Articles

By Michael Stewart/@golferbad

Introduction: The 2020 NFL combine not only produced winners, they also produced losers as well. Although many of these prospects will have the opportunity to redeem themselves during their pro day; first impressions sometimes goes a long way. Here are my top losers at each position at the 2020 NFL combine.

Losers

(Offense)

Quarterback: Jake Fromm (Georgia) 6’2/220: Fromm needed to display respectable numbers across the board, but failed to do so. Fromm made some off target throws and didn’t convince many of the NFL teams watching that he has the arm strength for an NFL quarterback. From also posted the slowest 40-yard dash among quarterbacks:

Wide Receiver: Laviska Shenault (Colorado) 6’2/220: Shenault ran a 4.59 on his first try and didn’t run a second tim, due to an injury to his core muscle. Shenault needs a solid pro day to prevent from slipping down the draft board.

Running Back: Zack Moss (Utah) 5: Moss ran a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash, a time he will have to improve on at his pro day. Moss did hit 19 on the bench press. The 40 isn’t everything, but that time might have dropped the Utah standout to the Round 4 range

Tight End: Harrison Bryant (Florida Atlantic) 6’4/240:: Bryant won the Mackey Award last year as the nation’s top tight end, however; he ran a 4.73 in the 40 and managed 13 in the bench press, totals that might cause teams to hesitate.

Offensive Linemen: Trey Adams (Washington) 6’7/325: Adams already comes with health concerns, and he ran a 5.6 in the 40-yard dash and did not bench press. 

 (Defense)

OLB/ILB Linebackers:Michael Divinity (LSU) 6’2/242: Divinity hindered his overall performance in many drills at the combine. His sub-par forty yard dash (4.85) was the icing on the cake. Divinity needs to rebound on his pro day to improve his stock.

Defensive Ends: A.J Epenesa (Iowa) 6’5/275: Epenesa edges out Bradley Anae as he stumbled trying to impress NFL teams in the Hoop Drill and other agility drills. Epenesa will get another opportunity during his pro day before the draft.

Defensive Tackles:Derrick Brown (Auburn) 6’5/318: Brown struggled in most of the agility drills and narrowed the gap between him and Javon Kinlaw as the top defensive tackle in the draft.

Cornerback:Damon Arnette (Ohio State) 5’11/195: Arnette had character issues entering the combine and he didn’t help his case with his performance. Arnette’s forty yard dash of 4.54 was disappointing and his overall numbers were adequate among the rest of the corners.

Safeties:Xavier McKinney (Alabama) 6’0/200: McKinney suffered cramps; which affected his performance in the forty (4.64) and in other drills. McKinney is a projected late 1st round pick and will need to regroup during his pro day.

Final Thoughts: How much stock do NFL teams have in the NFL combine? We have seen many prospects shine at the combine and fail miserably in the NFL; while others have sub-par performances and then become Pro Bowlers in the NFL. The NFL spends a lot of time and money on the combine, so in their eyes it’s a major gage to determine which prospects to invest in.  Hopefully for the Giants, Gettleman and Judge can correctly target the right prospects and turn the Giants around.