Welcome to the eighth volume of The End Zone Report, where we talk about anything and everything football. In today’s report we are talking about the winners and losers from the NFL draft combine.
Every year, the NFL’s draft combine is one of the most important locations for NFL scouts to look at possible draftees. Some prospects put on a show, while others struggle to perform up to game film. So while the combine can heavily boost a prospect’s stock by showing off their athleticism and finer points to their game, it can also tank a prospect whose expectations ended up being higher than reality.
The first winner of the NFL combine is Nick Emmanwori, a strong safety out of South Carolina. Draft hype has been picking up on Emmanwori over the past month or so, as more and more of his game tape has been televised for all to see. Standing at 6’3” and 220 lbs, everybody knew Emmanwori was athletic, yet reserved some expectations considering his size. Nobody at his height and weight should be able to jump 43” into the sky and run 4.38s on the 40-yard dash, yet he did.
Emmanwori’s fluid running and powerful jumping threw his stock up in the sky, leaving most wondering, where will he be drafted? I think that, based on pure talent and intangibles alone, Emmanwori should be a top-ten pick. However, game film seems to speak otherwise to an extent, so expect him to be a mid-to-late first-round pick.
The first loser of the NFL combine is Isiah Bond, a “speedy” wide receiver out of Texas. I put “speedy” in quotes because his combine performance seemed to show otherwise. While Bond was known for his incredible, game-breaking speed during his time in college, his 40-yard time fell short of expectations. Bond ran a 4.39, miles short of his prediction that he would break the record.
While Bond still has his pro-day to perform for NFL scouts, expect his draft stock to topple. I think that, based on talent, he should be drafted in the second round, but he could fall into the third round.
The second winner of the NFL combine is actually Bond’s teammate, Matthew Golden, another wide receiver out of Texas. Golden is known for being a fluid route-runner, a player whose craft is on show every time he is on the field. During the college football playoffs, nobody was taken aback by his speed, but rather his fluidity and smooth motions as he sliced open defenses. That all changed at the combine, where he ran a blistering 4.29s and showed scouts that he has the athletic components to succeed in the NFL.
If I were an NFL scout, I would be salivating over the chance to draft Golden as the potential WR4 on the board. Yet, that may all change, as he could have leapfrogged Luther Burden III and Emeka Egbuka in the rankings to become the second-best wide receiver in the class. I think he goes in the first round to a team that could use a true complementary receiver. That is not a dig at his ability by any means, rather just focusing on his route-running over his ability to get jump-balls. He is still behind Tetairoa McMillan, but don’t be surprised if he surpasses him in the rankings.
The second loser of the NFL draft combine is Will Howard. Howard was never anybody’s first quarterback, or second, or probably third or fourth, yet he was expected to put on a show at the combine to boost his draft stock. If Howard wanted to show scouts that he could have more upside than Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe, then he would have utilized his opportunity to hit receivers in stride and accurately target short routes.
All hope is never lost for a national championship winner. In the big game, Howard was surgical and showed NFL scouts that he could succeed in the league. If he can put on another show similar to that during his pro-day, he has a third-round upside. However, do not expect him to start or even be a second-string QB for any team anytime soon.
The third and final winner of the NFL combine is James Pearce Jr, an edge-rusher out of Tennessee. Pearce’s physical attributes are tantalizing. His production at Tennessee was subpar at best. That all changed during the combine. After running a 4.47 during the 40-yard-dash—at 6’5” and 245 lbs I might add—Pearce dominated the bag drills and showed scouts that he has more than physical production.
James Pearce Jr. was always going to be a first-round pick, but his draft stock was stumbling throughout the season. Now it has to be confirmed. Pearce should definitely be a top-15 pick, and if not, any team that gets him has a starter right away at one of the most crucial defensive positions.
The third and final loser of the NFL combine is Will Campbell. In terms of performance, he once again performed like a top-ten pick. In terms of size, not so much. Campbell is small. He is really small. That is not just his actual size, but more specifically his arm length, the most important attribute for an offensive lineman.
However, he should still be a top-ten pick. Sometimes the intangibles may not be there, but the talent is. That wraps up the eighth volume of the End Zone Report. Keep an eye out for the next one.
