What Lions Can Learn From Day 1 of 2024 Combine
The NFL Combine officially got underway Thursday with the first day of on-field drills.
Defensive linemen and linebackers were the two position groups taking the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, displaying their skills in front of all 32 teams including general manager Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions.
Here are five takeaways from the first day of drills at the Scouting Combine.
Chop Robinson's speed dazzles
Heading into the combine, Penn State's Chop Robinson had been viewed as a fringe first-round prospect. He didn't have eye-popping production in college, with just 9.5 sacks in two years, but his athleticism pops on tape.
Robinson was flying in the 40-yard dash, running a 4.49 on his first attempt. That mark finished second. He did this despite weighing in at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, verifying what many thought about his abilities as an athlete.
Additionally, he popped with a 34.5" vertical jump and a 4.25 20-yard shuttle. There will be questions about his arm length and ability to maneuver against bigger blockers, but Robinson certainly helped his case with his performance on Thursday.
Fiske rising after impressive showing
No player on the field Thursday may have had a better day than Fiske, who showed out during his drills. Considered to be a Day Two pick, the Florida State product boosted his popularity immensely with his performance across the board.
He finished as the leader at the defensive tackle position in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard shuttle. Viewed mostly as a run-stuffer at the college level, Fiske proved he's a good enough athlete to be a threat as a pass-rusher.
Fiske ran a 4.74 40, which was outstanding after he weighed in at 292 pounds. He's a superb athlete and most certainly helped his chances of being taken early in April's Draft.
Texas teammates surge
Texas teammates Byron Murphy II and T'Vondre Sweat both have claims to be among the top interior defensive line prospects in the Draft. Each had solid showings in their on-field opportunities Thursday.
For Murphy, his performance lived up to the hype. He was billed as one of the better athletes in the position group, and he met that by running 4.88 in the 40-yard dash, with a 1.65 10-yard split.
While Sweat's tests weren't as impressive, he still showed that he can move well for his size. At 6-foot-4, 366 pounds, he ran a 5.27 40-yard dash.
Murphy is viewed as one of the best tackles in the Draft and will likely hold on to that billing, while Sweat is a fringe first rounder. Both players helped their stock on Thursday.
Dallas Turner is top EDGE prospect
For as good as Robinson was Thursday, Alabama's Dallas Turner was the top performing EDGE prospect. Turner showcased elite explosiveness and speed, staking his case to be the first defender off the board in April.
With a 4.46 40-yard dash, a 40.5" vertical jump and a 10'7" broad jump, Turner proved that his athletic ability is already at a high level, even by NFL standards.
With 22.5 sacks in his college career, Turner has shown that he can be a significant contributor off the edge. His athletic ability will certainly translate well at the professional level, and he's a clear early winner from Indianapolis.
Wilson among top linebacker performers
With multiple top linebacker prospects electing not to test, it was an open field for other prospects to headline the group in on-field drills. Among the biggest beneficiaries was N.C. State's Payton Wilson.
He won the 40-yard dash at his position with a 4.43 showing. The N.C. State product with over 400 tackles in his college career helped his cause with this showing. He also produced a 9'11" broad jump and a 34.5" vertical.
Wilson is viewed as a middle-round pick, but made the most of his chance to impress with multiple top linebacker prospects electing not to run on Thursday.
