The star of the NFL Combine has to be Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell, as he posted truly elite testing numbers, earning a perfect 10.0 RAS score, which ranks second out of 3,830 wide receivers from 1987 to 2026. Some of those numbers include a 1.48-second 10-yard split that led all players at the NFL Combine, a 42-inch vertical jump that ranked second among wide receivers, and a 4.31-second 40-yard dash.
There is no doubt Caldwell tested like an elite athlete, but what type of football player and NFL Draft prospect is he? The short answer is that he has rare traits but needs more development.
Jeff Caldwell’s top traits and NFL upside
His top trait is easily his speed. He has zero trouble stretching a defense, which was very evident during his last season at Lindenwood before transferring to Cincinnati this season. That year, the 2024 FCS All-American had seven games with at least one reception over 40 yards and three games with a reception over 70 yards.
In addition to his speed, Caldwell shows great agility for a 6-foot-5 wide receiver. This season, he caused 11 missed tackles on just 32 receptions, according to PFF, largely because of his elusiveness after the catch. That agility has also helped him make numerous tough catches throughout his career.
While Caldwell clearly has the traits to develop into a matchup problem in the NFL, there are concerns with his game. The biggest is his average strength. At 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds, he is tall and lean, and that lack of bulk shows up at times. He can struggle to catch the ball in traffic, beat press coverage off the line of scrimmage, and consistently stay upright after first contact. He also needs to polish his route running, and that lack of refinement could mean it takes a few years before he makes an impact in the NFL.
When it comes to his draft grade, I currently view Caldwell as a fifth-round prospect. A team like the Philadelphia Eagles could make sense, as they could use more speed in their wide receiver corps.