NFL Draft: Jason Spriggs Rising Up NFL Draft Boards

I warn you now, this is a nfl combine overreaction. However, it’s hard to overlook such an impressive performance by Jason Spriggs. How impressive you ask? Jason Spriggs posted the best numbers among all offensive tackle in this class in four of the five major events he competed in. Digging deeper, he posted very similar numbers to some of the highest drafted offensive tackles in the last several years.

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40 yard dash: 4.94 (Best in class)

Bench press: 31 reps (Best in class)

Broad jump: 115.0

Three cone drill: 7.70 (Best in class)

20 yard shuttle: 4.44 (Best in class)

Entering the combine, Spriggs was projected by most to be a second round pick. However, putting these kind of physical tools on display is bound to increase his draft stock. Now I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go in the middle of the first round. These are the kind of workout numbers you’d expect to see from a top ten pick. In fact, Spriggs numbers are shockingly close to that of guys like Eric Fisher (who was drafted first overall in 2013) and Taylor Lewan (who was drafted eleventh overall in 2014).

Anyone who has watched Spriggs play should have expected him to move pretty well at the combine. He is flexible enough to get to the second level of the defense with ease and quick enough to beat his man off the line and get into their pads before they can stop him. Even knowing how athletic Sprigs is, I didn’t expect him to put up the type of numbers that he did.

Spriggs had a faster 40 yard dash time at the combine than Eric Fisher, who was praised for his outstanding athleticism, did. Spriggs also had a faster time in the 20 yard shuttle than Tatlor Lewan, another guy who showed outstanding athleticism at the combine. This is to say that when it comes quickness and more importantly the quickness of his feet, Spriggs looks like he could be the best combination of these three guys.

Where Spriggs stands out above both Fisher and Lewan is in his upper body strength. Fisher put up 27 reps on the bench in 2013. Lewan put up 29 reps in 2014. Spriggs bested them both at his combine with 31 reps in his bench press. Unlike Fisher and Lewan, Spriggs proved to be stronger than any other offensive tackle in his draft class.

His showing on the bench press was particularly important for Spriggs. Not only will being the strongest OT in this class, stronger than Fisher and Lewan were, help his draft stock, but it also helps to answer some of the questions many had about Spriggs’ strength. His strength and physicality at the point of attack was his only significant weakness on film. If he has gotten stronger in his preparation for the combine and assuming this workout strength will translate to the field, Spriggs could be a much better NFL prospect than initially thought.

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