NFL Combine Day 1: Defensive Linemen and Linebackers Performance Notes
The defensive linemen and linebackers took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for their workouts before the gathered NFL scouts, coaching staff, and decision-makers. In evaluating these position groups, among the things one looks for are explosiveness testing and size measurements.
I thought defensive lineman Braden Fisk (Florida State) showed well. From the beginning of Senior Bowl week through the NFL Combine, I’m not sure a single prospect has helped himself more than Fiske has. Fiske weighed 292 pounds, slightly lighter than his listed playing weight of 295 pounds.
The elite testing numbers like Fiske put up, combined with the film he put out this past season, have likely pushed his stock up to being an earlier pick on Day 2 than first thought.
Another big-time riser this offseason has been defensive lineman Darius Robinson (Missouri). Robinson put on a clinic during Senior Bowl week and continued opening eyes in Indianapolis. It should also be noted that Robinson has reportedly been crushing team interviews.
Robinson's explosive testing numbers don’t carry over as well if you look at him as a defensive end, but he’s likely to play all over the defensive line as a chess piece. Robinson’s testing numbers and play style are similar to Denico Autry of the Titans, a player with whom new Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is familiar.
Another winner from this workout group is Edge Jalyx Hunt (Houston Christian). Not exactly a household name, Hunt had himself a day during the workouts.
These numbers will likely be good enough to convince a team to take a swing on him late on Day 3. Going from unknown to working yourself into the end of the draft? That’s a big win there.
One more winner to note is defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro (Clemson). Orhorhoro is another who had a strong day of testing, something he was always going to need to test well to keep himself high on teams' draft boards, and he did just that.
Orhorhoro’s explosive numbers are among the best the combine has seen for interior defensive linemen, helping his case as a high-upside athlete.
There were several who didn't test as well among the defensive linemen and linebackers. Defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson (Texas A&M) is one such prospect.
Jackson would always be a player who wouldn’t be looked at favorably due to his height (6-1.5). He’s got just 16th percentile height with 89th percentile weight and now has combine testing numbers that aren’t exactly favorable.
Jackson seemed more explosive on film than his testing indicates, but his confirmed lack of height could take him off some team's boards. His weight is fine, but it’s not unreasonable to expect some teams to want him to cut weight in hopes that it helps him become more dynamic for a potential move to 3-technique.
Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr (Clemson) also had a rough showing. It might sound hard to fall when barely doing any tests, but Trotter found a way to do it. Measuring in at 6 feet and 228 pounds, Trotter is a short, stout linebacker who needed strong testing numbers to help alleviate some questions teams might have had about him.
A 7.13-second 3-cone drill and 4.4 20-yard shuttle, 51st percentile and 25th percentile, respectively, made Trotter’s day unimpressive. His film is strong, but measurables, including just 25th percentile arm length, could move him down team boards as they project long-term success.
Edge Javon Solomon (Troy) is another prospect who didn't have a good day. There have been three EDGEs in the past decade to measure in at 6’⅞” or shorter at the NFL Combine or Pro Days. Of those three, two were late-Day 3 picks (one of whom was moved to fullback), and one was an undrafted free agent.
Solomon is a better prospect than the others were, but the NFL usually faults players who are physically outliers in a negative way.
Finally, we have defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III (Miami). Taylor didn’t have a horrible day, but he was just “meh.”
Measurables are average across the board on a day where multiple defensive linemen had “wow” days. With how inconsistent his tape is, there had to be hopes that his athleticism would help him this week, but that didn't appear to be the case.
