NFL Analysis
3/2/24
8 min read
2024 NFL Combine: Winners, Losers From Saturday's Workouts
The third day of the NFL Combine wrapped up as the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers all worked out in Indianapolis. This was the most exciting day of workouts, with most of the top players in the country on the field competing against one another. But which players stood out? And who saw their stock fall?
Here are the biggest winners and losers from Day 3 of the NFL Combine.
NFL COMBINE DAY 3 WINNERS AND LOSERs
WINNER: Xavier WOrthy, WR, Texas
It was not a shock to see Xavier Worthy run well. Going into the week, he was the favorite to run the fastest 40-yard dash. Not only did he outrun everyone at this year's combine, but he is now the NFL Combine's record holder in the 40-yard dash.
Worthy ran an unofficial 4.25-second 40-yard dash on his first attempt, which created a ton of buzz in Indianapolis. But Worthy wasn't satisfied. On his second attempt, he ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash and tied John Ross's record in 2017. A few moments later, it was announced that his official time was a 4.21-second 40-yard dash.
OFFICIAL: 4.21
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB
It’s hard not to put Worthy on this because he broke the most notable record at the combine. But it is worth mentioning that he also posted a 41-inch vertical with a 10-foot-11 broad jump. Those numbers were good enough to rank in the top five of the wide receivers this year.
Worthy was widely viewed as a top-50 pick going into the combine, but now there is no telling how much his draft stock could improve. Worthy has great college production (2,811 yards and 26 touchdowns in three seasons) and all-time great speed. Those types of players usually don't last very long, and it's not unreasonable to think he could wind up being a top-20 selection after putting on a show in Indianapolis.
>>READ: Full Combine Results for Every Player
Loser: Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
Several running backs underperformed at the NFL Combine, but one of the biggest losers has to be Oregon’s Bucky Irving. Without a clear-cut RB1 entering the combine, Irving had a chance to take that spot with a big performance. Unfortunately, that wasn’t Irving.
Irving posted a 29.5-inch vertical, the worst among all the running backs. His broad jump of 9-foot-7 was the second worst among the group. The jumps generally indicate a prospect’s explosiveness, and both scores are well below average for an NFL running back. Irving ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, which isn’t a death knell. But it’s also not great for a player whose game is built off speed and quickness.
The good news is that testing doesn’t correlate as well at the running back position as it does others, but his overall athletic profile is incredibly concerning. He tested as a 37th percentile athlete at the running back position, which is a problem for anyone trying to be selected in the first three rounds. In a running back class with a lot of depth, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him drop a bit among his peers.
Winner: Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Trey Benson might be the most physical running back in this class. Simply put, he runs angry. That's why we compared him to Josh Jacobs. But unlike Jacobs, he is a premier athlete and showed that on Saturday.
Measuring in at 6-foot, 216 pounds, Benson ran a blazing 4.39-second 40-yard dash. That was the group's third-fastest and incredibly impressive, considering his build. He also posted well above average jump numbers, and his overall physical profile puts him in the upper echelon of athletes to enter the league at running back in recent memory.
The biggest knock on Benson is his health, as he suffered a major knee injury in 2020, but he’s been able to bounce back and keep all of his athleticism. He totaled more than 2,200 yards over the last two seasons and has a chance to be the first running back off the board after an amazing combine performance.
Loser: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Keon Coleman is one of the most challenging receivers in the class to figure out. His highlights are as good as anyone, and his size is a significant issue for most defenders. But projecting him to the NFL is difficult.
Let’s start with the positive. Coleman posted impressive jump numbers at the NFL Combine, with his 38-inch vertical ranking in the 80th percentile. He looked good in the positional drills and was one of the smoothest receivers in the gauntlet drill. He even hit over 20 mph during the drill, which was among the fastest of the group.
.@FSUFootball WR Keon Coleman was flying through the gauntlet drill.
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3OoYvC2xyN
However, his 40-yard dash time is concerning. Coleman recorded an official 4.61-second time, which is pretty damning for a player that wants to go inside the top 50. This receiver class is incredibly fast, and Coleman's lack of speed stands out. He finished with the second-slowest 40-yard dash time among all the receivers and even had a slower time than teammate Johnny Wilson (4.52 seconds), who weighed in at 231 pounds.
The history of receivers in the NFL who run a 4.60 40-yard dash is pretty bleak, but there have been some success stories, including Allen Robinson (4.60). That might be his best pro comparison when you consider his play style and size. Considering his jumping ability and size, Coleman's overall athlete profile is still great. But his lack of top-end speed could cause him to fall in an exceptionally deep class.
Winner: ADonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The top three receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft seem set in stone. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze. After that, the WR4 spot is up for grabs. Coming into the day, Coleman, Brian Thomas Jr., and Adonai Mitchell were the most likely players competing for that spot. But leaving Indianapolis, a favorite has emerged.
Mitchell dominated every single part of the NFL Combine. He started the day off incredibly strong, posting a 39.5-inch vertical (89th percentile) and an 11-foot-4 broad jump (98th percentile). Those jump scores show off his incredible explosiveness and ability to go up and get the football.
The big question going into Indianapolis was his speed. No one ever questioned his long speed, but an official 4.34-second 40-yard dash led his group. The list of receivers who measured taller than 6-foot-2 and ran a sub-4.35-second 40 is incredibly small. And the fact that he did it at more than 200 pounds makes it even more impressive.
Mitchell also looked incredibly smooth during the positional drills, which was expected. Mitchell should be a first-round lock. He has too much size, athleticism and production to be ignored in the top 32 picks.
>>READ: Latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Loser: Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
It's tough for a quarterback to be considered a "loser" during the NFL Combine, so keep that in mind when we discuss Spencer Rattler's performance. He ends up on this list because he failed to impress physically despite several other quarterbacks sitting out the week.
Rattler measured 6-foot, 211 pounds, which wasn't surprising. We knew his official size since he weighed in at the Senior Bowl. A few quarterbacks in the NFL have succeeded at 6-foot and under, but the list is small. What is more concerning is that his athleticism didn't stand out. Rattler ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash, and his broad jump number (9-foot) was just in the 40th percentile among all quarterbacks. His overall RAS was just 2.58, which was the worst of all the quarterbacks that tested at the combine.
Rattler has a huge arm and a quick release, but his lack of size and athleticism will likely hold him back from being anything more than a spot starter in the NFL. Teams gambling on a mid-round quarterback usually want to bet on upside, and Rattler seems a bit maxed out with his frame. No one should move him much on their board, but it is fair to be disappointed with his athletic testing numbers from Saturday.
