NFL Combine

Good morning. Another NFL Combine is in the books. This is where everyone falls in love with the metrics and forgets about the actual on field performance. Exhibit A is Anthony Richardson from UF. Broke the internet on Saturday with some amazing athletic measurements…but did you watch him play this year?? Some GM will go all in and think they can coach him up but this pick comes with quite a bit of risk.

Franchise Tags

Tags are due by March 7th. Pollard and Jacobs are rumored to be tagged. Lamar Jackson leads a number of big names heading for the franchise tag.

• Lamar Jackson BAL

• Saquan Barkley NYG or Daniel Jones NYG

• Evan Engram JAX

• Geno Smith SEA

Free Agency Dates:

• Feb 21 - Mar 7th - Clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players

• March 13-15 - Free Agency negotiation Period

• March 15th at 4:00 pm. Free Agency begins

TRIVIA

What is the fastest 40-yard dash time ever at the NFL combine?

Combine Nuggets

• QB - Not as deep as advertised

  • CJ Stroud is the best QB in the draft. Chicago should trade Justin Fields and take CJ. They can build with picks and will have plenty of money with a QB on a rookie deal for a few years. Great feet, quick release and the accuracy is off the charts.

  • Bryce Young is way too small. 5-10 204 with a very small frame does not project well at the NFL level.

  • Richardson may sell some tickets but a long shot to develop into an NFL QB.

  • Will Levis has the size and arm strength. Too many mistakes at UK. I see Andy Dalton at best here as a comp.

• RB - Overall a deep group and plenty of talented free agents - could see some big names fighting for jobs

  • Bijan Robinson is consensus #1 RB - The way RBs get pushed down the draft board, we may see a very good team get better.

  • Jahmyr Gibbs 4.36 40. Looked as good or better than Bijan on Sunday.

  • Not as excited about Zach Charbonnet or Kenny McIntosh

  • Good performances by Tyjae Spears and 5’ 6ish Deuce Vaughn. Remember Darren Sproles?

• WR - Not an elite class but a large class for sure.

  • Who is Matt Landers? 6-4 200 with a 4.37 40 time - Smaller framed DK Metcalf. Transferred 3x but he is on everyone’s radar now.

  • AT Perry has great hands and good size at 6-3 198 and ran a 4.47.

  • Zay Flowers and Josh Downs look to fit in well in the slot - comp Tyler Lockett.

  • Not a fan of Jaxon Smith-Njigba but he has great short quickness

  • Cedric Tillman - I see hands as a concern but others like him quite a bit.

• TE - Always tough to evaluate TE’s after watching the WR group.

  • Michael Mayer is the #1 on most everyone’s list but he is a power TE with great blocking skills. Looked slow on Saturday even slower than his 4.71 40 time.

  • Sam LaPorta looked the most athletic and has great hands. Only 6-3 245?? Love the tape.

News & Notes:

• Some chatter about Mac Jones to LV in a trade per ESPN.

• Carson Wentz cut by WAS - Will another team take a chance??

• Dolphins exploring all options at QB per Josina Anderson, CBS.

• 49ers have interest in Baker Mayfield per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

ANSWER

^{John Ross, WR, 2017: 4.22 seconds.}