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http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...nfl-draft-most-impressive-players-nfl-combine
There were several standout performances during the four days of drills and athletic testing at the 2014 NFL scouting combine. Here is a look at the players who impressed me the most (sorted here by position).
Quarterbacks
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois: He followed up a terrific East-West Shrine game with an outstanding Senior Bowl game, and then put on an impressive performance at the combine. The ball jumped out of his hands during passing drills, showing a live arm and quick feet out of the shotgun (he wasn't as quick from under center, but he's still inexperienced in that area). He showed arm strength, presence and athleticism.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: He didn't participate in passing drills in Indianapolis, but in running a 4.68-second 40-yard dash (fourth among QBs), a 6.75-second triangle drill (second among QBs) and 4.03-second 20-yard shuttle (first among QBs) he showed the speed and athleticism that you see from him on tape.
Wide receivers
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU: This is a very explosive player. He ran a good 40-yard dash time (4.43 seconds, tied for seventh among receivers) and a really great triangle drill (6.69 seconds, tied for sixth among WRs). He has good hands and runs explosive routes.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State: He has great speed (his 40 time of 4.33 was the best among receivers at the combine), great skills and great separation quickness, which will likely be enough to overcome his size (5-foot-10, 189 pounds).
Marqise Lee, WR, USC: He was the best wide receiver in college football in 2012, and while he isn't a burner (he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash), he is a terrific route runner with a great sense of space and the ability to separate, which is the real difference between the elite receivers and the average ones.
Offensive linemen
Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: He has excellent athleticism, speed (his 4.87 40 time was tops among all offensive linemen) and size (he measured at 6-7, 309 pounds).
Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: He is the complete physical package at left tackle, as he proved with some really impressive testing results. He has power, size and speed.
Defensive linemen
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: He simply has off-the-wall speed and an off-the-wall skill set. With regard to the questions about his work ethic, I think he's going to be fine.
Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: If you play a Tampa 2 defense, like the Cowboys, Donald is the 3-technique you want. He can get up the field and be disruptive, he can tackle, and most important, he can get to the quarterback from the inside position.
Linebackers
Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: He was a great college player who measured up in every respect at the combine, from his measurements to his athletic testing to his drills. He ran a 4.65 40 at 6-3, 251 pounds.
Defensive backs
Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: He is likely to be a first-round draft choice on the basis of his great college production and his respectable time in the 40-yard dash (4.51, tied for 13th among cornerbacks).
Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State: A very good college player with really good instincts, Joyner confirmed Tuesday in Indianapolis that he can run well.
Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville: Pryor is a big, big hitter, and he ran well enough at the combine (4.58 40-yard dash time, tied for eighth among safeties) to put him in solid shape on every team's draft board.
Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: He is a really good cover cornerback with outstanding speed (he ran a 4.38 40, tied for second-best among corners) and the ability to stick to receivers in man-to-man coverage.
There were several standout performances during the four days of drills and athletic testing at the 2014 NFL scouting combine. Here is a look at the players who impressed me the most (sorted here by position).
Quarterbacks
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois: He followed up a terrific East-West Shrine game with an outstanding Senior Bowl game, and then put on an impressive performance at the combine. The ball jumped out of his hands during passing drills, showing a live arm and quick feet out of the shotgun (he wasn't as quick from under center, but he's still inexperienced in that area). He showed arm strength, presence and athleticism.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: He didn't participate in passing drills in Indianapolis, but in running a 4.68-second 40-yard dash (fourth among QBs), a 6.75-second triangle drill (second among QBs) and 4.03-second 20-yard shuttle (first among QBs) he showed the speed and athleticism that you see from him on tape.
Wide receivers
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU: This is a very explosive player. He ran a good 40-yard dash time (4.43 seconds, tied for seventh among receivers) and a really great triangle drill (6.69 seconds, tied for sixth among WRs). He has good hands and runs explosive routes.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State: He has great speed (his 40 time of 4.33 was the best among receivers at the combine), great skills and great separation quickness, which will likely be enough to overcome his size (5-foot-10, 189 pounds).
Marqise Lee, WR, USC: He was the best wide receiver in college football in 2012, and while he isn't a burner (he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash), he is a terrific route runner with a great sense of space and the ability to separate, which is the real difference between the elite receivers and the average ones.
Offensive linemen
Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: He has excellent athleticism, speed (his 4.87 40 time was tops among all offensive linemen) and size (he measured at 6-7, 309 pounds).
Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: He is the complete physical package at left tackle, as he proved with some really impressive testing results. He has power, size and speed.
Defensive linemen
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: He simply has off-the-wall speed and an off-the-wall skill set. With regard to the questions about his work ethic, I think he's going to be fine.
Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: If you play a Tampa 2 defense, like the Cowboys, Donald is the 3-technique you want. He can get up the field and be disruptive, he can tackle, and most important, he can get to the quarterback from the inside position.
Linebackers
Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: He was a great college player who measured up in every respect at the combine, from his measurements to his athletic testing to his drills. He ran a 4.65 40 at 6-3, 251 pounds.
Defensive backs
Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: He is likely to be a first-round draft choice on the basis of his great college production and his respectable time in the 40-yard dash (4.51, tied for 13th among cornerbacks).
Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State: A very good college player with really good instincts, Joyner confirmed Tuesday in Indianapolis that he can run well.
Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville: Pryor is a big, big hitter, and he ran well enough at the combine (4.58 40-yard dash time, tied for eighth among safeties) to put him in solid shape on every team's draft board.
Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: He is a really good cover cornerback with outstanding speed (he ran a 4.38 40, tied for second-best among corners) and the ability to stick to receivers in man-to-man coverage.