Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s everything that #Chiefs fans need to know to take in the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
General managers, coaches and scouts have arrived in Indianapolis for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine to get to know the next generation of NFL athletes. Below you’ll find all the important details on how you can follow along throughout the week at the combine.
We’ll have our own Ed Easton Jr. providing coverage in Indianapolis for the event. If you have questions about the event, reach out to us on Twitter @TheChiefsWire.
The NFL announced its list of 2023 scouting combine participants, including 15 quarterback prospects:
319 prospects invited to 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.https://t.co/qDDoMH7Bm6 pic.twitter.com/iDlQeNzZIO
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) February 8, 2023
The NFL announced its list of 319 prospects in the 2023 draft who have been invited to this year’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, where they’ll go through a week of interviews with teams and media as well as grueling workouts, physicals, and other exams. Expect the New Orleans Saints to have a heavy presence at the event in late February.
In most years, about 90% of the prospects who compete at the combine end up hearing their name called during the draft’s 260-or-so picks. The gauntlet of private meetings, on-field workouts, timing drills, and medical evaluations are critical in filling out scouting reports around the league and the Saints always put importance on this step in the process.
The 2023 scouting combine lasts from Feb. 28 to March 6 in downtown Indianapolis, with activities held at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center. This year’s list of prospects includes 15 hopeful quarterbacks, though it remains to be seen who will throw and compete in drills:
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Everything you need to know about the 2020 Scouting Combine. Plus a Wire reference.
Some of the final pieces of the pattern are about to be woven into the narrative of the 2020 NFL draft class. On Monday, the poking, prodding and non-stop onslaught of folk acting way-too-familiar will get started as the early parts of the NFL Scouting Combine commence. Save for a few “work ethics and competitive spirits” winding their way up river to a Day 3 draft-pick status, most everyone with a realistic shot of being selected is in Indianapolis for the week, or they’re on their way.
The combine has been around for almost 40 years; with data entry specialists probably plugging heights, weights and 40 times into Commodore 64s.
Dallas” Tex Schramm engineered the original Stringer-Bell-New-Day-Co-op and convinced the competition committee to “go in together so they could get the best discount on New York Package.” The consortium gathered the Lesko, Quadra and individual scouting departments around conference room table thanks to the market they all shared.
163 prospects took part in the inaugural combine in 1982.
Now each year the NFL invites every eligible draft participant deemed worthy by the scouting committees and this year the spectacle has been moved to primetime during the last half of the week.
The number of invitees has reached 337, and all can peep the full list here.
The on-field workouts will run Thursday through Sunday, as clusters of positions go a five-day stir fry.
Here’s a look at the full schedule of arrivals and activities, courtesy of Draft Network’s Jordan Reid, which started Sunday with the quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers descending on Naptown.
Prior to putting the prospects through the physical ringer, team representatives and doctors take the players through psychological warfare, though things are supposed to have calmed down compared to some of the weirdo tactics previously employed.
— Interviews (each team is allowed 60 interviews in 15-minute intervals)
— Physical measurements
— Injury evaluation
— Drug screen
— The Cybex test
— The Wonderlic Test
The on-field work will be televised on NFL Network live starting at 4:00 p.m. ET on Thursday and airing at the same time, through 11:00 p.m. ET for three days. Wanting to hit the bricks and get out of town, Sunday’s session is from 2:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m.
The sessions will also be livestreamed online; through the NFL apps.
On field, there are seven basic drills every player has the opportunity to do, and then their are a series of position-specific drills which have several new additions in 2020.
40-yard dash
Bench press
Vertical jump
Broad jump
Three-cone drill
20-yard shuttle
60-yard shuttle
The links in the heading if you want to dive into what each of these routines involves.
Quarterbacks
End zone fade routes added to routes thrown, timed smoke/now route drill
Running backs
Duce Staley drill; Inside routes with change of direction added to routes run
ELIMINATED: Pitch and cone drill, find the ball drill
Receivers
End zone fade route
ELIMINATED: Toe tap drill
Tight ends
End zone fade route
ELIMINATED: Toe tap drill
Offensive line
New mirror drill, new screen drill
Miscellaneous: Pull drills will include engaging a one-man sled instead of a bag. Inclusion of “rabbit” is eliminated in pass rush drops and pass pro mirror drill, with a coach’s hand motion changing direction of lateral slide in latter drill.
Defensive line
Run and club drill, run the hoop drill
ELIMINATED: Stack and shed drill
Linebackers
Shuffle, sprint, change of direction drill; short zone breaks drill
ELIMINATED: Pass drop
Defensive backs
Line drill, Teryl Austin drill, box drill, gauntlet drill
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The NFL has released the details for it’s 2020 Combine, including the television schedule and this year’s participants.
The NFL has released the details for it’s 2020 Combine, including the television schedule and this year’s participants.
Let’s take a look at which prospects will be participating when and how you can watch.
When: 4:00 pm, EST on NFL Network
Kelly Bryant, QB, Missouri
Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Kevin Davidson, QB, Princeton
Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State
Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Brian Lewerke, QB, Michigan State
Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State
Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii
Steven Montez, QB, Colorado
James Morgan, QB, Florida International
Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan
Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
Omar Bayless, WR, Arkansas State
Lynn Bowden, WR, Kentucky
Tony Brown, WR, Colorado
Lawrence Cager, WR, Georgia
Marquez Callaway, WR, Tennessee
Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida
Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
Gabriel Davis, WR, Central Florida
Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M
Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
Chris Finke, WR, Notre Dame
Aaron Fuller, WR, Washington
Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
Antonio Gibson, WR, Memphis
Stephen Guidry, WR, Mississippi State
KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
John Hightower, WR, Boise State
K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
Trishton Jackson, WR, Syracuse
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
Juwan Johnson, WR, Oregon
Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Kalija Lipscomb, WR, Vanderbilt
Austin Mack, WR, Ohio State
Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane
K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami
Aaron Parker, WR, Rhode Island
Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
Malcolm Perry, WR, Navy
Michael Pittman, WR, USC
James Proche, WR, SMU
Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Joe Reed, WR, Virginia
Kendrick Rogers, WR, Texas A&M
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
Darrell Stewart, WR, Michigan State
Freddie Swain, WR, Florida
Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami
Ben Victor, WR, Ohio State
Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Mississippi
Cody White, WR, Michigan State
Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
Jacob Breeland, TE, Oregon
Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington
Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati
Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech
Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Sean McKeon, TE, Michigan
Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
C.J. O’Grady, TE, Arkansas
Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford
Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt
Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU
Charlie Taumoepeau, TE, Portland State
Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
Mitchell Wilcox, TE, South Florida
Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia
Dom Wood-Anderson, TE, Tennessee
When: 4:00 pm, EST on NFL Network
Salvon Ahmed, RB, Washington
Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Jet Anderson, RB, TCU
LeVante Bellamy, RB, Western Michigan
Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State
Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami
AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
Rico Dowdle, RB, South Carolina
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State
JaMycal Hasty, RB, Baylor
Brian Herrien, RB, Georgia
Tony Jones, RB, Notre Dame
Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA
Javon Leake, RB, Maryland
Benny LeMay, RB, UNC-Charlotte
Anthony McFarland, RB, Maryland
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Sewo Olonilua, RB, TCU
La’Mical Perine, RB, Florida
Scottie Phillips, RB, Mississippi
James Robinson, RB, Illinois State
D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
J.J. Taylor, RB, Arizona
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Patrick Taylor, RB, Memphis
Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
Mike Warren, RB, Cincinnati
Trey Adams, OL, Washington
Hakeem Adeniji, OL, Kansas
Tremayne Anchrum, OL, Clemson
Ben Bartch, OL, St. John’s (MN)
Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville
Tyler Biadasz, OL, Wisconsin
Ben Bredeson, OL, Michigan
Cohl Cabral, OL, Arizona State
Saahdiq Charles, OL, LSU
Cameron Clark, OL, UNC-Charlotte
Ezra Cleveland, OL, Boise State
Trystan Colon-Castillo, OL, Missouri
Lloyd Cushenberry, OL, LSU
Jack Driscoll, OL, Auburn
Yasir Durant, OL, Missouri
Jake Hanson, OL, Oregon
Nick Harris, OL, Washington
Charlie Heck, OL, UNC
Matt Hennessy, OL, Temple
Justin Herron, OL, Wake Forest
Robert Hunt, OL, Louisiana-Lafayette
Keith Ismael, OL, San Diego State
Cordel Iwuagwu, OL, TCU
Austin Jackson, OL, USC
Jonah Jackson OL, Ohio State
Joshua Jones, OL, Houston
Solomon Kindley, OL, Georgia
Shane Lemieux, OL, Oregon
Damien Lewis, OL, LSU
Colton McKivitz, OL, West Virginia
John Molchon, OL, Boise State
Kyle Murphy, OL, Rhode Island
Netane Muti, OL, Fresno State
Lucas Niang, OL, TCU
Mike Onwenu, OL, Michigan
Matt Peart, OL, Connecticut
Tyre Phillips, OL, Mississippi State
Danny Pinter, OL, Ball State
Cesar Ruiz, OL, Michigan
Jon Runyan, OL, Michigan
John Simpson, OL, Clemson
Terence Steele, OL, Texas Tech
Logan Stenberg, OL, Kentucky
Simon Stepaniak, OL, Indiana
Alex Taylor, OL, South Carolina State
Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia
Calvin Throckmorton, OL, Oregon
Prince Tega Wanogho, OL, Auburn
Darryl Williams, OL, Mississippi State
Jedrick Wills, OL, Alabama
Isaiah Wilson, OL, Georgia
Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Georgia
Joseph Charlton, P, South Carolina
Blake Ferguson, LS, LSU
Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse
Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M
JJ Molson, K, UCLA
Alex Pechin, P, Bucknell
Arryn Siposs, P, Auburn
Tommy Townsend, P, Florida
Michael Turk, P, Arizona State
Steven Wirtel, LS, Iowa State
When: 4:00 pm, EST on NFL Network
McTelvin Agim, DL, Arkansas
Bradlee Anae, DL, Utah
Ross Blacklock, DL, TCU
Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Josiah Coatney, DL, Mississippi
Kendall Coleman, DL, Syracuse
Darrion Daniels, DL, Nebraska
Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn
Carlos Davis, DL, Nebraska
Khalil Davis, DL, Nebraska
Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama
Jordan Elliott, DL, Missouri
A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa
Leki Fotu, DL, Utah
Neville Gallimore, DL, Oklahoma
Jonathan Garvin, DL, Miami
Trevis Gipson, DL, Tulsa
Jonathan Greenard, DL, Florida
Yetur Gross-Matos, DL, Penn State
DaVon Hamilton, DL, Ohio State
LaDarius Hamilton, DL, North Texas
Alex Highsmith, DL, UNC-Charlotte
Trevon Hill, DL, Miami
Benito Jones, DL, Mississippi
Khalid Kareem, DL, Notre Dame
Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
Rashard Lawrence II, DL, LSU
James Lynch, DL, Baylor
Justin Madubuike, DL, Texas A&M
Larrell Murchison, DL, North Carolina State
Julian Okwara, DL, Notre Dame
John Penisini, DL, Utah
Chauncey Rivers, DL, Mississippi State
Malcolm Roach, DL, Texas
Alton Robinson, DL, Syracuse
Qaadir Sheppard, DL, Mississippi
James Smith-Williams, DL, North Carolina State
Jason Strowbridge, DL, UNC
Derrek Tuszka, DL, North Dakota State
Broderick Washington, DL, Texas Tech
Kenny Willekes, DL, Michigan State
Raequan Williams, DL, Michigan State
Rob Windsor, DL, Penn State
D.J. Wonnum, DL, South Carolina
Chase Young, DL, Ohio State
Jabari Zuniga, DL, Florida
Joe Bachie, LB, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue
Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
Francis Bernard, LB, Utah
Daniel Bituli, LB, Tennessee
Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
Jordan Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
Cameron Brown, LB, Penn State
K’Lavon Chaisson, LB, LSU
Nick Coe, LB, Auburn
Carter Coughlin, LB, Minnesota
Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
Michael Divinity, LB, LSU
Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
Tipa Galeai, LB, Utah State
Cale Garrett, LB, Missouri
Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State
Scoota Harris, LB, Arkansas
Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State
Khaleke Hudson, LB, Michigan
Anfernee Jennings, LB, Alabama
Clay Johnston, LB, Baylor
Azur Kamara, LB, Kansas
Terrell Lewis, LB, Alabama
Jordan Mack, LB, Virginia
Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota
Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Dante Olson, LB, Montana
Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU
Michael Pinckney, LB, Miami
Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest
Darrell Taylor, LB, Tennessee
Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado
Casey Toohill, LB, Stanford
Josh Uche, LB, Michigan
Mykal Walker, LB, Fresno State
Curtis Weaver, LB, Boise State
Evan Weaver, LB, California
Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
David Woodward, LB, Utah State
When: 2:00 pm, EST on NFL Network
Damon Arnette, DB, Ohio State
Grayland Arnold, DB, Baylor
Trajan Bandy, DB, Miami
Essang Bassey, DB, Wake Forest
Julian Blackmon, DB, Utah
Antoine Brooks Jr., DB, Maryland
Myles Bryant, DB, Washington
Terrell Burgess, DB, Utah
Shyheim Carter, DB, Alabama
Jeremy Chinn, DB, Southern Illinois
Nevelle Clarke, DB, Central Florida
Rodney Clemons, DB, SMU
Brian Cole II, DB, Mississippi State
Kamren Curl, DB, Arkansas
Cameron Dantzler, DB, Mississippi State
Ashtyn Davis, DB, California
Javaris Davis, DB, Auburn
Grant Delpit, DB, LSU
Trevon Diggs, DB, Alabama
Kyle Dugger, DB, Lenoir-Rhyne
Jalen Elliott, DB, Notre Dame
Jordan Fuller, DB, Ohio State
Kristian Fulton, DB, LSU
Alohi Gilman, DB, Notre Dame
Jeff Gladney, DB, TCU
A.J. Green, DB, Oklahoma State
Javelin K. Guidry, DB, Utah
Bryce Hall, DB, Virginia
Harrison Hand, DB, Temple
Jaylinn Hawkins, DB, California
C.J. Henderson, DB, Florida
Lavert Hill, DB, Michigan
Darnay Holmes, DB, UCLA
Noah Igbinoghene, DB, Auburn
Dane Jackson, DB, Pittsburgh
Lamar Jackson, DB, Nebraska
Jaylon Johnson, DB, Utah
Brandon Jones, DB, Texas
BoPete Keyes, DB, Tulane
Xavier McKinney, DB, Alabama
Josh Metellus, DB, Michigan
Chris Miller, DB, Baylor
Tanner Muse, DB, Clemson
Michael Ojemudia, DB, Iowa
Jeff Okudah, DB, Ohio State
James Pierre, DB, Florida Atlantic
Troy Pride, DB, Notre Dame
J.R. Reed, DB, Georgia
John Reid, DB, Penn State
Amik Robertson, DB, Louisiana Tech
Reggie Robinson II, DB, Tulsa
Stanford Samuels, DB, Florida State
Josiah Scott, DB, Michigan State
L’Jarius Sneed, DB, Louisiana Tech
Geno Stone, DB, Iowa
A.J. Terrell, DB, Clemson
Daniel Thomas, DB, Auburn
Stantley Thomas-Oliver, DB, Florida International
Kindle Vildor, DB, Georgia Southern
K’Von Wallace, DB, Clemson
Antoine Winfield Jr., DB, Minnesota
The 2020 NFL Draft class may feature the best group of wide receiver prospects ever assembled, which is big news for the New Orleans Saints.
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The New Orleans Saints are putting up points and winning games in spite of a very shallow depth chart at wide receiver, thanks to Herculean efforts from All-Pro Michael Thomas and creative play-calling from Saints coach Sean Payton. Thomas has proven he can put the world on his shoulders for New Orleans’ passing game.
However, the lack of production from the group as a whole can’t be ignored: in the four games since their bye week, all of the non-Thomas receivers have combined for 8 receptions and 90 receiving yards (with two touchdown catches) on 21 total targets. Those stats all came from Tre’Quan Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. Practice squad call-up Krishawn Hogan has logged 37 snaps in that time, but has yet to receive his first target with the Saints.
Fortunately, the situation shouldn’t remain this grim forever. The 2020 NFL Draft class is shaping up like one of the best groups in recent memory, rivaling the 2014 class that put Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans, Brandin Cooks, John Brown, Sammy Watkins, and Allen Robinson into the pros.
While the top draft prospects in this year’s draft are underclassmen who or may not leave early for the NFL — names like Alabama stars Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs, Oklahoma big-play threat CeeDee Lamb, and Clemson’s clutch performer Tee Higgins — there are plenty of options generating excitement around the league. Four talented juniors have already declared, at least two of whom are popular picks in the conversation of who might be a first-round pick:
Shenault has a reputation as one of the most versatile players in the draft class, having lined up everywhere from slot receiver to tight end and fullback, and still found ways to make plays. Think of him as a Swiss army knife in the mold of Taysom Hill, but with more aptitude as a receiver (which is saying something, given Hill’s four touchdown catches this season).
Reagor is another hot name in draft circles, given his game-breaking speed and ability to track the ball in flight deep downfield. He’s averaged over 15 yards per catch in his career despite the Horned Frogs’ instability at quarterback (half a dozen different passers have targeted Reagor over the last three years), drawing comparisons to Cooks, the Saints’ own former first-round pick.
Something has to be said for both of the two big men who have declared early, as Hodgins (6-foot-4) and Davis (6-foot-3) have each caught 70-plus receptions and scored double-digit touchdowns this season. There’s room in the NFL (and in New Orleans) for either of them to contribute.
And this doesn’t even include the numerous talented seniors in this year’s draft class, ranging from Minnesota graduate Tyler Johnson to Arizona State product Brandon Aiyuk, as well as Texas Longhorns fixtures Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson. Keep an eye on Ohio State alum K.J. Hill and experienced South Carolina receiver Bryan Edwards.
Of that group, four have already accepted invitations to participate in the 2020 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., taking the opportunity to practice in front of NFL scouts ahead of the annual all-star game. Those participants include Aiyuk, Edwards, as well as Longhorns prospects Duvernay and Johnson. They’ll be joined by receivers not previously mentioned such as Kalija Lipscomb (Vanderbilt), Antonio Gandy-Golden (Liberty), Michael Pittman Jr. (USC), and Chase Claypool (Notre Dame), all of whom will have a good shot at improving their draft stock.
So all of this was said to say: the Saints do not lack for options at addressing the wide receiver position during the offseason. They’ve thrown resources at the problem before, it just hasn’t worked out — Smith hasn’t consistently helped the offense after being drafted in the third round last year, while the Saints lost their wager that Cameron Meredith would be a better free agent addition than what it would have cost to keep Willie Snead. Here’s hoping the players New Orleans already has to work with can continue doing enough to compete for Super Bowl LIV.
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