INDIANAPOLIS -- The NFL combine is just a small sliver of the evaluation process. Evaluators often use it to confirm their scouting report from the tape. Let's take a look at how a few of the big-name prospects performed on Sunday, when defensive linemen and linebackers went through workouts.
Players analyzed below include: DE Myles Garrett, S Jabrill Peppers, LB Haason Reddick and DE Solomon Thomas.
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Rank entering combine: No. 1 overall | No. 1 DE
What Garrett did on Sunday was absolutely absurd. At 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds, this guy is built like an NBA power forward, but he tested like someone much smaller. He jumped 41 inches in the vertical. To put that in perspective, Odell Beckham Jr. jumped 38.5 inches -- at 198 pounds. And Garrett's 10-foot-8-inch broad jump showed off terrific lower-body explosiveness. Long story short, Garrett has a truly rare physical skill set (look at the table below comparing his numbers to Jadeveon Clowney, one of the best size/speed freaks in recent memory). At this point, given his quality tape, college production and measurables, I think it would be really tough for the Browns to pass on Garrett at No. 1 overall.
Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
Rank entering combine: No. 18 overall | No. 3 safety
Peppers worked out with the linebackers, but based on his size (nearly 5-foot-11 and 213 pounds), he will play more of a strong safety/nickel role in the pros. (He'd need to be in the 230 range to play weakside linebacker.) Peppers has elite straight-line speed (4.46 40-yard dash), and he showed good lower-body power in the vertical (35.5 inches, above average) and broad jump (10 feet, 8 inches, outstanding at any position). I thought he looked really comfortable going through linebacker coverage drills, too. He opted to workout with the defensive backs tomorrow, as well, so we'll get to see how fluid he looks there. Peppers' decision to stick around an extra day is emblematic of his competitiveness and motor. Talk to anyone at Michigan, and the first thing they'll tell you about Peppers is that he's just tireless. I really believe he has the stamina to be a contributor on defense, special teams and offense at the next level. He's a first-round talent in my book. Not everyone shares that opinion, but he'll add a ton to whichever team that drafts him.
Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
Rank entering combine: No. 41 overall | No. 2 ILB
Reddick had one of the most impressive days overall. He and WR Zay Jones have helped themselves more than any other players in the pre-draft process. Both prospects followed up outstanding showings at the Senior Bowl with great weeks at the combine. Reddick played defensive end in college -- and worked out with the DEs on Sunday -- but he'll be an off-the-ball linebacker in the pros, similar to the transition Tedy Bruschi made coming out of Arizona. He ran a 4.52 40 at 6-foot-1½ and 237 pounds. That's outstanding. And his 11-foot-1-inch broad jump marked just the third time since 2006 that a linebacker eclipsed the 11-foot mark in Indy. Over the span of about six weeks, Reddick has gone from a virtual unknown to having a legitimate chance to be a first-round pick. Quite a story.
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
Rank entering combine: No. 5 overall | No. 2 DE
I really like Thomas' tape. After he declared for the draft, I watched four of his games and immediately gave him a top-10 grade and haven't budged since. Sunday was an important day for him, since his testing numbers were an unknown as an underclassman. Measuring 6-foot-2 5/8 and 273 pounds, Thomas checked pretty much every box during drills. For a player whose game is built on quickness and power more than speed and change-of-direction ability, he showed some nice explosiveness. Thomas' 35-inch vertical and 10-foot-6-inch broad jump are both outstanding numbers for his position, and his 6.98-second three-cone was really impressive. Plus, only thee defensive linemen benched more than Thomas' 30 reps. He entered the combine as my fifth overall player, and Thomas will not move down when I release my new Top 32 on Wednesday. He has a really good chance to be a top-10 pick.