2020 NFL combine recap: Kiper, McShay on top draft prospects, risers, best of workouts, more

Drills at the 2020 NFL combine concluded on Sunday in Indianapolis, with the top cornerbacks and safeties in the 2020 NFL draft class showcasing their skills in front of all 32 teams. The defensive back prospects followed the quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, offensive linemen, defensive linemen and linebackers, who all worked out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

ESPN NFL draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay -- and Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench -- recap Days 1-4 of the combine, evaluating the top performances from each position, picking prospects rising (and potentially falling) and breaking down notable under-the-radar performances.

QB/WR/TE: Takeaway | Risers | Notables
RB/OL: Takeaway | Risers | Notables
DL/LB: Takeaway | Risers | Notables
CB/S: Takeaway | Risers | Notables

DAY 4: CORNERBACKS AND SAFETIES

What was the biggest takeaway from Sunday's workouts?

McShay: The top of the cornerback class delivered on Sunday. Jeff Okudah out of Ohio State is the no-doubter at No. 5 overall in my rankings. He's a playmaker and tested pretty well. CJ Henderson, an athletic corner from Florida, locked himself in as the No. 2 corner in the class with a strong 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. They are both first-round talents and immediate impact players at the next level.

Muench: A lot has been made about Isaiah Simmons' position, but it's not about what the Clemson linebacker/safety can or can't do. It's more about the way the team that drafts him decides to play him. But position fit is a bigger concern for some of the defensive backs we saw Sunday, such as Lenoir-Rhyne's Kyle Dugger, Clemson's Tanner Muse and Southern Illinois's Jeremy Chinn. Can they match up in coverage at safety? Are they too undersized to be linebackers? All three ran well and have the potential to make an impact at the next level. It will be interesting to see which teams draft them and how they're used.

Biggest riser from Day 4

Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois

Chinn should be moving up boards after flashing at the Senior Bowl and shining at the combine. At 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds, he tied for the third-fastest 40-yard dash for the safeties (4.45) in addition to posting the best broad jump (11-foot-6) and tying for the second-best vertical (41 inches) for all defensive backs. He picked off 13 passes in college and flashed above-average ball skills during drills Sunday. Chinn is Scouts Inc.'s No. 238 prospect, and his workout moved him from a late-rounder into midround consideration. -- Muench

How other top prospects fared on Day 4

Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

He's the best defensive back in the draft, and a very possible top-five pick. On tape, Okudah is super athletic, making 17 pass breakups and three interceptions over the past two seasons. And in the combine workouts, that athleticism was evident. His 4.48 run in the 40 was solid, the 41-inch vertical jump tied for the best among corners and an 11-foot-3 broad jump ranked No. 1 among CBs. He was temporarily sidelined during drills after a hard fall but returned to post really strong numbers. -- McShay

CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

At 6-foot and 204 pounds, Henderson was one of only three corners to run a sub-4.4 40 on Sunday (4.39), and he benched 225 pounds an impressive 20 times. His performance backed up what we see on tape: a big corner with excellent man-to-man cover skills and above-average playing speed. He didn't pick off a pass in 2019, but he had six career picks and flashed above-average ball skills during drills at the combine. The No. 13 player on the Scouts Inc. board, Henderson solidified himself as a first-round pick and the No. 2 corner in this class. -- Muench

Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

McKinney is a great player on tape, and his explosion was evident in his vertical jump (36 inches). But that 4.63 is a tough 40 time for a safety in the top 20 overall. He has great natural instincts, reading the QB well and taking great angles. And he's a plug-and-play first-rounder. But I was really hoping to see more speed, though he reported some muscle cramps during the workout that could have limited him a bit. -- McShay

Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

The fourth corner and 39th overall player on the Scouts Inc. board coming into the combine, Igbinoghene didn't blow anyone away with his testing results -- but he checked a lot of boxes. He posted the same 40 time as Okudah, both jumps were above average and his performance on the bench was average. He flashes the same burst and balance during drills that he shows on tape. Igbinoghene has one pick over the past two seasons, and he's not a natural hands catcher despite playing receiver earlier in his career. But he flashes the ability to snatch it out of the air. He remains firmly in the early Day 2 conversation. -- Muench

Additional thoughts from Day 4

McShay:

• The No. 2 safety in the class, LSU's Grant Delpit, did not work out. He didn't fill up the stat sheets in 2019, either, so his pro day will be key in proving the traits are there to warrant a Day 1 pick.

• He didn't run the 40-yard dash, but Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs had a solid workout. He displayed nice extension and pluck ability, showcasing great hands down the line in the gauntlet drill. Diggs, No. 31 in my rankings, is a former wide receiver, and you could see it Sunday. Diggs has good closing burst for his size and is without a doubt one of the better corners in the class.

• Muench mentioned CJ Henderson, but I wanted to chime in too. He fully entrenched himself as the No. 2 corner in the class with that workout. He has excellent size and speed, and he looked solid in drills. I really like the way he keeps his hips down for a taller corner.

• Kyle Dugger out of Lenoir-Rhyne owned the jumps, displaying explosive traits. A 42-inch vert was tops Sunday, and his 11-foot-2 broad jump was in the top three. Dugger is No. 94 on my board, but in a class short on safeties, he could be a good midround pick.

• Javelin Guidry blazed a 4.29 in the 40. It was the best time on the board Sunday by nearly a tenth of a second, and you can bet scouts -- and myself -- will be opening up the Utah tape again to have another glance at Guidry. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, no other player at the combine has posted a 4.30-or-faster 40-time and benched more than 20 reps since 2006 (Guidry had 21).

Muench:

• At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, A.J. Terrell's 4.43 40 time ranked fifth among the corners, and he had a top-five broad jump (10-foot-9). He fell to the ground at one point yet still had an above-average workout, flashing good body control and above-average ball skills. The Clemson corner -- No. 58 on our board -- needed to have a strong showing following his struggles in the national championship, and he did just that, positioning himself solidly into the Day 2 conversation.

• Louisiana Tech has had only one defensive back -- Dallas' 2017 sixth-round pick Xavier Woods -- drafted since 2002. Two could get drafted this year. L'Jarius Sneed is a versatile defensive back with experience at corner and safety. He ran the fastest 40 time (4.37), tied for the second-best vertical (41 inches) and posted the fifth-best broad (10-foot-11) for the safety group. But he's not even the Bulldogs' top defensive back prospect. Amik Robertson's recovery from groin surgery prevented him from working out. No. 118 on the Scouts Inc. board, he's undersized with short arms but is a ball hawk with the instincts, burst and toughness to quickly develop into an above-average nickel.

• The combine added 16 new drills and eliminated 10 this year. Change can be difficult, but the combine should be applauded for evolving and efforting to give all 32 organizations accurate evaluations of the players. And the players should be credited for getting through the new drills without excessive issues.

DAY 3: DEFENSIVE LINEMEN AND LINEBACKERS

What was the biggest takeaway from Saturday's workouts?

Kiper: Isaiah Simmons with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. Willie Gay Jr. with a 4.46. Davion Taylor, Shaun Bradley, Patrick Queen and Kenneth Murray all between 4.50 and 4.52. This is a fast group of linebackers in Indianapolis this week. In fact, there were 10 linebackers who finished with sub-4.60 40 times at the combine, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, making it the second consecutive year in which there have been 10 to do it. That's the most of any year since 2006. Simmons, of course, is a potential top-five pick, but don't sleep on the rest of this class.

McShay: For once, it was the interior guys who stood out among the defensive linemen. I was super impressed with Oklahoma's Neville Gallimore and Texas A&M's Justin Madubuike, and Auburn's Derrick Brown was the best of the bunch. After Chase Young, there are plenty of questions about this edge-rush class, but the workouts on Saturday night showed us how talented the high-end tackles are.

Biggest risers from Day 3

Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma

Gallimore locked down the second round (or maybe better) on Saturday night. The 6-foot-2, 304-pounder is a freak athlete and ripped off a 4.79 40-yard dash. That's faster than Joey Bosa and J.J. Watt ran, and it's the second-best tackle time since 2006 (Khalil Davis, 4.75). Gallimore's tape is inconsistent and there are technique issues to iron out, but that combination of athleticism and speed at his size is going to be coveted by NFL teams. My No. 47 prospect and No. 5 defensive tackle, Gallimore, is a twitchy monster on the interior. He's tough to stop when his motor is right. -- McShay

Jordyn Brooks, OLB, Texas Tech

I really, really like Brooks, a dynamite inside linebacker and helluva sideline-to-sideline defender. He was a tackling machine for the Red Raiders, even as he fought through a shoulder injury last season, and a productive player for four seasons. He was their best player, and it wasn't close. And that 4.54 40 at 240 pounds is going to help his case, because there were some questions among NFL teams about his speed. That's a tremendous time. Brooks didn't do any other athletic testing, but I'm making him my riser because of his tape from the past two seasons and his 40 time Saturday night. He's my third-ranked inside linebacker, and he should be a hot prospect at the top of Round 2. -- Kiper

How other top prospects fared on Day 3

Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

Wow. We knew Simmons was going to own the combine, but he outdid himself on Saturday. A 4.39 40 time is cruising; it's the second sub-4.40 40-time from a linebacker since 2006 (Shaquem Griffin, 4.38 in 2018) and the third one among players at least 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds (Calvin Johnson and Vernon Davis). Consider: His time is faster than what Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey ran. Simmons chose to skip his second run, and you can't blame him. Why risk an injury when you show that much speed on your first run?

Simmons also reached 11 feet in the broad jump and 39 inches in the vertical. Simmons and Willie Gay Jr. became the second and third linebackers to hit those marks since 2014 (Bud Dupree). Simmons is a top-five pick, and his workout is going to churn up some chatter about the Lions at No. 3 if not only confirm the Giants at No. 4 talk. On the field, he tallied 8.0 sacks, 102 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 15 games. And now he has one of the best workouts from a linebacker we've ever seen to go along with the stat sheet. -- McShay

Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

At 6-foot-5, 326 pounds, Brown has unnatural athleticism; guys this big shouldn't run 5.16 40s. And I thought he looked smooth in the workouts on Saturday. The problem? I can't move Brown much higher than I already have him because he's No. 6 on my Big Board and at No. 7 to the Panthers in my Mock Draft 2.0. That's not his fault, but the ceiling for defensive tackles in this draft is interesting. I don't think he's going to go higher than Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young, and the Giants already have a big defensive tackle in Dexter Lawrence. Brown is safely entrenched in the top 10.-- Kiper

A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

Look, Epenesa is a better player than tester. You have to have that in the back of your mind before you make conclusions off his workout. With that said, he didn't impress on Saturday night. A 5.04 time in the 40 is a red flag, especially when you consider he dropped some weight coming in -- he plays around 280 pounds. My No. 24 prospect, Epenesa has plenty of strength and is an active hands fighter, and he's a Day 1 pick, but that below-average flexibility and speed could be an issue at the next level. -- McShay

Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU

Don't overlook Queen's night even though it was solid but not spectacular. A 4.50 40 is a nice time, and his vertical (35 inches) and bench press (18 reps of 225 pounds) were among the best in the linebacker groups. He was tremendous in 2019, racking up 85 tackles and three sacks. I had him ranked as my top inside linebacker heading into the week, and I want to see how he fared in his interviews with teams. Queen pulled up at the end of his run in the 40, and let's hope it's nothing that will set him back. -- Kiper

Kenneth Murray, ILB, Oklahoma

Murray, my second-ranked inside linebacker after Queen, also pulled up and grabbed his hamstring on his second run in the 40, and I hope it's not a serious injury because he was having a great night. A 4.52 40, 38-inch vertical and broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches are all great numbers and are all among the best at the position. We knew he was an athletic specimen (242 pounds), and this workout confirms what I saw on tape. Murray flies to the football. He has the versatility to play in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense, and he showed the speed to run down ball carriers and run with tight ends in space. I had him in the top 20 in my Mock Draft 2.0.-- Kiper

Additional thoughts from Day 3

Kiper:

• Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike made the first round of my Mock Draft 2.0, and he should stay there in my next projection of the top 32 picks in April's draft. His 4.83 40 at 293 pounds is extremely impressive. Still, though, he's likely to stay as my third-ranked DT because of how much I like Derrick Brown (Auburn) and Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina; he didn't work out).

• Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. had some off-the-field issues at Mississippi State, but you can't deny his talent. His blazing 4.46 40 at 243 pounds was the second-fastest of the day. He was my ninth-ranked linebacker heading into the week, but he could jump a few spots. What also matters here, though, are his interviews with teams. He's likely a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

• Missouri's Jordan Elliott is a true 4-3 defensive tackle, and he has a high ceiling. I think he has the potential to be a steal in the third or fourth round in April. He ran an impressive 5.02 40 at 302 pounds, and I liked the way he moved in drills. His tape was inconsistent.

• My comp for Baylor defensive lineman James Lynch based on his body type and tape? He reminds me of Green Bay's Dean Lowry, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2016 and has had a nice career. Lynch has more potential to get after quarterbacks, but he's not going to be an elite edge rusher. He's more likely to be a solid end/tackle. And he's likely to be available on Day 3 of the draft.

McShay:

• Wisconsin edge rusher Zack Baun confirmed what we see on tape with a solid 4.65 run in the 40. I really like his versatility and motor, and he's going to be a solid pick early on Day 2.

• Get excited for pro days. Chase Young, Javon Kinlaw, K'Lavon Chaisson, Yetur Gross-Matos, Terrell Lewis, Anfernee Jennings, Julian Okwara and Curtis Weaver all did not run the 40-yard dash in Indy, and at least a handful of them didn't work out at all. We still have a lot to learn about this front-seven class.

• I'll want to take another look at the tape on the Davis brothers out of Nebraska. The two 300-plus-pound DTs looked quick: Khalil ran a 4.75, Carlos ran a 4.82 and both were sub-1.70 in their 10-yard splits. I'll be pulling out the Huskers film in the coming month.

• James Smith-Williams, a defensive end out of NC State currently ranked No. 246 on my board, had a 4.60 for the fastest time among linemen on the night. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, it tied Margus Hunt for fourth-fastest time by a 265-pound lineman since 2006 (Jadeveon Clowney, Rashan Gary and Charles Tapper). He also benched 28 reps and had a 32-inch vertical jump, making him the second lineman since 2014 to run that fast, bench that many reps and jump that high (Vic Beasley Jr.). It was a really good evening for an athletic late-round flier. His tape also warrants another look.

DAY 2: RUNNING BACKS AND OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

What was the biggest takeaway from Friday's workouts?

Kiper: There was a lot of talk Friday about fast times from offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash. But how much does that really matter? These times only cement what we see on the tape. The truth is in the tape. We knew Iowa's Tristan Wirfs and Louisville's Mekhi Becton were tremendous athletes (we mentioned both as workout warriors in our combine preview), but they also had outstanding 2019 seasons. Offensive tackles aren't sprinting down the field during games. So while these are fun to talk about, I'm not making sweeping changes to my rankings based on these workouts. What really matters for these top offensive linemen is how they fare in the interview rooms with teams and how they conduct themselves this week -- and whether what we see on tape matches what we see in the drills.

McShay: I would have liked to see J.K. Dobbins run, but even minus the Ohio State tailback -- who is No. 28 in my rankings -- the cream-of-the-crop running backs looked excellent on Friday night. D'Andre Swift (No. 12) is going to be a fantastic three-down back in the NFL. Jonathan Taylor (No. 35) from Wisconsin ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of all of the running backs this year. And Clyde Edwards-Helaire (No. 42) had an all-around strong workout, including a really good 39.5-inch vertical jump. There are definitely some difference-makers at the top of this position group.

Biggest risers from Day 2

Cam Akers, RB, Florida State

The running back class is not as strong at the top as it has been in years past, but there will be some really good backs who go on Day 2. One of those will be Akers, who had a great day Friday, running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash with a 35.5-inch vertical at 217 pounds. Those are great numbers. A former top recruit, Akers didn't get a lot of help at Florida State, which had a poor offensive line and bad quarterback play in his three seasons in Tallahassee. He had to create his own daylight, which is why his numbers don't quite compare to the big-play backs in this class. But Akers has solid vision, can break tackles and is great in the open field, and that 40 time is going to help him. He was my seventh-ranked running back going into the week, but he will jump a couple spots. If I was running a team and I could get him at the top of the third round, I'd do it in a heartbeat. -- Kiper

Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

We knew Wirfs was going to have an exceptional workout. We knew he was an explosive player. But he surpassed even those lofty expectations. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder had the best vertical of any offensive lineman since 2006 with 36.5 inches. To put that in perspective, that's better than star NFL receivers DeAndre Hopkins (36), A.J. Green (34.5) and Amari Cooper (33) posted. He also tied Kolton Miller's OL record (since 2006) for the broad jump at 10-foot-1. He wasn't done, either, blazing a 4.85 in the 40-yard dash for the fastest time by a 320-plus-pound player since at least 2006. My No. 15 prospect, Wirfs is super athletic and can drive defenders off the ball. He's likely a top-15 pick in April. -- McShay

How other top prospects fared on Day 2

D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

Swift is No. 12 on my board for a reason. He's super explosive with the ability to make one cut and just take off through the line of scrimmage. And his 4.48 40 time showed us just how much speed the class' top running back has. For one, it's more speed than we saw from other excellent Georgia backs in 2018; Nick Chubb cruised to a 4.52, and Sony Michel had a 4.54. Swift can move. On top of that, he excels catching the ball, something that has helped separate him from the pack in this year's RB class. He is a Day 1 running back. -- McShay

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

Taylor has some serious wheels. His 4.39 makes him the third-fastest combine running back at 225-plus pounds since 2006 (Knile Davis and Mario Fannin). Right now, Taylor is No. 35 in my rankings and my third-best running back, but that top tier is close. He is an instinctive between-the-tackles runner with good patience and burst, and now NFL teams know exactly how fast he can be when he turns upfield. After tacking on another 2,000-plus-yard season to a great career at Wisconsin and scoring 21 times on the ground in 2019, Taylor really impressed at the combine and looks poised to be an early Day 2 pick. -- McShay

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

My comp for the 5-foot-7, 207-pound Edwards-Helaire all along has been to Maurice Jones-Drew, who measured 5-foot-7, 210 pounds at the 2006 combine. Edwards-Helaire, though, doesn't have the straight-line speed of MJD (4.39 40) as he put up a 4.60 40 on Friday. That's not a bad time; he is more quick than fast, and I love his feet. Don't forget that the 5-foot-7 Devin Singletary ran a 4.66 40 last year, which dropped him to the third round, and the Bills ended up with a steal. Edwards-Helaire is going to go higher than that -- he'll bring a lot to an offense as a pass-catcher. Overall, it has been a great week for him. -- Kiper

Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

The 6-foot-7 Becton is the heaviest prospect in Indianapolis this week, weighing in at 364 pounds. And he told reporters before his workout that he still wants to lose a few more pounds. I'm not concerned about his weight, though, because of what I've seen on tape. He has great feet and athleticism, and he showed that Friday night in running a 5.10 40-yard dash, making him the biggest player to run a sub-5.2 40-yard dash at the combine since 2006. He has off-the-charts tools as a blindside protector, which is why I ranked him as my top tackle heading into the week. Becton reportedly tweaked his hamstring, which is why he didn't participate in other athletic testing. I already had him in the top 10 in my Mock Draft 2.0, so he's not exactly a riser, but he did solidify his ranking. -- Kiper

Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

Don't let Wills' workout get overlooked -- the former five-star prospect had a really solid day, putting up a 34.5-inch vertical (second to only Wirfs among the linemen) and running a 5.05 40. I love his 2019 tape, and he's a complete player. Wirfs and Becton got a lot of the hype on Friday, but I wouldn't be shocked if Wills, my second-ranked tackle, went ahead of both of them in April. -- Kiper

Additional thoughts from Day 2

McShay:

• Boston College's AJ Dillon, No. 50 on my board, weighed in at 247 pounds and still bested all running backs in both the vertical (41 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-11). He is just the fourth RB to jump that high and long since 2006 (Daniel Lasco, Lache Seastrunk and David Wilson). Dillon is tough to get on the ground and can be a big-play threat when he's able to build a head of steam.

• I thought LeVante Bellamy out of Western Michigan might have run a little faster. A 4.5 is still a very good time for a running back, but I was watching for one of the quickest 40s in the entire combine. He settled for eighth best among the RBs.

• It wasn't too, too long ago that Washington offensive tackle Trey Adams was a potential Round 1 guy. I even had him ranked high last year before he decided to go back to school. But the massive 6-foot-8, 319-pounder had a tough 2019 season after missing nearly all of 2018 due to a back injury, and the combine didn't help him out at all. His 5.60 40 time and 7-foot-8 broad jump were both worst among linemen, and his 24.5-inch vertical tied for the worst. Coming into the combine, I had Adams at No. 74 overall and No. 8 among OTs. He's not an elite athlete, and he struggles with quick inside and fluid double moves.

Kiper:

• Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, who injured his ankle in the College Football Playoff, skipped workouts and will run and test for scouts at his pro day. Don't leave him out of the discussion for the top back in this class -- his pro day will be well attended.

• Utah running back Zack Moss reportedly tweaked his hamstring before running his 40, which could explain his time of 4.65. His game speed is faster. I want to see him improve that time at his pro day next month.

• How about Maryland's Anthony McFarland Jr. running a 4.45 40? That's a great time for the 5-foot-8 back. He's likely a fifth- or sixth-round pick flier, but he has some potential.

• I gave Ball State offensive tackle Danny Pinter a Round 7/undrafted free agent grade, but his 4.91 40 means I need to take another look. That's a great time.

• I was really hoping to see Louisiana guard Robert Hunt go through workouts, but we'll have to wait for his pro day. He's my second-ranked guard, and I love his tape. He just mauls defenders.

• Speaking of the guard class, this is a strange year. As of now, I don't have a single guard with a first-, second- or third-round grade. All of them have Day 3 grades. Now, there will likely be a guard who goes before then, but I don't love the class overall.

DAY 1: QUARTERBACKS, WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS

What was the biggest takeaway from Thursday's workouts?

McShay: OK, we didn't break the 40-yard dash record, but man, this receiving group is as talented as we thought. Henry Ruggs III ran a 4.27, five one-hundredths off John Ross III's 2017 record of 4.22. Ruggs has easy speed, and he somehow looked like he could have run even faster than he did. Seriously. The big names in this deep receiving class -- Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Ruggs and Justin Jefferson -- showed up, and a few of the Day 2 guys popped. As we've been saying all along: If you need a receiver this year, all you'll have are options come April.

Kiper: The receiver class is incredibly deep, Todd; there are going to be some receivers with fourth-round grades on my board going late on Day 3. But let me focus on the quarterbacks here, because it was an interesting day without Joe Burrow or Tua Tagovailoa going through workouts. And my biggest takeaway is that there could be five quarterbacks in the first round, just like there were in 2018, with Justin Herbert, Jordan Love and Jacob Eason rounding out the list. Once free agency shakes out next month, we'll have a much better feel for which teams in Round 1 need quarterbacks. But prepare yourself for a fun night on April 23.

Biggest risers from Day 1

Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

I put Jefferson to the Packers at No. 30 in my Mock Draft 2.0, but I was too low on him. I didn't expect him to run a 4.43 40, which solidified his spot in Round 1, and he could move all the way up to the top 15. That's a phenomenal time for the 6-foot-1 Jefferson. He had an unbelievable season, catching 111 passes with 18 touchdowns from Burrow, and he emerged as a legitimate No. 1 receiver option for the NFL. He can move all around the field, lining up outside or in the slot. In a loaded class of top-tier wideouts, don't leave out Jefferson as one of the top three off the board. -- Kiper

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

He ran a decently quick 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, and his overall workout was really strong. Aiyuk has plenty of explosion in his game, and it showed up in a 40-inch vertical jump. He averaged 18.3 yards per catch, 16.1 yards per punt return and 29.7 yards per kickoff return in 2019. I love his after-the-catch potential, and he looked natural running his routes and plucking the ball on Thursday night. He is my No. 25 prospect overall and No. 7 receiver, and his performance in Indy solidified his serious Round 1 consideration. In fact, he's going to be in the mix for fourth receiver off the board with Jefferson and a handful of others behind Jeudy, Lamb and Ruggs. -- McShay

Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri

I mentioned Okwuegbunam in our combine preview as a potential workout warrior, and he went out and ran a blazing 4.49 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds. It was the fourth-fastest time for any tight end since 2006. So while I'll call Okwuegbunam a riser here, it's because his 2019 tape wasn't close to his 2018 tape, and he had a tough season with just 26 catches. I need to go back to the tape on him. He was ranked fourth in a lackluster tight end class, and I still think he's likely to be a third-round pick. But when a guy this big runs this fast, he has to be considered a riser. -- Kiper

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan

The explosive Peoples-Jones posted an absurd 44.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-7 broad jump. The only players at the combine to jump that high and long since 2006 were Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones (44.5 inches, 12-foot-3) and Jaguars receiver Chris Conley (45 inches, 11-foot-7). The Michigan receiver, who is No. 46 on my board and my 11th-best receiver, capped off a good workout with a solid 4.48 40 time. With inconsistent quarterback play in 2019, Peoples-Jones' numbers didn't pop, but he's a natural hands catcher and is super smooth transitioning upfield. -- McShay

How other top prospects fared on Day 1

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

I thought Herbert, my third-ranked quarterback, was extremely smooth on Thursday night, and he is crushing the pre-draft process. It started at the Senior Bowl, where he was the MVP. And it has continued in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.68 40, which tied for second best among the quarterbacks, and he had a 35.5-inch vertical. He's an athlete. Herbert made every throw look easy in the drills. It's really tough to evaluate these quarterbacks throwing to receivers they've never met, but Herbert looked sharp. He's going in the top 10, and I wouldn't be shocked if he lands in the top five. -- Kiper

Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

You better get your checkbook out, Mel. For those of you who missed it, Kiper and I have a bet riding on whether Herbert or Love will be selected first in April. The loser donates $5,000 to the Jimmy V Foundation. After yet another strong workout from Love at the combine, following that great Senior Bowl week, I'm not too worried. I truly believe he will be the third quarterback off the board. No, the production wasn't great this season, but remember that the Aggies lost a ton from their offense, including the coordinator. Love, No. 26 on my board, has been working with Jordan Palmer on tightening up his mechanics and being more efficient, and it's already showing. He also ran a smooth 4.74 in the 40, for what that's worth. He has a big arm and some twitch, and he plays the game aggressively and instinctively. -- McShay

Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia

The lack of arm strength was on full display. I do really love his football intelligence and the way he can throw his receivers open, but he just can't consistently drive the ball downfield. He seemed to be grinding everything out early to get velocity on the ball and just wore down because he naturally doesn't have that arm strength. He's going to struggle in the NFL on vertical throws and when trying to hit tight windows. There are limitations, and Fromm is likely a Day 2 pick and a very good backup at the next level. But again, the accuracy and mental makeup are terrific, and I'd actually take him over Eason. -- McShay

Jacob Eason, QB, Washington

Eason had the best deep ball accuracy of any of the quarterbacks (including Herbert) ... but was pretty underwhelming in interviews. He has a monster arm, and he puts the ball right where it needs to be on the vertical throws. It stood out on the field on Thursday night. But I've heard from a handful of teams that were pretty unimpressed with the interviewing process off the field. That was a big thing coming into the combine for Eason, and while these are short sessions that will later be expanded on, it didn't do him any favors. -- McShay

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Jeudy is an elite route runner and smooth hands catcher who put up big numbers for the Crimson Tide over the past two seasons (24 TDs). And he showed Thursday why NFL teams love him so much, running clean routes in drills and running a 4.45 40, with a 35-inch vertical. Those are numbers I expected, so my top-ranked receiver is staying where we had him heading into this week. -- Kiper

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

Lamb is always open on film; he averaged 21.4 yards per catch and had 14 touchdowns as Jalen Hurts' top target last season. But Lamb isn't a burner, and we knew that going into the combine. So I wasn't surprised with Lamb's 4.50 40, a solid if unspectacular time from him. He's still one of the best receivers in this class, and he's still battling Jeudy to be the top guy off the board. -- Kiper

Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

That 4.27 proved just how fast Ruggs is, but the 42-inch vertical also showed his tremendous explosion. Since 2006, no other player has produced both a sub-4.3 40-yard dash and a vert of 40 inches or more. As one of four elite receivers in perhaps one of the greatest collegiate receiving corps we've ever seen, the numbers weren't always there, but Ruggs was still frequently the primary look and had just one drop all season. And Alabama designed screens and reverses for his skill set, something the NFL team that drafts him will also take advantage of. If he develops his route running, there's a solid chance we look back on this 2020 draft class, the same one that features all these outstanding receivers, and pick him out as the most successful pass-catcher of the bunch. -- McShay

Additional thoughts from Day 1

Kiper:

• I wrote in our combine preview that Notre Dame's Cole Kmet, my top-ranked tight end, needed to run a 4.70 40, and that anything slower than that could cause him to drop. So what did he run? Exactly a 4.70 40. Kmet also posted the top vertical jump at his position (37 inches). He's going to stay atop my list of tight ends.

• I was disappointed that LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss and Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins weren't able to work out. Moss' medical revealed a broken foot that will require surgery; that's a tough break for a prospect who could have risen -- he's my eighth-ranked tight end -- with a strong combine. Higgins is choosing to work out at his pro day next month, and scouts will be watching his 40 time closely. I still have a first-round grade on him.

• Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts had a good workout, and you can tell he has worked on his mechanics. Hurts, who came in at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, ran the fastest 40 of the quarterbacks (4.59). I have a fifth-round grade on him right now, but I want to hear how he did in the interviews with teams.

• SMU wide receiver James Proche didn't run the 40, but he was extremely impressive catching passes on Thursday, looking fluid and catching everything with his hands and away from his body. He had more than 200 catches with 27 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he's a potential Day 2 riser.

• How about Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims' workout? He's not in my list of top 10 wideouts right now, but I'm going to reconsider. He ran a 4.38 40 at 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds for one of the fastest times of the day. He also had outstanding numbers in the vertical jump (38 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 11 inches). I'm going to go back and watch more of his film.

McShay:

• First off, back off Justin Jefferson, Mel. He has been in the top 32 on my board for quite a while now. The 4.43 in the 40 headlined a great workout, and I loved one of the over-the-shoulder catches he made on a vertical throw without breaking stride.

• Texas receiver Devin Duvernay was flying in the 40, posting a 4.39. He has the speed, and he certainly produces: Duvernay had 106 catches for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019. He ranks No. 69 overall and No. 13 among receivers.

• Wow, that 4.47 is pretty disappointing for TCU receiver Jalen Reagor. He entered the combine all the way up at No. 20 in my rankings -- my fifth-best receiver -- and expectations were sky-high in the 40. I thought he might even have a chance to be one of the fastest of the weekend and was looking for something in the 4.3s.

• Since 2003, only two receivers have measured at least 6-foot-4 and weighed at least 235 pounds and run the 40-yard dash in under 4.45 seconds. The first was Calvin Johnson. The second? Notre Dame's Chase Claypool (4.42), who is No. 108 on my board.

• USC's Michael Pittman Jr. continues to be overlooked. I see a nice parallel to Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster here. Pittman will likely end up a second-round pick, land somewhere as a WR2 and just go off. He knows how to separate, and he's a meticulous worker. He posted a 4.52 in the 40, and wouldn't you know it, Smith-Schuster ran a 4.54.

• What is going on with Vanderbilt tight end Jared Pinkney? If he had come out last year, he probably would have been a Round 2 pick. But now a dip in production this past season, a disappearance at the Senior Bowl and most recently a rough 4.96 40 have scouts asking a lot of questions. Listen, he still has a chance to do very well in the NFL, but that 40 time hurts, especially considering the speed from some of the other tight ends.