The NFL Combine is an honored tradition in the League, hosting the majority of college football’s best players in Indiana to produce their best physical performances and increase their draft stock.

While an invitation to the Combine is not requisite for success in the League, (see: Doug Baldwin, Malcolm Butler, Julian Edelman, Chris Harris, Tyreek Hill, Phillip Lindsay) it does provide a window of opportunity to distinguish a player from the competition. Increasing his prospective rank in the draft and consequently, his starting salary for the first four to five years of his career.

Certain players, like D.K. Metcalf and Kyler Murray, garnered a great deal of interest over the weekend. Murray’s height, 5’10” and 1/8, considered an integral feature of a successful quarterback, secured him a position of confidence entering the draft.

D.K. Metcalf, a wide receiver from Ole Miss, dominated the 40 yard dash at 4.33 and the vertical jump at 40.5 inches. With over 300 players traveling to Lucas Oil Stadium, the performances of a diversely talented Combine class are starting to give shape to the 2019 Draft Class.

The NFL designates certain scouts to “grade” the prospect as it relates to their position, body composition, and performance, with a scale as follows:

GRADE

9.00-10 Once-in-lifetime player

8.00-8.99 Perennial All-Pro

7.50-7.99 Future All-Pro

7.00-7.49 Pro Bowl-caliber player

6.50-6.99 Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player

6.00-6.49 Should become instant starter

5.50-5.99 Chance to become NFL starter

5.20-5.49 NFL backup or special teams potential

5.01-5.19 Better-than-average chance to make NFL roster

5.00 50-50 Chance to make NFL roster

4.75-4.99 Should be in an NFL training camp

4.50-4.74 Chance to be in an NFL training camp

NO GRADE Likely needs time in developmental league

Players rarely receive higher than a 7.0, but in the last decade, Julius Peppers, Andrew Luck, Ndamukong Suh, Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas were all ranked at the “Pro Bowl caliber player” status, and rightly so.

The 6.8-6.9 rating features players like Patrick Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Peterson, Von Miller, Julio Jones, Myles Garrett, Jalen Ramsey, Khalil Mack and Luke Kuechly. So, while a diatribe against the prospect scale certainly exists, its correlation with success is indisputable.

Here are twenty players you should know from Combine weekend:

Josh Allen 

Edge Rusher, Kentucky

Prospect Grade: 6.70 “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”

6’5”, 262 Lbs, 33.5” wing span, 8.75” hand size

4.63 40 Yard Dash, 28 Reps at Bench Press, 118” Broad Jump, 7.15 second 3 Cone Drill, 4.23 20 Yard Shuttle 

Quinnen Williams 

Defensive Lineman, Alabama

Prospect Grade: 6.70 “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”

6’3”, 303 Lbs, 33.25 wingspan, 9.625” handsize 

4.83 40 Yard Dash, 30.5” Vertical Jump, 112” Broad Jump

Jeffery Simmons

Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State 

Prospect Grade: 6.62, “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”

6’4”, 301 Lbs

*Not invited to Combine because of past history of violence against women

Nick Bosa 

Defensive Lineman, Ohio State

6’4”, 266 Lbs, 33” wingspan, 10.75 hand size

Prospect Grade: 6.52, “Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player”

4.79 40 Yard Dash, 29 Reps at Bench Press, 33.5” Vertical Jump, 116” Broad Jump, 7.1 seconds in 3 Cone Drill, 4.14 in 20 Yard Shuttle 

Rashan Gary 

Defensive Lineman, Michigan

Prospect Grade: 6.37 “Instant Starter”

6’4”, 227 Lbs, 3.125” wing span, 9.625” hand size

4.58 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 26 Reps at Bench Press, 38” Vertical Jump, 120” Broad Jump, 7.26 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.29 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle

T.J. Hockenson 

Tight End, Iowa

Prospect Grade: 6.35 “Instant Starter”

6’5”, 251 Lbs, 32.25” wing span, 9.5” hand size

4.7 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 17 Reps at Bench Press, 37.5” Vertical Jump, 123” Broad Jump, 7.02 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.18 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle, 11.55 seconds 60 Yard Shuttle

D.K. Metcalf

Wide Receiver, Ole Miss

Prospect Grade: 6.33 “Instant Starter”

6’3”, 228 Lbs, 34.75 wing span, 9.875” hand size

4.33 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 27 Reps at Bench Press, 40.5” Vertical Jump, 134” Broad Jump, 7.38 seconds 30 Cone Drill, 4.5 seconds 40 Yard Shuttle 

Montez Sweat

Edge Rusher, Mississippi State

Prospect Grade: 6.32 “Instant Starter”

6’6”, 260 pounds, 35.75” wing span, 10.5” hand size

4.41 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 21 Reps at Bench Press, 36” Vertical Jump, 125” Broad Jump, 7 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.29 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle

Josh Jacobs

Running Back, Alabama 

Prospect Grade: 6.31 “Instant Starter”

5’10”, 220 Lbs, 31.625” wing span, 10.125” hand size

*Did not participate in drills

Jonah Williams

Offensive Lineman, Alabama

Prospect Grade: 6.3 “Instant Starter”

6’4”, 302 lbs, 33.625” wing span, 10.125” hand size

5.12 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 23 Reps at Bench Press, 28” Vertical Jump, 100” Broad Jump, 8.01 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.79 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle

Ed Oliver

Defensive Lineman, Houston

Prospect Grade: 6.26 “Instant Starter”

6’2”, 287 lbs, 31.75 wingspan, 9.25 hand size

32 Reps at Bench Press, 36” Vertical Jump, 120” Broad Jump

Dwayne Haskins 

Quarterback, Ohio State

Prospect Grade: 6.25, “Instant Starter”

6’3”, 231 lbs, 33.5” wingspan, 9.625” hand size

5.04 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 28.5 Vertical Jump

Kyler Murray

Quarterback, Oklahoma

Prospect Grade: 6.24, “Instant Starter”

5’10”, 207 lbs, 28.5” wingspan, 9.5” hand size

*Did not participate in drills

Greedy Williams

Cornerback, LSU

Prospect Grade: 6.21 “Instant Starter”

6’2”, 185 Lbs, 31.5” wingspan, 9.25 hand size

4.37 seconds 40 Yard Dash

Dexter Lawrence 

Defensive Lineman, Clemson

Prospect Grade: 6.17 “Instant Starter”

6’4”, 342 lbs, 34.75” wingspan, 10.5” hand size

5.05 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 36 Reps at Bench Press

Deandre Baker

Defensive Back, Georgia

Prospect Grade: 6.15 “Instant Starter”

5’11”, 193 lbs, 32” wingspan, 9” hand size

4.52 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 14 Reps at Bench Press, 118″ Broad Jump

Clelin Ferrell

Edge Rusher, Clemson

Prospect Grade: 6.13 “Instant Starter”

6’4”, 264 lbs, 34.125 wingspan, 10.5” hand size

25 Reps at Bench Press, 7.26 second 3 Cone Drill, 4.4 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle, 12.07 seconds 60 Yard Shuttle

Paris Campbell 

Wide Receiver, Ohio State

Prospect Grade: 6.11 “Instant Starter”

6’0, 205 lbs, 32.25” wing span, 9.5” hand size

4.31 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 11 Reps at Bench Press, 40” Vertical Jump, 135” Broad Jump, 4.03 20 Yard Shuttle

A.J. Brown

Wide Receiver, Ole Miss

Prospect Grade: 6.08 “Instant Starter”

6’0”, 226 lbs, 32.875” wing span, 9.75 hand size

4.49 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 19 Reps at Bench Press, 36.5” Vertical Jump, 120” Broad Jump

Drew Lock

Quarterback, Missouri

Prospect Grade: 6.05, “Instant Starter”

6’4”, 228 lbs, 32.5” wingspan, 9” hand size

4.69 seconds 40 Yard Dash, 31” Vertical Jump, 112” Broad Jump, 7.03 seconds 3 Cone Drill, 4.12 seconds 20 Yard Shuttle

You can learn more about this year’s Combine class here

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