The first day of the NFL Combine was dedicated to the defensive linemen and linebackers, and the group did not disappoint.
Top prospects such as Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham did not participate in the athletic portion due to injuries, but their high draft status means they were unlikely to risk it further. This gave an opportunity for some of the lesser-known prospects in this group to make their mark. Some took full advantage and saw their draft stock rise substantially, while others failed to stand out from the crowd.
Here are some of the best showings from the first day of the combine, as well as a couple of clunkers:
Winner: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee is another edge rusher worthy of praise for his performance, but he was already expected to be selected in the top ten of the draft. After Thursday, Stewart has entrenched himself into that conversation as well.
Emerging as one of the top players at the Senior Bowl, Stewart carried that momentum to the combine. Stewart hit a broad jump of ten feet and eleven inches to pace the edge rusher group, as well as finishing second-highest in the vertical jump (40 inches) and third-fastest in the 40-yard dash (4.59 seconds). While a hamstring tweak ended his day after his first attempt in the 40-yard dash, Stewart had shown all he needed to by the time that happened.
Expect every mock draft from now to draft day to have Stewart in the top 15, if not the top ten picks.
Winner: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Another edge rusher with something to prove, Jackson seized the moment with several of the top-ranked prospects foregoing the athletic portion.
Standing at six-foot-six and weighing in at 264 pounds, Jackson proved his explosiveness with a position-high 40.5 inches. It was the highest mark achieved by a 260-pound-plus prospect since Myles Garrett hit 41 inches in 2017, showcasing the athleticism Jackson put on display. He was more than just a one-trick pony, however, as he put together a 4.68 second 40-yard dash and ten foot, nine inch broad jump.
Jackson is a safe bet to be off the board by the second round, and it would not be a surprise to see him sneak into the first.
Loser: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Whatever first-round hope Walker had left after an underwhelming season is completely gone after a disappointing combine.
His six-foot-seven, 341 pound frame made Walker a prospect worth watching in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, he showed no athletic edge over the other nose tackles available in the class. Walker did not participate in the 40-yard dash, and the events he did participate in (25-inch vertical jump, 10 foot, 4 inch broad jump) were among the lowest in the position group.
The roles available to Walker early in his NFL career have started to diminish, and he now has to rely on his Pro Day to separate himself in a loaded defensive tackle group.
Winner: C.J. West, DT, Indiana
While Walker has continued his freefall, West has enjoyed the opposite trajectory as one of the fastest risers on defense.
Sporting a six-foot-one, 316-pound frame, West looked like a man weighing fifty pounds lighter. A 4.95 40-yard dash and 33-inch vertical jump showcased his speed and explosiveness, and he reportedly looked the part during the on-field drills. West’s frame and athletic measurements earned him comparisons to the Green Bay Packers’ Kenny Clark, one of the better nose tackles in the league.
Teams seeking size and run-stuffing ability on their defensive line will circle West as a mid-round sleeper.
Winner: Teddye Buchanan, LB, Cal
UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger was a big winner after coming in closer to prototypical linebacker size, but Buchanan gets the nod for his unheralded status coming into the combine.
A transfer from FCS program UC Davis, Buchanan’s measurements of six-foot-two and 233 pounds fit what the modern NFL looks for in an off-ball linebacker. Combine that with a 40-inch vertical jump and ten-foot-five broad jump, and the athleticism speaks for itself. Buchanan has the makings of a three-down linebacker at the next level, and the combine certainly earned him some more fans in the scouting community.
Buchanan was considered a potential Day 3 steal before Thursday, but he now has a realistic chance of going on Day 2.
Loser: Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss
Paul is a player whose tape against top-tier SEC competition checks out, but most people probably suspected the combine would drop his value somewhat.
Paul was expected as one of the smaller linebackers in the class, but the concerning measurement was his arms coming in at less than 30 inches, well below prototypical wingspan. His athleticism was all over the place, doing okay in some events while struggling in others. For a player who was already up against it to make a positive impact, it was not the day for Paul to not produce his best work.
With clear size issues and athleticism below expectations, scouts have to be feeling less sure about Paul than they did a month ago.
