The NFL Scouting Combine is this weekend which pulls us ever closer to the NFL Draft. Over 300 players are attending the Combine this year but I’ve narrowed that down to the top 5 players to watch at each position. That doesn’t mean the top 5 best prospects, but the ones to keep your eye on with the most to prove.
QB:
Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
As polarizing of a player we’ve had in the Draft in a long time. Murray can help his stock out to launch him into a potential first overall pick if he does well.
Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Haskins is trying to prove he deserves to be the first quarterback taken over Murray. A big weekend can help him prove that.
Daniel Jones, Duke
Opinions on Jones’ draft stock seem to be all over the place. He needs to prove he can throw the ball with strength and accuracy.
Drew Lock, Missouri
Lock has apparently impressed several teams to the point where he is now in contention to be the first quarterback taken. I’m not a fan, but Lock needs to prove to those teams that he’s better than the others.
Will Grier, West Virginia
I’m a bigger fan of Grier than most, so I’m very interested to see how he looks this weekend. I still believe he can go in the first round and if he performs well this weekend, he can convince a team.
RB:
Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Jacobs has been one of the biggest risers at any position this year in terms of draft stock. Most teams don’t like taking a running back early in the first, but Jacobs can make a team pull the trigger early if he does well.
Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
Anderson worries teams in the fact that he might be injury prone after several big time injuries in college, most recently a knee injury keeping him out of most of this year. Anderson needs to prove he’s bounced back and is ready to go for 2019.
David Montgomery, Iowa State
Montgomery appears to be a third-round pick but with some talk of making a big rise on draft weekend. He was great at Iowa State and this weekend he can show teams he’s ready to be their feature back of the future.
Darrell Henderson, Memphis
Henderson flew under the radar most of the year despite a great season. Performing well at the Combine can launch him up a round or two.
Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic
Singletary faces a similar situation as Henderson and can benefit a lot from a good weekend at the Combine. Singletary didn’t face very tough competition at Florida Atlantic, but he can be one of those later round prospects that, put in the right position with the right team, can excel in the NFL.
WR:
DK Metcalf, Ole Miss
Yes, that picture of Metcalf a few weeks ago does play a part in him being the top ranked receiver I’m looking forward to watching. It will be interesting to see how Metcalf runs with his increased size. There is such a thing as being too big.
Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Brown is the speedster of the class, but I’m more interested in how he performs in other drills than the 40. Brown still needs to prove that he can be an all-around receiver than just a deep threat.
AJ Brown, Ole Miss
Brown was my top ranked receiver in this class before the season began, but I wasn’t impressed to see him play this year. There are questions regarding Brown’s ability as a route runner and he needs to answer those questions this weekend.
Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
Butler is still slightly underrated, but I think he could potentially go late round one. A good weekend could make that a reality.
Andy Isabella, Massachusetts
Isabella has been the highest rising receiver in this class since the beginning of the year and he’ll likely continue that rise this weekend. He’s viewed as a speedy slot receiver at the next level, but I want to see his full arsenal of abilities this weekend.
TE:
TJ Hockenson, Iowa
The Iowa tight ends were in a battle all season for the top spot, but Hockenson is more of a well-rounded tight end than Fant. Hockenson will likely solidify his case for being taken in the first round.
Noah Fant, Iowa
Fant looks like more of a big receiver than a true tight end, the main reason why Hockenson edges him out as a prospect. But a strong weekend can land him back into the first round in April.
Irv Smith, Alabama
Smith seems to be slightly forgotten behind Hockenson and Fant, but he could still potentially be selected in the first round. Smith will show off his athleticism and could throw a wrench into this tight end race.
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
Nauta didn’t have a very productive career at Georgia, but mainly because their offense has been going through the likes of Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and Elijah Holyfield. A good weekend can put Nauta into round two talks.
Kaden Smith, Stanford
Smith has been overlooked in this tight end class this year but he will look to prove this weekend that he deserves to be an early round selection.
OL:
Jonah Williams, Alabama
The biggest question for Williams is whether he should play guard or tackle at the next level due to his arm length. He will know for sure this weekend what that length is, but regardless I think he will excel at tackle in the NFL.
Jawaan Taylor, Florida
Taylor has been receiving a lot of hype recently with some reports saying he can be a top-10 pick. I still don’t think he’s even a first rounder, but I’m excited to see what he can do.
Dalton Risner, Kansas State
Risner played tackle throughout college but I think he’ll bump inside to guard in the NFL. He had a great Senior Bowl which pushed him back into late round one talk.
Cody Ford, Oklahoma
Ford has been a huge riser this year and could be the second tackle taken behind Williams. He needs to have a good weekend to lock that in.
Andre Dillard, Washington State
Dillard also had a great Senior Bowl week and is making a strong push behind Ford. Dillard has great athleticism which he’ll showcase at the Combine; his technique his is bigger question mark.
DL:
Rashan Gary, Michigan
Gary doesn’t have all of the tools just yet, but he has one of the highest potentials of anyone in this draft. He’s an athletic big man who can play outside or inside, and is Combine should be fun to watch.
Ed Oliver, Houston
Oliver was looked at as a lock as a top 3 pick for most of the past year up until midway through the season. He is highly athletic and will show it off this weekend in hopes of climbing back up the board.
Josh Allen, Kentucky
Allen was one of the biggest risers across all positions in this draft class. He’s a quick and athletic EDGE rusher and should shine at the Combine this weekend.
Jachai Polite, Florida
Polite had a high rise in the middle of the season but has seen his stock taper off recently. An athletic and long EDGE rusher, he’s now viewed as a late round one selection, but a good weekend can push him back up.
Brian Burns, Florida State
The biggest question with Burns is his size. He’s looked at by teams as being too skinny, but highly athletic. Burns needs to prove to teams this weekend that his size shouldn’t be a concern.
LB:
Devin White, LSU
White is one of the most athletic players in this class. He’s been pushing to lock himself into a top 10 lick, and he can make that happen with a good weekend.
Devin Bush, Michigan
Another highly athletic linebacker, Bush could find himself taken as high as mid-round one, or low as mid-round two. My guess is Bush will perform well at the Combine and get selected in round one.
Mack Wilson, Alabama
Wilson is in a similar position as Bush, and they’re fairly similar players. I like Wilson a bit better, but he needs to show off his athleticism this weekend.
Te’Von Coney, Notre Dame
After White, Wilson and Bush, the linebacker group falls off a bit. Coney is one of the players that can fill that gap between tier one and tier two linebackers.
TJ Edwards, Wisconsin
Edwards had a surprising season where he rose a few rounds. I like him as an early round three pick, but a good weekend can push him up a bit.
CB:
Greedy Williams, LSU
Williams is one of my favorite players in this draft class. He’s a ball-hawk with great athleticism and instincts and he should have a great Combine weekend.
Julian Love, Notre Dame
Love is at the top of the tier two group of cornerbacks. He’s most likely a round two selection but a good weekend and a need for cornerbacks can push him into the back end of round one.
Deandre Baker, Georgia
Baker looks poised to have one of the best Combine performances of anyone in this draft class. He’s very athletic and I think a good weekend can lock him into a top 15 pick.
Rock Ya-Sin, Temple
Another huge riser, Ya-Sin really came to light at the Senior Bowl. Once a fourth-round prospect, he’s pushed himself into round two discussions.
Lonnie Johnson, Kentucky
Johnson is a long and athletic cornerback that should excel at the Combine. Teams are starting to lean more towards the longer cornerbacks and Johnson could see his draft stock reflect that.
S:
Taylor Rapp, Washington
Rapp is another one of my favorite players in this class. His draft stock has been up and down, but right now it is trending way up just in time for the Combine.
Nasir Adderley, Delaware
Adderley is one of the best small-school prospects in this draft class. He’s currently a mid-second round prospect, but a good performance at the Combine could result in his stock continuing to rise.
Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
Abram is a hard-hitting safety who likes to play downhill in the box. He’s still an athletic safety though, and he’s looking to remind people that he can do it all.
Juan Thornhill, Virginia
Thornhill hasn’t been a household name this season at safety. But his athleticism and potential at the next level will be showed off this weekend.
Deionte Thompson, Alabama
For some reason it seems like Thompson’s stock has been pushed out of the first round. I still view him as a top 15 prospect and I hope he has a good weekend to remind people of just how good he is.