs this offseason. It’s been an issue for them over the last few years, and it’s time to fix it. No matter what, they should spend some of their money on a good one in free agency.

They could also consider drafting one to develop under a veteran that they sign in free agency. This could be the key to having long-term success at that vital position.

Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson is someone that they might consider. He’s one of the top centers in this 2024 draft class, and he was asked if there’s a possibility of playing for the Bears.

“I sure hope so,” he said, confirming that he met with Chicago during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Powers-Johnson, a projected first-round selection, is already calling them “da Bears” and commenting on deep-dish pizza which means he is already picturing himself living with Chicago culture. Hopefully, someone showed him Tavern Style, too.

If the Bears end up with Powers-Johnson, they’d be getting someone who can help them for the long-haul. He’d certainly be in play for them if they opt to trade back from the No. 9 pick into the middle of the first round. It’s worth considering, especially since it genuinely seems like he’d want to be a Bear.

Full 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: First projections after NFL Scouting Combine

The first full seven-round 2024 NFL mock draft for the Patriots after the NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, and many people are excited for the NFL offseason with free agency and the 2024 NFL draft right around the corner.

In New England, fans are itching to see the offensive talent the new regime will target. These are exciting times, but it’s also worth prefacing: The NFL combine is not a way to evaluate talent, but it is a way to finalize your draft board.

My 2024 draft kit is coming soon, and I utilized specific combine drills to finalize some matchups where the margins are smaller.

I think 10-yard split, 3-cone and other drills are more important than the 40-yard dash, vertical, long jump and bench press. Those specific drills will showcase what actually happens in a game, as opposed to the latter which happens in rare situations.

In the NFL, short area quickness, explosiveness and change of direction are valuable for evaluations. As I finalize my kit, It’s time we head into the true mock draft realm.

This time of the year is typically when I switch my mock drafts to what I think the Patriots will do, as opposed to what I want them to do. However, without any knowledge of what this regime will be doing in their first year, I am making these selections based on reports out there, who the team has been interviewing and who is on the roster currently.

Without further ado, let’s get right into the latest seven-round mock draft.

Potential Browns WR target stock watch at the NFL Scouting Combine

How did the WRs in draftable range for the Browns perform in Indianapolis?

The Cleveland Browns could turn to the record breaking Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy or others in the 2024 NFL draft. Who stood out from this crop of receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine this past week?

There is no point in talking about Marvin Harrison Jr., Brian Thomas, Rome Odunze, or Malik Nabers. The Browns are not going to be in range to select any of them. However, there are plenty of mid-round targets who took to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium this past Saturday night to show off their skillset in front of NFL teams at the combine.

Needing to add at least one new talent to their wide receiver room this offseason, the Browns are lucky to be blessed by a deep crop in this year’s crop.

Looking at wide receivers who will be in draftable range for the Browns, here is a stock watch on a handful of names who had notable combine performances for one reason or another.

New details emerge about Caleb Williams’ meeting with Bears at NFL combine

The Bears met with Caleb Williams for the first time last Wednesday at the NFL combine. Albert Breer shared some new details from the visit.

The Chicago Bears are nearing a decision on a franchise-altering move at quarterback, where all indications are they will draft USC star Caleb Williams with the first overall pick and move on from Justin Fields.

The Bears got a chance to meet with Williams for the first time during the NFL Scouting Combine, the first of several meetings between them during this pre-draft process.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer shared new details about Williams’ meeting with the Bears last Wednesday night at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 10:40 p.m. formal meeting featured general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, pass-game coordinator Thomas Brown, assistant GM Ian Cunningham and president Kevin Warren.

What they saw from Williams in that setting was an easy confidence, a player who was very comfortable in his own skin and not concerned much with what other people thought of him. That last part is key, because the Bears have tried to drill down on making sure the person they pick first can handle the pressure and spotlight of the Chicago market. Williams checked that box.

Breer noted the Bears planned to have Williams at Halas Hall for a Top 30 visit this Tuesday (right after the NFL combine). But Williams and Chicago decided to push it to after his March 20 pro day. The Bears will have Williams in the building for the entire day for the Top 30 visit, which will give them a chance to do medicals and make sure he’s a fit.

When that visit does happen, Williams will undergo a physical (he declined to take the part in medical testing in Indianapolis, which we’ll have more on in a bit) and have a litany of meetings. There, Chicago will make sure the fit is there, and that the chemistry between coaches and front office folks and Williams is apparent.

It sounds like the NFL combine was a big step forward for the potential union of Williams and the Bears, where the former Heisman winner shot down every red flag that had been brought up about him this offseason.

Possible Titans 1st-round pick Joe Alt shines in combine workouts

Notre Dame OT and possible Titans first-round pick Joe Alt turned some heads at the NFL Combine on Sunday.

If you’re a fan of the Tennessee Titans taking a left tackle with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the ideal selection in that spot would no doubt be Notre Dame left tackle, Joe Alt, who is considered the best prospect at his position in this year’s class.

Alt showed part of the reason why that is on Sunday during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, where he shined in both his measurements and on-field workouts.

The first thing that jumps out about Alt is his massive frame. This dude is standing at nearly 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds, and he has an arm length of 34 and 1/4 inches and a hand size of 10 inches — but Alt carries all of that well.

He tallied a 5.05-second 40-yard dash time, a 1.73 10-yard split and a broad jump of 9-foot-4. Further showing his impressive athleticism, Alt notched an unofficial Relative Athletic Score of 9.92 out of 10, the 12th-highest among offensive tackles since 1987, according to Kent Lee Platte.

As The Athletic’s Dan Brugler pointed out, Alt’s shuttle times were elite and comparable to a future Hall of Famer in Philadelphia Eagles right tackle, Lane Johnson, who Alt has 18 pounds on.

Alt also managed to reach a speed of 14.14 miles per hour within the first five yards of his 40-yard dash, which was the fastest of any offensive lineman over the past two years.

In case you were wondering, the Titans did meet with Alt at the combine, and he spoke about it in his media availability during the week, according to Jim Wyatt.

“It’s all been positive stuff,” Alt said of his combine meetings. “I met (with the Titans) and it was a great interview, a great meeting. I got to learn a little bit more about the organization. It was a great time.”

Alt still has to take part in the bench press on Monday, so his combine isn’t yet completed. However, if his earlier work is any indication, he’ll be great at that, also.

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