2019 NFL combine preview: Kiper, McShay answer biggest draft questions

The best 2019 NFL draft prospects have descended upon Indianapolis for the scouting combine, the most important evaluation event leading up to April's draft. Prospects will get accurate measurements, go through athletic testing, and meet with teams for in-depth interviews.

With workouts starting Friday -- here's the full schedule -- we asked our NFL draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay to answer questions about what they're keeping an eye on in Indy.

Check out coverage across ESPN networks all weekend, plus our show Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on ABC in which we'll take viewers inside the quarterback drills.

What are you most interested in seeing from the quarterbacks this week?

Kiper: I've seen enough of these guys on tape to know what they can do on the field. Now I want to see how they interact with one another. Who takes charge and seizes drills? Who's the leader of the group? I don't see my rankings changing much -- my top five is Dwayne Haskins, Kyler Murray, Drew Lock, Daniel Jones and Will Grier -- unless something shows up in the medical evaluations, or one of them bombs the interview sessions with teams. For quarterbacks, the combine is much more about what they do off the field and how they carry themselves.

McShay: I want to find out who the alpha dogs are. Each position group has a scout who escorts it around Indy for four days; I want information from that guy. Who are the leaders? Who has the presence? And then there are the interviews. Who impresses on the whiteboard? Those things are a lot more important to me than 40-yard dash times and throwing against air in shorts and T-shirts.

What would be considered a good week for Kyler Murray?

McShay: It starts with his measurements, and coming in at 5-foot-10, 207 pounds is good for him. I don't expect him to play at that weight, but his frame is bigger than some scouts thought. And with a decent hand size -- 9 4/8 inches -- there are no red flags from his first day in Indianapolis. Strong interviews would go a long way for him, regardless of whether or not he ends up throwing on Saturday.

Kiper: Will NFL teams walk away from the week convinced that Murray is 100 percent committed to football? Aside from getting an accurate height, weight and hand size, that's how he can solidify a strong week in Indianapolis. We know he's dynamic on the field, but those interviews with general managers and coaches will be so important so they can decide whether to invest in Murray as the future of their franchise.

Great numbers for Kyler Murray here. Excited to see him in person. https://t.co/E3nWk6Btz2

— Mel Kiper Jr. (@MelKiperESPN) February 28, 2019

After Murray, all eyes in Indy will be on ______________.

Kiper: Nick Bosa, my top-ranked overall prospect. The Ohio State pass-rusher hasn't played since October after leaving school early to rehab from his core muscle injury. Based on his tape, he's the best player in this draft. But he's going to go through every workout, and teams are going to get his medical report. If everything comes back clean, he's going to stay atop my Big Board.

What do you want to see out of Bosa so he stays No. 1 on your board?

McShay: Quite simply, I just want to see him healthy. We haven't seen him since that injury, so how he looks physically and how he tests will be key.

Which prospect's medical report will you be most intrigued to hear about?

Kiper: Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons was in my top 10 before he tore his ACL in mid-February. He might have to take a redshirt year in 2019, and he's likely to drop to Round 2. Running back Rodney Anderson (Oklahoma) is extremely talented, but he had a major knee injury in September, and he has missed a season because of a fractured vertebra in his neck. He's another candidate to redshirt. Teams will also be interested in seeing Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown, who just had foot surgery, and Stanford running back Bryce Love, who tore his ACL in December.

Who are the prospects with the most to gain at the combine?

McShay: At the top of the list is Michigan's Rashan Gary, who could show some wheels for a defensive end. I'm told he could run in the 4.5-second range in the 40 at about 280 pounds. For context, the five-year average for a 270-pound DE is 4.85 seconds. His career production didn't match his skill set at Michigan, but he's a physical freak, and a strong workout could go a long way toward locking down a top-10 spot.

A pair of wideouts could also rise if they excel this week. Ohio State's Parris Campbell ought to blaze in the 40-yard dash. I have him as a second-round prospect right now, but great testing could make him a top-40 pick. Jalen Hurd of Baylor is supposed to have a freakish all-around workout. He went from being a 240-pound running back at Tennessee to suiting up as a 220-pound receiver with the Bears, and he's expected to run in the 4.4 range, ace all the agility tests and put up a 40-plus-inch vertical jump.

What about the prospects with the most to lose?

Kiper: We know cornerback Greedy Williams (LSU) is big -- listed at 6-foot-3, 184 pounds -- but is he super athletic? He's my top-ranked corner, but the vertical jump and 40-yard dash will be important in how teams see him. There have been grumblings about his lack of physicality, so he needs to be an elite shutdown guy for teams to take him in the top 15.

Alabama safety Deionte Thompson had a tremendous start to the 2018 season, but he was mediocre down the stretch and in the College Football Playoff games. He showed speed and range on tape, but he didn't create many big plays. How he works out will be the difference in being taken in the first round or somewhere on Day 2.

Florida State pass-rusher Brian Burns is another one to watch, as he doesn't have the bulk of the elite edge rushers -- 6-foot-4, 230 pounds -- so he needs to show that he has explosion to be a first-rounder. He could drop if he doesn't test well.

What is the most important drill in Indy, and why?

McShay: This totally depends on the position. Looking at a few key defensive position groups:

• The three-cone drill is a great indicator of future success for edge rushers and defensive ends. Von Miller (6.70), T.J. Watt (6.79), Melvin Ingram (6.83), J.J. Watt (6.88) and Joey Bosa (6.89) all ran sub-6.90. Break that number and it's a pretty good sign for NFL potential.

• For interior offensive linemen, it's 20-yard shuttle. The average is 4.75 seconds, and 4.60 is outstanding. Anything slower than 4.82? Red flag.

• No single drill stands out for cornerbacks. Instead, it's really a combination of the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and arm length measurements. It's all important.

Who could run the fastest 40-yard dash in Indy?

Kiper: I'll take two Ohio State wide receivers here, both of whom could run in the 4.3s. Parris Campbell, my fifth-ranked receiver, developed into a weapon last season. Terry McLaurin, my eighth-ranked receiver, had a great Senior Bowl and is a big-play threat. Two more guys who are going to run extremely fast: TCU's KaVontae Turpin and Georgia's Terry Godwin.

Which prospect-drill combination is must-see TV?

McShay: I heard recently that LSU linebacker Devin White is going to run the 40-yard dash in the 4.4s. That's fast. He would be just the sixth 'backer in the past decade to do it. It doesn't matter for his draft stock -- he's fast as hell on the field and that's all that matters -- but I hope he puts on a show in Indy. It's tough not to root for this dude. Linebackers do their on-field work Sunday.

Who is the receiver who could rise (or fall) based on his 40 time?

Kiper: It's Hakeem Butler. The Iowa State wideout is 6-6, 225, and he's phenomenal on jump balls. But how fast is he at that size? Will he be in the 4.6s? He could be a second- or third-round pick based on that 40 (and some inconsistent film). I'll also note Stanford tight end Kaden Smith, a third-year sophomore who could be a second-round pick if he runs well or a fourth-round pick if he doesn't.

Who will be the No. 1 workout warrior?

McShay: Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf's neck is reportedly healthy, and he is expected to work out. I'm told the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder will run in the low 4.4s in the 40 and post some crazy testing numbers. How he performs in flexibility testing, the short-shuttle drill and the three-cone drill will be important. Does he have change-of-direction quickness and body control, or is his bulked-up frame creating tightness? He looks like a defensive end in recent pictures on social media. Metcalf could emerge as the top receiver in the class with an awesome showing in Indy.

Which running back could take a step forward (or back) based on how he works out?

Kiper: Are we going to get a running back in the first round this year? If so, it's going to be Josh Jacobs, who had only 300 touches in his three-year career at Alabama. But he's dealing with a groin injury and won't be going through on-field workouts. That's why the player to watch here is his teammate Damien Harris, who is a consistent player but doesn't show as much explosion on film. If he runs in the 4.4s in the 40 and tests well in everything else, however, he could be a top-40 pick.

Who is the tweener to keep an eye on in Indy?

McShay: I don't know if tweener is the right word, but teams are interested in seeing Ed Oliver's true size. He's an underclassman, so we still don't have an official size. Some scouts are saying 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds, which is vastly different than the 6-foot-3, 292-pound measurements that Houston listed. If he bulks up, does he lose some of his quickness and speed (major components to his game)? Oliver definitely needs to play in a one-gap-heavy scheme. Some view him as a three-technique, and others think he's a nose tackle in a base 4-3. He's a polarizing player right now and needs a good showing to lock down a spot in the top 15.

The guy everyone will be talking about when the combine is over is _____________.

Kiper: C'mon -- it's Kyler Murray, even if he doesn't go through drills. Everyone wants to talk about him, all the time. This is a fun week to talk to people in the league and get a clearer picture on how Day 1 will look on April 25.