Tag: pro day

WATCH: Saints draft pick Khristian Boyd puts up 38 bench press reps

WATCH: New Orleans Saints draft pick Khristian Boyd puts up 38 bench press reps at Northern Iowa pro day

The New Orleans Saints have had some great picks during the 2024 NFL draft cycle, and defensive lineman Khristian Boyd is no exception. He is a high-level run blocker that they met with earlier in the offseason process for an official 30 visit. With many other teams being involved, the Saints were able to snag Boyd at No. 199 in the sixth round.

One of Boyd’s biggest positive traits is his strength, which is immediately apparent whenever you watch him play. But it is also apparent when you watch his bench press video from the UNI pro day, where he put up 38 reps of 225 and set a school record in the event. See for yourself:

Comparing this against the NFL Scouting Combine’s historical top performers, he would be tied for 18th-most bench press reps with four other players:

  • Andrew Vorhees – 2023 – OG
  • Margus Hunt – 2013 – DE
  • Marvin Austin – 2011 – DL
  • Russell Okung – 2010 – OL

While Andrew Vorhees missed his rookie season with a torn ACL, and Marvin Austin had a relatively short career in the NFL, Russell Okung was a two-time Pro Bowler as well as a long-time quality starter, and Margus Hunt stuck in the NFL for nine seasons, playing with the Saints for four games back in 2020 as well. Boyd’s career is off to a strong start, too.

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Bo Nix aced his pre-draft meeting with the Broncos

The Broncos gave Bo Nix three packets of offensive play installation to study at his pro day and the QB “crushed” his test the next morning.

The Denver Broncos gave quarterback Bo Nix extensive homework at Oregon’s pro day last month. Broncos coach Sean Payton handed Nix “three packets of offensive play installation” to study ahead of his meeting with Denver’s staff the next day, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

In the classroom the next morning, Nix “crushed it,” according to Schefter. The QB then went out on the field for a private workout for the Broncos and continued to impress. Six weeks later, Denver picked Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

After making the pick official on Thursday night, Broncos coach Sean Payton went on Pat McAfee’s draft show and recalled the QB’s studious work to prep for his meeting with the team.

“I don’t know what time he got to the office, but I felt like he was in a hotel room with a “Do not disturb” sign on [the door with a] coffee, the whole thing. … He’s super intelligent,” Payton told McAfee.

That late-night study appears to have paid off because Payton was clearly impressed with the quarterback. Nix is now set to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the starting QB job this summer.

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Saints attend first-round DT Johnny Newton’s pro day

The Saints were one of many teams attending first-round DT Johnny Newton’s pro day. He’d be a great addition next to Bryan Bresee:

The New Orleans Saints continue to do their homework in the trenches prior to draft day. Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report reported that the Saints were one of many teams in attendance for Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton’s pro day.

Newton would have been worked out last month with the rest of his Illinois teammates at the school’s pro day, but opted to have foot surgery to repair a partial Jones fracture, pushing his pro day to Tuesday, April 16.

Newton, at 6-foot-2, 304 pounds is an athletic specimen along the defensive line. His hand usage at the point of attack to go along with his ability to bend around offensive linemen makes him one of the premier players at the defensive tackle position this year. Over his last three seasons at Illinois, Newton compiled 16.5 sacks and over 150 tackles, which shows the level of production he can potentially bring to a team as well.

With the Saints still very much in need of talent across the defensive line, Newton would be a great addition next to last year’s first round pick defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. Having these two side-by-side would not only provide some much needed pass rush but it would also shore up the position for the next 3 or 4 years.

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Lions host local pro day for NFL draft prospects

Lions host local pro day for NFL draft prospects and here’s who participated

The Detroit Lions hosted their annual pro day for locally based NFL draft prospects on Tuesday. Over 20 players took advantage of the workout opportunity.

The local pro day primarily featured players from nearby colleges, with many prospects from Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Michigan State. They were joined by prospects with Detroit roots as well, including players from UCLA, LSU and Texas A&M.

These players and their participation do not count against the Lions limit of 30 official pre-draft visits.

The attendees, with the local colleges followed by the local prospects who played collegiately outside of the regional area:

  • Karsen Barnhart, OL, Michigan
  • Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan
  • Judge Culpepper, DT, Toledo
  • Hamze El-Zayat, WR, Eastern Michigan
  • Jaylen Harrell, LB, Michigan
  • Trevor Keegan, OL, Michigan
  • Chase Kline, LB, Eastern Michigan
  • Tanner Knue, WR, Eastern Michigan
  • Chris McDonald, CB, Toledo
  • Tre Mosley, LB, Michigan State
  • Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
  • Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
  • Jordan Anderson, S, UCLA
  • Theo Day, QB, Northern Iowa
  • Josh DeBerry, CB, Texas A&M
  • James Ester, DT, Northern Illinois
  • Kalon Gervin, CB, Kansas
  • Ovie Oghoufo, DL, LSU
  • Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
  • Reggie Pearson, S, Oklahoma
  • Walter Reynolds, S, Ohio
  • Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
  • Justin Rogers, DT, Auburn

Colts Draft News: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean to hold Pro-Day on April 8th

Perhaps of interest to the Colts, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean will hold his Pro Day on April 8th.

Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean will hold his Pro Day on Monday, April 8th, which could be of interest to the defensive back-needy Colts.

Late last season, DeJean suffered a fractured fibula that ended his season. While he attended the NFL Combine and did interviews with teams, he did not participate in any of the on-field testing as he was still rehabbing his leg injury.

DeJean’s Pro-Day will be the first time teams will see him on the field in this capacity since his injury. He is listed at 6-1 – 207 pounds and is expected to test very well.

As the draft process unfolds, DeJean is becoming a more popular pick for the Colts at 15th overall, checking a lot of the boxes in regard to what the Colts need in the secondary and what they look for in a prospect.

DeJean has spent most of his time lined up on the boundary at Iowa but will provide the Colts with versatility and options in the defensive backfield as he’s able to play both the safety – another need the Colts have – and nickel positions as well.

Over the last two seasons, DeJean has held opponents to a completion rate of 47 percent and 10.5 yards per catch while coming away with seven interceptions and nine pass breakups.

He’s also proven to be a very reliable tackler and willing run defender, which would be valuable in any potential move to safety and has played 439 special teams snaps. This includes 31 punt return attempts at 13.1 yards per return.

In a recent mock draft from PFF, Max Chadwick mentioned that DeJean to the Colts was one of his favorite fits in this draft because of the zone-heavy defensive scheme that Gus Bradley utilizes, which meshes with DeJean’s skill set very well.

For more on what DeJean could bring to the Colts, here is a snippet of what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say in his pre-draft report:

“Highly competitive defensive back with plus ball skills and noteworthy special teams value. DeJean is big and bundled for a cornerback, with muscular arms and tight hips. He has fantastic interception production, but his movements are more linear than fluid, and he doesn’t have the easy change of direction needed in man coverage on the next level. His best football is played with his eyes forward, using his instincts to challenge quarterbacks and his big downhill burst to smack whatever needs smacking.”

Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold are widely considered the top two cornerbacks in this class. However, if both are off the board by pick 15, DeJean could very much be in play for GM Chris Ballard.

Update: According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, DeJean impressed at his Pro-Day, recording a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical, and a 10.4-inch broad jump.

Report: Multiple NFL people believe Drake Maye will go to Commanders at No. 2 overall

Has it been Drake Maye all along for Washington? That’s what some believe.

The endless speculation continues regarding the Washington Commanders and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Will the Commanders select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy?

While the rumor mill speculated McCarthy seems like a pick that Washington general manager Adam Peters would make, the odds still favor Maye or Daniels to the Commanders.

Several NFL insiders have speculated about which quarterback Peters likes best or which fits offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense best. While the results are mixed, Daniels is generally the top choice.

But, according to longtime NFL writer Ralph Vacchiano, who covers the NFC East for FOX Sports, several NFL sources have told him they don’t see Maye sliding past Washington at No. 2.

In fact, multiple NFL sources said they don’t believe Maye will get past the Commanders at No. 2. Despite a lot of speculation that Daniels is a better fit for the scheme of new Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and a report that GM Adam Peters was eyeing McCarthy, there are many people around the NFL, who view those tidbits as smokescreens.

“I think we’re at the point where people are just overanalyzing and forgetting all the reasons why Maye is one of the two best quarterbacks in this draft,” said one NFL personnel executive. “He’s a big kid [6-foot-4, 223] with a big arm who can run. Sure, he can be inconsistent and he made some throws in college that he shouldn’t have tried.

Vacchiano is plugged in, having covered the Giants for years. Many call this time of year “lying season,” as teams like to hide their interest in specific players. If Maye is the guy for Washington, it would make no sense for Peters to reveal that information. As of now, the draft begins at No. 2, with the Bears expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall.

The Commanders have not likely made a final decision. They will use the next couple of weeks to host players on pre-draft visits and go over interviews before reconvening until a final decision is made.

At Maye’s pro day, it certainly looked like Peters and Dan Quinn were interested in Maye, but could that have been a smokescreen, too?

We still have 18 more days until the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Broncos invite safety Jayden Goodwin to their local pro day

Jayden Goodwin aims to follow in the footsteps of Ben Garland and Jordan Jackson to reach the NFL after playing for the Air Force Academy.

The Denver Broncos have invited Air Force safety Jayden Goodwin to their local pro day, according to Tanner Phifer of XPAND Sports.

Goodwin (6-1, 195 pounds) spent four years with the Falcons, totaling 154 tackles, 13 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack.

NFL teams can host a local pro day each offseason to host prospects who played high school or college football in the club’s region.

For the Broncos, prospects are often invited from schools like Colorado, Colorado State, Wyoming, CSU Pueblo, Forts Hayes State, Colorado Mesa, Colorado School of Mines and the Air Force.

Eleven graduates from the Air Force have been drafted by NFL teams in the past, most recently including defensive lineman Jordan Jackson with the New Orleans Saints in 2022. Jackson now plays for the Broncos — the Air Force allowed him to defer his five-year military commitment until after his football career.

Denver also drafted Air Force linebacker Steve Russ in 1995 and the team signed guard Ben Garland as an undrafted free agent in 2010.

As for Goodwin, he seems unlikely to go undrafted as well. The Broncos are likely considering him as a potential college free agent signing or rookie minicamp invite. The draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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Broncos went to pro day of QB John Matocha, the NCAA’s all-time leader in TDs

The Broncos attended the Colorado Mines’ pro day which featured QB John Matocha, the NCAA’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns (162).

The Denver Broncos had scouts in attendance to watch quarterback John Matocha at the Colorado Mines’ pro day last month, according to local radio talent Miles Dunklin.

Matocha (5-11, 180 pounds) played four seasons with the Orediggers, completing 70.1% of his passes for 15,006 yards and 162 touchdowns, an NCAA record. (Mines is a small, Division II school. The Division I record is 155 touchdown passes, held by Case Keenum.)

Two other potential draft prospects at the pro day were Mines defensive linemen Kyle Bahnsen and Zach Hester. Other small-school prospects from the region also attended the pro day.

As a DII program, Mines rarely sends prospects to the NFL, but linebacker Marc Schiechl did play in the CFL and AFL after graduating from the school.

Two other Mines grads played in the NFL before the game’s modern era. Jack Colahan played tackle for the New York Yankees (the former NFL team, not the MLB club) in 1928 and Lloyd Madden played wingback and defensive back for the Chicago Cardinals in 1940.

Matocha will likely go undrafted later this month. The Broncos could be considering him as a rookie training camp invite. Matocha might also be a candidate to change positions after rushing for 1,982 yards and 28 touchdowns in college. He’s a similar size to Julian Edelman, who played quarterback in college before transitioning to wide receiver in the NFL.

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Brian Kelly explains what Jayden Daniels must do to be successful in the NFL

Brian Kelly said that Jayden Daniels must “flip the switch” from a college to professional mindset.

We’re now less than a month away from the 2024 NFL draft, and that means we’ll soon find out where Heisman-winning LSU quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] will begin his pro career.

Though his draft stock was almost non-existent entering the 2023 season, Daniels is now widely projected as a top-three pick and is now the odds-on favorite to be taken second overall by the Washington Commanders.

At LSU’s pro day, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] explained that to be successful in the NFL, you need to “flip the switch” from being a college athlete to a professional one. He believes that’s a transition that has suited Daniels so far.

“I think the NFL is all about making that next step, that transition,” Kelly said, per On3. “There’s no longer the other piece — the academics — it’s strictly a full-time job. You’ve got to be able to flip the switch now and commit yourself, which he has done here.

“He’s treated himself like a pro in the sense of his commitment. But now you got to be able to switch yourself to 100 percent focused on a job. Sometimes that’s a bit of a transition. You’re on your own now and it’s 100 percent focused on a job. In terms of athletic ability and in terms of his ability to master the skill set of playing quarterback, I think we saw today, he’s 210 pounds, he’s put on weight. “I think he’s gonna do just fine when it comes to the skillset and the athleticism. It’s just making that natural transition into an NFL locker room.”

Kelly also may have hinted at the pro day that the Commanders intend to draft Daniels.

Daniels didn’t participate in drills at the NFL combine, so last week’s pro day was his first time throwing in front of NFL scouts. He’ll hope that was a lasting impression as he now has a good chance to be the second quarterback off the board after Caleb Williams.

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Potential Packers target Cooper DeJean to hold pro day on April 8

Iowa DB Cooper DeJean has been cleared for football activities and is scheduled to hold an individual pro day for NFL teams on Monday, April 8.

Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean, a likely first-round pick and potential target of the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft, has been cleared for football activities and will hold an individual pro day for teams on Monday, April 8, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

DeJean suffered a broken fibula during practice last November and required surgery, ending his final season at Iowa and preventing him from participating during key pre-draft events, such as the NFL Scouting Combine. Although he is returning from a significant injury, DeJean will get a chance to prove to NFL teams that he is an elite athlete and a top prospect in this year’s draft class.

DeJean is listed as the No. 9 overall prospect at Pro Football Focus and the No. 28 overall prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board.

The athleticism box might be final box for DeJean to check for the Packers. Still only 21 years old, DeJean is a versatile cornerback-safety hybrid who played at a high level for multiple years at Iowa, a football program the Packers have long respected. Just last season, the Packers used a first-round pick on Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa.

DeJean — a state champion sprinter in high school — intercepted seven passes and had 20 pass breakups over the last two seasons for Iowa. He scored four return touchdowns — three on interceptions and one on a punt return.

The Packers hold the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 draft.