Finding Broncos: Combine Winners and Losers

The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is underway, and edge rushers took the field relatively early. With how their room was so banged up in 2022, the Denver Broncos could be looking for help at the position.

Measurements:

For edge rushers, length is important to help keep blockers off your body, with anything below 32-inch arms being a concern.

Winners:

Tuli Tuipulotu | USC:

There was some curiosity about where he would weigh in, as he was a big 280+ pound edge at USC but came in at 266 pounds to try and show he could stay on the edge.

Zach Harrison | Ohio State:

With 36-1/2-inch arms, it is impossible not to count Harrison as a winner. That is the third-longest measurement for edge defenders.

Ochaun Mathis | Nebraska:

Similarly to Harrison, measuring in with 35-1/2 inch arms makes it impossible not to count you a winner.

Tomi Adebawore | Northwestern:

With all his measurements, Adebawore put up good numbers with a good build on his frame and length.

Lukas Van Ness | Iowa:

Lukas Van Ness checked off all the boxes with his measurables.

Losers:

Will McDonald IV | Iowa State:

It was hopeful to see McDonald be over 245 pounds, but he checked in at 239, down three pounds from the Senior Bowl. However, he got sick over the past couple of days and lost some weight.

Lonnie Phelps | Kansas:

While his length isn't terrible, it is near that borderline at 6'2" and 32-3/8 inch arms.

Nick Herbig | Wisconsin:

Anything sub-32-inch arms are concerning, and Herbig measures in at 31-1/4 inches.

Isaiah Land | Florida A&M:

Land measured in at 236 pounds, and his length isn't ideal for holding up on the edge. He has been mentioned as moving off-ball, and his measurements could push that even more.

Noah Taylor | North Carolina:

Much like Land, Taylor is one being talked about moving to off-ball due to where he measured in.

Athletic Testing

The explosion testing is big for interior edge defenders. You want good jumps, and while the 40-yard dash overall isn't a big deal, the 10-yard split is. The winners and losers may not be the fastest or longest jump as the player's size is factored in.

40-yard dash:

Winner: Tomi Adebawore | Northwestern:

While he didn't have the fastest time, a 4.49 second time is outstanding for a player who weighed 282 pounds.

Loser: Tyler Lacy | Oklahoma State:

In this group, Lacy had the slowest time, which was one of the slowest times on the day in general.

10-yard split:

Winner: Nolan Smith | Georgia:

Smith had the fastest time of the group, but his 10-yard split was the fastest ever for an edge.

Loser: Tyler Lacy | Oklahoma State:

You can have a slow 40 and a decent split, but that wasn't the case with Lacy.

Vertical Jump:

Winner: Tomi Adebawore | Northwestern

Weighing 282 pounds and having a vertical of 37.5 inches is a great number.

Loser: Caleb Murphy | Ferris State

Ferris was tied with four others for the worst vertical of the group at 28.5 inches.

Broad Jump:

Winner: Byron Young | Tennessee

Young is explosive, and he made that clear with all of the athletic testing as he tied for the second-longest broad jump at 11 feet.

Loser: Andre Carter | Army

A 9-foot-1 broad jump isn't good enough. You want more lower body explosion than that.

3-Cone Drill:

Winner: Jose Ramirez | Eastern Michigan

Ramirez is quick and changes direction smoothly, reflected in his 6.95 second time.

Loser: Tyler Lacy | Oklahoma State

With a time of 7.6 seconds, Lacy wasn't as clean changing direction, and that isn't an ideal time.

20-yard Shuttle:

Winner: Lukas Van Ness | Iowa

While Ramirez had the fastest time, Lukas Van Ness did this drill in 4.32 seconds (Ramirez was 4.3 seconds), and Van Ness did it at 272 pounds.

Loser: Isaiah Land | Florida A&M

Land has questions about where he will play, but his time of 4.56 seconds isn't ideal for edge or off-ball.

What happens next on the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Position-Specific Drills:

The drills are where you want to see good technique, awareness, smooth moving, and the ability to listen to the coaches. There were nine drills run by the edge defenders, with eight mentioned.

Wave Drill:

Edges have to change direction constantly in the game. This drill is designed to test that.

Winner: Will McDonald IV | Iowa State

McDonald is such a smooth and effortless mover, and his change of direction is no different.

Loser: Brenton Cox Jr | Florida

Some of the footwork was clunky from Cox, and there were some wasted steps to gather himself to change direction.

4-bag Agility:

This is footwork and feel drill. You have four bags on the ground you want to avoid, as they simulate players. However, you must keep your head up while tracking the ball.

Winner: Joe Ramirez | Eastern Michigan

Ramirez was one of the best to do the drill on the day. He kept his head up, and his footwork was clean.

Loser: Mike Morris | Michigan

Morris ended up going through the drill twice and slipped both times.

Pass Rush:

This two-bag drill tests the bend at the top of the drop. Players want to stay low and tight.

Winner: Tomi Adebawore | Northwestern

Adebawore was quick and technically clean in this drill showing off his pass-rushing traits.

Loser: Isaiah Foskey | Notre Dame

Foskey is extremely stiff in the lower half, and when it came to bending the corner to finish the drill, that stiffness was evident.

Run and Club:

This drill tests chaining pass rush moves together as you maintain momentum throughout the rep.

Winner: Brenton Cox Jr | Florida

Cox had a good tempo through the rep and kept it up. While not perfect, the pass rush moves you are asked to do were quite clean from Cox.

Loser: Isaiah Foskey | Notre Dame

There was a lot of throttling down through the drill from Foskey, and his footwork wasn't clean. Also, again, he is pretty stiff.

Hoop Drill:

This drill is about staying low and tight to the hoops while showing bend to get down and grab a towel, then set it down.

Winner: Nick Hampton | Appalachian State

Hampton did this drill the best. He ran it at top speed with good bend and clean feet.

Loser: Caleb Murphy | Ferris State

It was rough from Murphy, who looked almost uncomfortable through the drill.

Body Control:

This drill is about keeping your body in control and not getting off-balanced while showing a quick reaction to the coach's direction.

Winner: Tomi Adebawore | Northwestern

The body control of Adebawore is insane, and you can see it on tape. So it isn't surprising he was clean in the drill.

Loser: Dylan Horton | TCU

On the opposite side, Horton can get a bit reckless with his play, which was reflected in the drill.

Back Pedal & React:

With how the NFL is, edge rushers must show their coverage ability. This drill tests their backpedal and how quickly and smoothly they can react.

Winner: Isaiah Land | Florida A&M

This was the cleanest drill of the day for Land, and he will see many teams talk even more about his move the off-ball.

Loser: Isaiah McGuire | Missouri

McGuire isn't an off-ball and clearly an edge that shouldn't be going backward. It was evident on tape and cemented in the drill.

Short Zone Breaks

Edge defenders will often cover those swing passes or quick outs. Those short and shallow routes. This drill tests their reaction to jump the throw and finish the play.

Winner: Robert Beal Jr | Georgia

Beal looked good in all the drills, but his smooth transition from backpedal to jumping the route was the best of the group.

Loser: Thomas Incoom | Central Michigan

There were some wasted steps the gather, and his backpedal was rough, even for an edge.

Overall

Winner: Tomi Adebawore | Northwestern

Tomi Adebawore had the best workout on the first day of the combine. He killed it with his athletic testing and was one of the best in each drill he did. m

Loser: Isaiah Foskey | Notre Dame

Foseky is so stiff, and every drill is caused him issues. He isn't a smooth mover and didn't test out well enough to overlook these issues.

Winner: Nolan Smith | Georgia

Despite not participating in the drills, Smith ran a blazing 40-time to remind folks about him in a deep edge class.

Loser: Tyler Lacy | Oklahoma State

Lacy weighs in at 279 pounds and will probably be asked to add about 10 pounds and be an interior defensive lineman, where he would be better suited.

Winner: Nick Hampton | Appalachian State

Hampton had a good day. He tested well, but his drills were good and showed off role versatility.

Loser: Caleb Murphy | Ferris State

A few small school prospects had a chance to shine, and Murphy fell flat.

Winner: Robert Beal Jr | Georgia

Beal had a good day, despite being in the shadow of his teammate Nolan Smith with what he did with the 40-yard dash. Beal had a chance to step out of the shadow in the drills, which Smith didn't partake in.

Loser: Keion White

White was a bit labored with his movement in drills, and his change of direction was rough to watch.

Winner: Jose Ramirez | Eastern Michigan

The smaller school prospect made it clear he is a legit prospect. He tested well and did a great job consistently in the drills.

Loser: Dylan Horton | TCU

Horton needed to show some technical refinement but fell flat on it.

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!

Add us as a preferred source on Google