Winner: Vic Beasley, EDGE, Clemson
Beasley is one player that benefited big time by remaining in school. Not really in the conversation among the top EDGE rushers during the season, this Clemson product came through big time when it counted at the combine in Indy. The big thing here is that he came in at 245-plus pounds when many expected him to weigh in about 20 pounds less.This new-found frame is huge for Beasley, especially considering many questioned his lack of weight leading up to the event.
Like clock work, Beasley came in and ran a ridiculous 4.54 40-yard dash and put up 35 bench-press reps and 41 inches in the vertical.
These are not the end all be all, but they work well with Beasley's on-field performance to indicate that he's among the most well-rounded defenders in the draft. Seen as a mid-to-late first rounder heading into combine week, Beasley is now a potential top-10 pick, Equally as important, he might very well have surpassed Shane Ray (Missouri) and Randy Gregory (Nebraska). That's huge.
Loser: Sammie Coates, Wide Receiver, Auburn
Seen as a speed option on the outside, Coates 40-time was actually slower than Amari Cooper, which isn't a good sign for the former Auburn stand out. This is only magnified considering the fact that Coates has tremendous issues actually catching and high-pointing the football. He dropped multiple passes during the position-specific drills, including a down-field pass. If Coates' hands don't improve heading into Auburn's pro day, I can easily envision a scenario where he drops until the middle of Day 2.
Winner: Marcus Mariota, Quarterback Oregon
No one was worried about Mariota's performance in generic drills. He led all quarterbacks at the combine with a 4.52 40-yard dash. Mariota also put up a solid 46" in the vertical and 121.0" in the broad jump. These numbers are fine and dandy. However, it was Mariota's ability to answer questions relating to his passing ability that drew rave reviews. Remaining confident in the pocket, he did a tremendous job with mechanics from under center and dropping back, two things that Mariota wasn't necessarily asked to do at Oregon. Showing plus accuracy on intermediate routes from within the pocket was also a big deal in Indy.
Loser: Running Backs
With Todd Gurley still sidelined due to a torn ACL, there wasn't a single running back who stood out among a group that had been considered pretty darn talented heading into the combine. Alabama's T.J. Yeldon failed to impress with a substandard 4.61 40-yard time, while Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon struggled in the position-specific drills. Interestingly, the battering ram of a running back did perform well with an 11-second 40-yard shuttle time (best for a running back since 2006).
The larger issue here wasn't the performance of some fo the top backs in the draft. Rather, those who were looking to catch the eye of the scouting community struggled. with cutting on a dime and showing less-than-stellar speed in the position-specific drills. He simply didn't impress a great deal in Indy. Florida State's Karlos Williams also had a tough go at it, struggling with in-line running ability, specifically consistently hitting cones and losing balance in the position-specific drills. He's likely now not much more than an early Day 3 pick.
Winner: Kevin White, Wide Receiver, West Virginia
Speed, route running and great hands: A deadly combination. While we all knew that White could make the contested catch and runs superior routes in comparison to others in the 2015 draft class his athleticism came out in droves during the combine. Not only did White run a ridiculous 4.35 40-yard dash, he did so at 6'3" and 215 pounds. Give me a break. He also killed the broad jump (123 inches) and put up a solid 4.14 in the 20. The interesting dynamic here is that White continued to show everyone why he's such a refined route runner, with a huge route tree. Not only does that make him a long-term Pro Bowl possibility, it gives him the ability to succeed out of the gate as a rookie. Seen as a mid first-round pick heading into the combine, there's now little doubt that White will be a top-10 pick come April.
Winner: Jameis Winston, Quarterback, Florida State
Let's be clear here for a second. NO ONE cares that Winston ran a slow 4.97 40-yard dash. He's a pocket passer that isn't going to beat anyone with his feet. Setting that aside, Winston may have very well showed the NFL world why he should be the top pick come April. Outside of the generic drills, the former Heisman Trophy winner showed a ton of confidence in his Q&A with reporters, and absolutely dominated the position-specific drills. He showed poise in the pocket, refined mechanicse, plus accuracy and a solid zip on the ball. Equally as important, Winston showed the ability to actually provide touch on his intermediate passes. His all-around performance was among the best for a quarterback at the combine since Andrew Luck. Think about that long and hard for a second here.
Loser: Brett Hundley, Quarterback, UCLA
An athlete that just so happens to play quarterback. This is what many defined Hundley as during the combine in Indianapolis. It's also something that he didn't neccessarily override with his performance in Indianapolis. Missing multiple passes in the position-specific drills, Hundley also showed horrid technique dropping back to pass. He dropped his shoulder too much when throwing from the pocket, something that will impact his accuracy on intermediate routes and cause the ball to get batted at the line in the NFL. He didn't show great touch on the football, and seemed to struggle progressing through his reads. All said any hope that Hundley might find himself picked at the end of the first round was thrown out the window the past few days. He's now valued as nothing more than a late Day 2 pick in my mind.
Winner: Leonard Williams, Defensive Line, USC
The best overall player in the 2015 NFL draft, Williams impressed at every turn during the combine. Standing at 6'5" and weighing 302 pounds, Williams run a sub five-second 40-yard dash was something to behold. Williams also dominated in the position-specific drills. He showed tremendous technique with his hands down, displayed a solid grouping of pass-rush moves and continually pushed through to the offensive backfield. With an ability to play either a 4-3 defensive tackle or as a 3-4 defensive end, Williams' stock is right up there among the highest of any player in the draft. THIS is how good he was in Indy.