Stocks up, stocks down: NFL's combined dynamics

 With the 2023 NFL Scout Complex now behind us, many players have seen their stocks rise and possibly plummet after the so-called "Underwear Olympics." It's simply the name of the game, whether it really matters or not, it will capture the attention of NFL staff, the sports media, and fans. Nolan Smith of the University of Georgia burned down the track with a 4.39 40-yard run at 6 foot-2, 238 pounds and made himself some money in Indianapolis. Other defensive players like Kelee Ringo, Adetomiwa Adebwore, Calijah Kancey and DJ Turner (the team's fastest 40-yard runner combined with 4.26) also helped them in the combo. For fantasy purposes, we'll be picking offensive players who are likely to find slots on the depth charts in the first year.

OVERWEIGHT

Anthony Richardson - QB, Florida

First, let's be honest and get this out of the way, CJ Stroud is truly the most impressive pitcher at the NFL Combine. His serve is pure and effortless, but we may already have known that he would be one of the first two quarterbacks made in the 2023 NFL Draft. He's pretty much solidified it. that. However, Richardson enjoyed much success on Stroud and Bryce Young after a show he gave in Indianapolis. First was the athleticism he displayed with his 10 foot 9 wide jump, followed by the record-setting 40.5-inch vertical jump. He then took the lead and wowed the nation with a time of 4.43 seconds at the 40-yard track. He did all of this at a 6-foot-4, 244-pound size! Richardson also showed off his precise deep dribbling ability while also showing he can take throw-ins. Many thought that Richardson couldn't cool off after some of his throws, he proved it wrong. The team that drafted him will probably let us know how soon he can fit into the fantasy. Anyone will get a star.

Chasing Brown - RB, Illinois

I like Jahmyr Gibbs showing off his elite speed (you should now admit it) by running 4.36 in a 40-yard run. He'll probably be the second back-runner off the board, but Dameon Pierce and Tyler Allgeier proved in 2022 that you don't have to be the pick on Day 1 or Day 2 to get instant success. . Without much hype from the Senior Bowl, Brown showed off his athletic prowess and ended his synergies with a 4.43-second 40-yard run, 10-foot 7 wide jump and vertical jump. 40 inches at 5 feet-9 ½, 209 pounds. This won't and it won't make him float on the draft board, but with backers like Tyjae Spears (who looks good in drills) and Ken Dre Miller (injury) not running, it does. will make Brown feel good when he can perform well. Scouts and reviewers will definitely return to his icicles complex.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba - WR, Ohio State

Some would say that JSN is afraid of competition when it doesn't run the 40-yard track in the mix. I say you should know who you are and who you are, especially during the drafting process. By avoiding 40, Smith-Njigba was able to show what he is best at, changing direction and route of runs. He easily has the best triple cone drill of any receiver at 6.57 seconds (next best is Andrei Iosivas at 6.85). In the 20-yard shuttlecock, he taunted his opponent about completing it in 3.93 seconds with Iosivas once again leading with 4.12. Then there's the running route where JSN does what he does best. You have to remember, this is the man who went 95/1606/9 on a team with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, which is no small feat. Wilson even says that the JSN is the best receiver of the trio. By not running 40 laps, JSN doesn't let himself get lost in the shambles of the 4.3/4.4 guys knowing he can get past them at the most crucial points.

Darnell Washington - TE, Georgia

Want to talk about a unit? Washington's UGA certainly is. Testing at nearly 6 feet-7 and 264 pounds, Washington posted a 4.64-second 40-yard run, a 10-foot-2 wide jump and the fastest 20-yard shuttlecock between tight ends at 4.08 seconds which should have been second among wide receivers. Known for his combination of blocking and receiving skills, he showed his skill later in drills when he caught the fading line with one hand. This year's final class was packed with talent including Michael Mayer, Luke Musgrave, Dalton Kincaid and Luke Shoonmaker and Washington did everything in his power to separate himself from that group. While he still may not be the first to be arrested, you can't argue with anyone who feels he should be.

STOCK REDUCTION

Will Levis - QB, Kentucky

Levis certainly didn't do anything that was necessarily damaging to the stock post-combining, but CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson were so much better that it probably affected his motivation to get in. beautiful. As for the mix, I can strongly argue that Stetson Bennett had a better overall performance than Levis. It was once thought that Levis, Stroud, Richardson, and Bryce Young could all take 1st place overall in the NFL draft, but sportsbooks no longer see it that way. Young (-190) is currently the favorite candidate to be BetMGM's first overall pick. Stroud (+400) and Richardson (+500) are behind Young, but Levis currently has the same odds as Alabama's runner Will Anderson (+1200). Kentucky has a later pro date (March 24), so Levis will have a chance to leave a lasting impression on teams that need the quarterback with picks at the top of the draft.

Jalin Hyatt - WR, Tennessee

I don't think "discount stock" is even the right term for the players I'm talking about, but more than that, they haven't lived up to the combined hype. Hyatt finished at an official 4.40 in the 40-yard run, which means he will still suck up a lot of defensive backs and take the lead. Many expect him to run at a low of 4.3 or closer to 4.2. However, some would consider him the second best receiver on his team behind Cedric Tillman. He entered the group with questions about whether he could run the full route and although he did nothing to harm himself there, he would not walk out of the group with any sound. What new wine? With recipients like Zay Flowers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Bryce Ford-Wheaton impressing, Hyatt will have to continue its game at Tennessee's pro day.

Kayshon Boutte - WR, LSU

The former five-star player probably didn't have the day he envisioned he would have at the NFL Combine. The 40-yard sprint in 4.50 seconds is certainly not the worst in the world, but he did say he expected to run in 4.3 seconds. Boutte couldn't reach 10 feet in his wide jump or 30 feet in his vertical jump. When it comes to playing football, none of this matters in the grand scheme of things, but we don't see him playing great football at LSU either. Boutte has managed to establish himself as one of the best collectors in this category, but for now, it will be difficult for him to be the Day 2 pick at this point. He'll get another chance to improve his inventory at LSU's pro day.

Tavion Thomas - RB, Utah

Thomas is 6 feet tall and weighs 237 pounds, but most who know him and his game know that he is an avid downhill runner. Some people feel like he was belittled and underestimated when he entered the league, but unfortunately not much has changed after Indianapolis. Thomas has had a tough year both on and off the pitch so I know he's worked hard to play well, it's just that the combination doesn't work. In every event he participated in, he finished last or runner-up in back runs. For a player who is in a bubble that is even drafted, anything helps. Thomas will certainly be looking to improve his numbers at Utah's pro day.

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