The annual NFL Scouting Combine brought together 272 of the top collegiate prospects last week to test and evaluate their skills. Top prospects like Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq and Spencer Fano (to name a few) all participated and even exceeded expectations at this year’s combine. Undoubtedly, they proved their worthiness as potential first-round picks.
However, we also got to see a handful of under-the-radar players attempt to put themselves on the radar, so to speak. In the spirit of highlighting those players and using the NFL’s latest product launch – NFL IQ – we can take a look at which of these under-the-radar players might have boosted their draft stock with solid combine performances.
An introduction to NFL IQ
One of the many features of NFL IQ is a comprehensive look at incoming NFL prospects using the same types of data, tools and contextual signals that modern scouting and football operations staffs use to evaluate talent and build rosters. When it comes to the NFL Scouting Combine, users can explore combine leaderboards, prospect evaluations and Next Gen Stats Draft Scores, all of which provide context for their performances in Indianapolis.
NFL IQ grades prospects in three categories both before and after the NFL Scouting Combine: athleticism, production, and overall (the aforementioned draft score). All combine scores referenced below come from NFL IQ, and are grouped as follows:
- Elite (90-99)
- Good (75-89)
- Average (60-74)
- Below Average (50-59)
Top 10 draft score jumps
Below is a (non-comprehensive) list of some of the players who came into the combine as a mid-to-lower profile prospect and are coming out with the biggest draft score jumps on NFL IQ.
Note: None of these players were listed on Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 prospects 2.0, which was published on Feb. 23 ahead of the combine.
Few people turned heads at the combine the way that Washington did. He entered the combine with a draft score of 57 and left with a 71, marking a 14-point jump. Not only did he have the best 40-yard dash time by a running back (4.33s), but he earned an athleticism score of 92, which also ranked first among all participating running backs. For a prospect who was not high enough on the radar to make Chad Reuter’s three-round mock draft from early February, these numbers are outstanding.
Lawrence came in as a mid-range prospect with a draft score of 67 but stood out across all of his drills, boosting his score to a 73. Following the combine, Zierlein called Lawrence “an NFL-caliber edge rusher.” He had the third-fastest 40-yard dash time among all edge rushers (4.52s), the second-highest vertical jump (40 inches) and the second-best broad jump (10 feet, 10 inches), all of which earned him an athleticism score of 86 that led all edge rushers. It’s worth noting that he was not featured in Reuter’s mock draft pre-combine, but Reuter himself wrote afterwards that Lawrence's combine showing should put him “squarely in the Day 2 conversation.” Following the combine, Lawrence was featured in Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 prospects 3.0 at No. 43 – a big climb from being previously unranked.
The linebacker out of Texas Tech showed out in every drill in Indianapolis. He came in with a draft score of 71, which he boosted to a 79 by the end of combine, ranking fourth among all linebackers. He led all linebackers in Indy in both the shuttle run (4.19s) and the three-cone drill (6.9s) and ranked sixth in the 40-yard dash (4.57s). He was initially tabbed as a late second-round pick in Reuter’s mock draft, though he could move up a few spots after putting up the second-highest athleticism score (86) among his position group. In Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 prospects 3.0, which he penned following the combine, Rodriguez was slotted at No. 45 overall, after missing the first two iterations of that list.
The North Dakota State wide receiver came into the combine with a draft score of 78 and finished on top of all participating wide receivers with an 86. He was one of two receivers to finish with an athleticism score of 99 (max score) thanks to a 4.34s 40-yard dash (5th), 41.5-inch vertical (3rd) and an 11-foot-1-inch broad jump (3rd). NFL analyst Chad Reuter wrote that his combine showing may give him “a chance” to be a top-75 pick come April.
The Stanford product entered the combine with a draft score of 66, which ranked 22nd among the 27 tight ends invited to Indianapolis. He went home with a draft score of 75, seventh among the 18 participating tight ends. He performed well in his combine drills, but his real weapon is the 6-foot-6, 267-pound build that makes him a perfect candidate for a solid blocking tight end. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote, “While his catch production might draw questions, his size, toughness and pro-ready blocking profile could push him into Day 2 consideration.”
Thomas had the lowest pre-combine draft score of all receivers (55), but he had the biggest draft-score jump of any prospect across all positions, leaving Indy with a 69. His 4.28s 40-yard dash, which ranked third at the combine overall, immediately boosted his stock alongside his solid showing in receiver drills. Chad Reuter wrote, “his speed and kick/punt return experience adds to his value as a likely Day 3 pick.”
Out of the 25 tackle prospects invited to the combine, Cruz ranked 24th with a draft score of 64. He jumped up to 14th (71) following a solid showing in Indy that included a 4.94s 40-yard dash (4th), 35.5-inch vertical (1st) and 9-foot-8-inch broad jump (1st). He earned an athleticism score of 90 (2nd) and was the only tackle not featured in DJ’s Top 50 prospects to earn an “elite” athleticism score.
The Stephen F. Austin cornerback entered the combine with a draft score of 72, which ranked 14th among cornerback prospects. He left as the second-ranked corner with a draft score of 79 and an athleticism score of 88, which led all corners. He posted fantastic numbers across the board: a 4.41s 40-yard dash (4th), a 42-inch vertical (2nd) and an 11-foot broad jump (2nd). He was slotted as the 99th overall pick in Reuter’s mock draft, but may have earned higher consideration after an impressive showing.
Gusta had the biggest jump among all defensive tackles. He came to Indy with a draft score of 65 and went home with a 72. Gusta was the only defensive tackle who earned an “elite” athleticism score (91) thanks in part to a speedy 4.88s 40-yard dash that ranked fifth among all defensive tackles. While he was not considered a top prospect or mocked to go in the first three rounds, he showed potential worth noting.
Caldwell sat right in the middle of the wide receiver rankings prior to the combine with a draft score of 72. Then, he came to the combine and posted a 4.31s 40-yard dash (4th), a 42-inch vertical (2nd) and an 11-foot-2-inch broad jump (2nd), boosting his draft score to 79. Earning scores in the upper echelon of all three categories landed him an athleticism score of 99 -- one of just two wide receivers to achieve that mark. He also happens to be the tallest wide receiver of all prospects at 6-foot-5, which doesn’t hurt.