NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah has updated his rankings of the NFL draft's top 50 prospects in the wake of the NFL Scouting Combine, and the risers and fallers are many. Here are three notables from each category:
Three risers
1. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
Previous ranking: 14
Current ranking: 7
The skinny: Evans' 4.53 clocking in the 40-yard dash at the combine did nothing but help him move up draft boards, perhaps solidifying himself as the No. 2 receiver chosen in the draft after Clemson's Sammy Watkins. Some expected Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin to equate with Evans, and it didn't happen.
2. Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Previous ranking: 30
Current ranking: 14
The skinny: Donald showed speed and explosiveness at the combine the likes of which are rarely seen in a 285-pound defensive tackle, and drew comparisons to one of the NFL's top defensive linemen in Cincinnati's Geno Atkins. His 3-cone drill (7.11) and 40-yard dash (4.68) times ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, among all defensive linemen.
3. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
Previous ranking: 40
Current ranking: 19
The skinny: Beckham not only showed impressive speed (4.43) at the combine but was outstanding with his hands and route-running skills. His 3.94 20-yard shuttle time was third among all receivers. Beckham's 21-spot jump on Jeremiah's rankings was the biggest jump forward of any prospect.
Three fallers
1. Cyrus Kouandjio, OL, Alabama
Previous ranking: 28
Current ranking:43
The skinny: The Crimson Tide left tackle drops 15 spots after running the slowest 40-yard dash of the combine (5.59) amid reports of knee concerns. Fortunately for Kouandjio, the 40-yard dash isn't much of a predictor when it comes to offensive linemen. His 3-cone drill time, a better indicator, was a middling 7.71.
2. Timmy Jernigan, DL, Florida State
Previous ranking: 6
Current ranking:15
The skinny: Still considered by Jeremiah as a mid-first round value, it's not as if Jernigan's nine-spot drop was overly precipitous. Unless you are talking about the potential dollars involved: Last year's No. 6 pick (Barkevious Mingo) signed for $16 million. The No. 15 pick (Kenny Vaccaro) signed for less than $10 million. Jernigan ran a 5.06 40 at the combine, among the bottom half of the defensive linemen, but drew praise from NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp.
3. Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech
Previous ranking: 25
Current ranking:35
The skinny: Amaro ran the fifth-fastest 40 time among tight ends (4.74), although that was a far cry from the best (4.50, Tennessee State's A.C. Leonard), and some, including NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock, expected a better time. Jeremiah's drop for Amaro would represent the difference between a late-first round pick and an early second rounder.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
