NFL Analysis
3/29/24
6 min read
2024 NFL Draft: Which Players Made Money at Their Pro Days?
The NFL Pro Day circuit has just about wrapped up, and there were some huge winners in the last month.
While pro days are only one part of the puzzle, they're another important box to check for soon-to-be rookies. So which players improved their stock during their pro day?
Here are five players who made money this month.
2024 Pro Day Winners
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
It’s hard for a player to raise their stock at a pro day when they're already viewed as a consensus top-10 pick. But that’s what Malik Nabers did at LSU’s Pro Day on Wednesday. After not working out at the NFL Combine, Nabers put on a show.
According to the “official” results handed out by LSU, Nabers ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. We're still waiting for the actual results from NFL scouts, but we know he's fast. His more impressive (and reliable) numbers came from the explosion drills.
Nabers posted a 42-inch vertical, which would have been tied for the third-best among all receivers at the NFL Combine (97th percentile). His 129-inch broad jump was also impressive, finishing in the 88th percentile among all wide receivers since 1999.
It seems impossible, but Nabers has closed the gap between him and Marvin Harrison Jr. Now, we're hearing whispers Nabers could be drafted ahead of Harrison. That remains to be seen, but Nabers is likely a lock to be a top-six pick, and his pro-day performance couldn't have been better.
Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
Audric Estime was one of the biggest losers of the NFL Combine despite posting incredible jump scores. At 221 pounds, Estime had a 38-inch vertical (86th percentile) and a 125-inch broad jump (87th percentile). Those numbers were outstanding, but his 4.71-second 40-yard dash tanked his draft value.
While he isn’t known for his speed, there were quite a few plays in his college tape where he busted off long runs. But 4.71 seconds just isn't enough speed to be a starting-caliber running back. No NFL back since 1999 has run a 4.71-second 40-yard dash or worse and posted a 1,000-yard season.
But Estime improved his 40-yard dash time at Notre Dame's Pro Day, running a 4.61-second time. While that's still slower for a starting running back, it is a significantly better time, and several quality NFL running backs ran around a 4.60-second 40-yard dash.
If Estime had declined to run his 40-yard dash at his pro day, he would have fallen deep into the third day of the draft. But after posting a much more respectable 40-yard time, he is back in the top-100 conversation.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Ladd McConkey is one of the pre-draft process’ biggest risers. That started at the Senior Bowl when he couldn't be covered in 1-on-1 drills.
That rise continued through the combine when he ran a blazing 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 186 pounds. And he crushed the final step of the on-field work at Georgia’s Pro Day.
Most of the wide receivers at the combine opted out of the agility drills, but McConkey showed off his quickness and suddenness for NFL scouts last week. He posted a 3.97-second 20-yard shuttle and a 6.72-second 3-cone drill, which are among the fastest in the class at wide receiver.
The elite agility numbers greatly affected his RAS (relative athletic score), which went from 8.88 to 9.33 after his pro day. His speed and agility scores are elite, which is a hard combination to find for a wide receiver who weighs more than 185 pounds.
Will McConkey be selected in Round 1? It's certainly not out of the question, especially after crushing the pre-draft process. At this point, it would be a massive surprise if he wasn't selected inside the top 40 picks.
Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
It's always dangerous when a player opts out of combine testing despite being fully healthy. It makes sense for players such as Harrison Jr., who will be selected inside the top five regardless of their testing numbers. But for fringe Day 2 players, it's much riskier.
That bet paid off for Ohio State DT Michael Hall. He didn’t do any on-field testing in Indianapolis and waited until his pro day to wow scouts. And he sure did.
Weighing in at 290 pounds, Hall ran a sub 4.80-second 40-yard dash. While we're still waiting on the “official” number, many scouts in attendance timed him around 4.76 seconds.
If we assume Hall ran even a 4.80-second 40-yard dash, that would have been the second-fastest among all interior defensive linemen at the combine. Since 2017, only five defensive tackles have run a 4.80-second 40-yard dash at the combine.
Pro-day 40-yard times are more unreliable, but Hall's speed and quickness are undeniable. That 40-yard time, whatever it officially comes in at, is incredible. Expect to hear his name called early on Day 2 of the draft.
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
One of the most fascinating players in this year’s draft is Penn State’s Chop Robinson. He was a part-time player for the Nittany Lions, coming off the field in obvious run situations.
But he'll get drafted early because of his pass-rushing skills. There isn't a better pass rusher in this class at bending around the edge, and his insane athletic testing numbers match his on-field tape.
Robinson posted big numbers at the combine, running a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at 254 pounds. But the more impressive number was the 1.53-second 10-yard split, which is among the fastest ever for a pass rusher over 250 pounds.
According to MockDraftable, only one other player in combine history has run a 1.53-second 10-yard split or faster on the defensive line: Nolan Smith (1.52), who weighed 238 pounds, 16 pounds lighter than Robinson.
However, Robinson made this list because of the agility drills he performed at State College. Most of the pass rushers, including Robinson, opted out of the agility drills at the combine.
Robinson put on a show at Penn State, posting a 6.94-second 3-cone drill.
Chop Robinson is a DE prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.79 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 36 out of 1685 DE from 1987 to 2024.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 19, 2024
Official pro day results pending.https://t.co/3Bwc8ao9Tr pic.twitter.com/q8qxlNi6Gb
We already knew Robinson was fast and athletic, but his agility numbers show he's an exceptional athlete. He's checked every box from an athletic standpoint, and now we're waiting to see where he gets drafted.
With pass rush still at a premium in the NFL, it's hard to imagine Robinson not being selected in Round 1. What he does well is too valuable, and his athleticism is just as rare.
