Pro Player Insiders 2016 Scouting Combine Preview

Pro Player Insiders 2016 Scouting Combine Preview

The NFL Scouting Combine grows more and more each year. It is amazing how it has gone from having just a hand full of media to an event with over 1,000 credentialed media.

National Football Scouting Inc, led by director Jeff Foster, does an incredible job with this event and is something we always look forward to covering.

Each day I’ll recap the event’s best and worst workouts.

Here is a look at what I’m keeping my eye on heading into workouts.

TOP STORYLINES

WHAT WILL THE TITANS DO WITH THE #1 PICK?

New GM Jon Robinson has something most with the first pick don’t have and that is a franchise quarterback. Luckily for him he can focus on the top rated player on the board instead of having to focus on just getting that franchise passer. We believe he will likely dwindle that list down to 1-2 players here at the combine and leave with 100% of his focus in the first round on those guys. Of the players he is expected to be focused most on are Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey, Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa, and Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. We are leaning Tunsil because usually the second priority for a GM is to get a backside protector of his franchise passer and Tunsil would fit that mold.

DEFENSIVE LINE IS DEEPEST POSITION HERE

While this is a very good draft from top to bottom there is no doubt that the defensive line is the supreme position where you can get top notch starters in the first two rounds and potential starters in the mid to late rounds. We expect 10-13 defensive lineman to go in the first round. Among those we have as potential round one picks are Ohio State end Joey Bosa, Ole Miss tackle Robert Nkemdiche, Oregon end/tackle DeForest Buckner, Alabama tackles A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed, Baylor tackle Andrew Billings, UCLA tackle Kenny Clark, Clemson ends Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, Florida end Jonathan Bullard, Oklahoma State end Emmanuel Ogbah, Louisville tackle Sheldon Rankins, and Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence.

WHO WILL BE THE FIRST QUARTERBACK OFF THE BOARD?

It appears as though three signal callers are vying to be first off the board and they aren’t the three that the pundits expected entering the season. All the buzz was on Ohio State’s Cardale Jones, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, and Michigan State’s Connor Cook but with questions about them all on and off the field that focus has completely shifted to three unexpected names and we believe the Cleveland Browns will be the first to draft a passer thus not leaving much of a wait for the first quarterback off the board. Those three quarterbacks are California’s Jared Goff, Memphis’ Paxton Lynch, and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz. Wentz has the most upside of the group but Lynch and Goff are likely the most pro ready due to level of competition. Our projection is that either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz will be the first one selected and they are likely to separate themselves during interviews and drills this week.

WHICH COLLEGE WILL HAVE THE MOST FIRST ROUND PICKS?

While Alabama would challenge in most years with their class, it will be Ohio State who takes the crown this year. Alabama will likely have three first round picks but Ohio State should end up with 5-6. From Alabama you can expect defensive linemen Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson along with linebacker Reggie Ragland to go on day one. From the Buckeyes you can expect linebacker Darron Lee, defensive lineman Joey Bosa, wide receiver Michael Thomas, offensive tackle Taylor Decker, and cornerback Eli Apple.

FASTEST MAN AT THE COMBINE?

This is always fun to keep an eye on. Usually a couple players surprise but those we expect to run very well typically do. Among seniors it is known through the scouting community that Alabama running back Kenyan Drake, Cincinnati receiver Johnny Holton, Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew, and TCU receiver Kolby Listenbee are the seniors expected to run very well. Underclassmen to keep an eye on are Houston receiver Demarcus Ayers, Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey, and Pittsburgh receiver Tyler Boyd.

EXPECTED WORKOUT WARRIORS

Each year someone surprises and puts up a great workout to create a buzz but many who do test well are expected to. Among those who we believe should have a very good week at the NFL Combine are Missouri offensive lineman Connor McGovern, Alabama running back Kenyan Drake, Baylor defensive tackle Andrew Billings, Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew, Cincinnati receiver Johnny Holton, South Carolina State defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, Virginia Tech defensive lineman Dadi Nicolas, Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, TCU receiver Kolby Listenbee, LSU offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, Baylor defensive lineman Shawn Oakman, Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser, Penn State defensive lineman Anthony Zettel, Southern Utah defensive back Leshaun Sims, Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith (if he were to workout), East Carolina linebacker Montese Overton, and Arizona State guard Christian Westerman.

WHO HAS THE MOST TO PROVE?

Every year there are prospects who have questions to answer either on or off the field or both. Among those to monitor who have something to prove are Ole Miss duo Robert Nkemdiche and Laremy Tunsil, Eastern Kentucky defensive lineman Noah Spence, North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, Baylor defensive lineman Shawn Oakman, and TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin. For Tunsil, Nkemdiche, Spence, and Boykin they have questions to answer about their off the field behavior. Oakman will likely do well in workouts and thus have scouts asking even more why he is such a freak but doesn’t play with a motor or dominate like he should. Oakman was never rated as high by NFL teams as the media thought but he plays like a late round or free agent pickup but will likely be a top 125 pick due to his upside. Lastly there is plenty for Carson Wentz to prove such as why a FCS passer should be the first quarterback selected and show that he can build on the momentum he has from his Senior Bowl performance.

PRO PLAYER INSIDERS PRE-COMBINE TOP 350