NFL Scouting Combine: Biggest winners and losers of day one

The NFL scouting combine concluded its first day of action with the running backs, offensive linemen and specialists all getting their work in.

Like every year there were performances that were expected and others that were genuine shocks. Also as is often the case, draft stocks swung big in both directions. Players you thought might go high are sinking while previous unknowns have begun unexpected rises. It’s one of the reasons people love watching the combine so much. It’s amazing to think such basic drills can have such a drastic impact on a young man’s future.

With that in mind, who were the big winners and losers of the action?

Winners:

Miles Sanders (RB, Penn State)

Following in the footsteps of Saquon Barkley could not have been easy for Sanders. Yet he handled it with dignity, class, and solid play in 2018. If he was going to climb boards though, he needed to set himself apart. He caught the attention of many when he clocked a 4.49 in the 40, followed by a 36-inch vertical jump. Suddenly that element of explosion some thought he lacked may be there after all.

Ryquell Armstead (RB, Temple)

Easily the biggest stunner of the day came from Armstead. He’d already had himself a good Senior Bowl and all he had to do was not blow it at the combine to ensure himself a decent placement in the 3rd or 4th rounds. Turns out that may not be enough for him. His 4.45 in the 40 countered the prevailing belief that he didn’t have enough speed. Perhaps the health issues that dogged him were indeed a relevant factor to it not showing enough on tape.

Andre Dillard (OT, Washington State)

Keep this in mind. At the end of the 2018 college season, most people didn’t see Dillard as much more than a 3rd round pick. In the space of two months through the Senior Bowl and now the combine, he’s entered the 1st round conversation. That’s how well he performed with a 4.96 in the 40 and a 4.40 in the 20-yard shuttle. Both impressive times for a man who’s 6’5, 315 lbs.

Iosua Opeta (OL, Weber State)

The combine may be looked at as a roadblock for supposed top prospects. For others? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get their name out from the shadows into the light. That is exactly what Opeta did. Coming from Weber State, he needed a good showing to get noticed. With 39 reps on the bench, a 33-inch vertical, and a solid 5.03 dash it became apparent this big kid not only had power but athletic chops too.

Losers:

Elijah Holyfield (RB, Georgia)

Nobody had a more disastrous afternoon than Holyfield. The Georgia back and son of boxing legend Evander Holyfield had a chance to state his case as more than just a strong runner with good patience. Instead, he practically torpedoed his draft stock with an awful 4.78 in the 40-yard dash. Not participating in the 3-cone or shuttle drills only made matters worse.

David Montgomery (RB, Iowa State)

Everybody was ready to jump in on Montgomery thanks to his outstanding play at Iowa State the past few years. They wanted to see if he could show them some speed that would make risking a top 50 pick on him worth it. A 4.63 time later and disappointment was in the air. The concerns about him were validated, likely cementing him as a mid-Day 2 pick.

Greg Little (OT, Ole Miss)

Don’t forget that many projections had Little as a likely 1st round pick going into the combine. They saw a mixture of size and athleticism that made him a viable left tackle prospect. What must they have been thinking when he ran a 5.33 in the 40 (second-worst among offensive linemen) with a 25-inch vertical jump and not doing the bench press? None of it was good.

Cody Ford (OT, Oklahoma)

The right tackle was ferocious for the Sooners since becoming their starter, blocking well for both Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Teams love players with his kind of nastiness. What they weren’t sure about was if he had the athleticism to stay outside. New data suggests that is not the case. A 5.21 in the 40, just 19 reps on the bench, and 8.21 in the 3-cone sealed his fate for a move inside.

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