Analysis
3/5/23
7 min read
2023 NFL Combine: Biggest Winners and Losers From RB, OL Workouts
Texas running back Bijan Robinson (scouting report) and Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones (scouting report) were the top two players at their positions heading into Sunday, and both solidified their standing with outstanding combine performances.
Robinson checked all the athleticism boxes and was outstanding in position drills, while Jones measured and tested nearly identical to Ikem Ekwonu, the sixth pick in last year's draft.
The 33rd Team Scouting Department provides the best — and most disappointing — showings of Day 4.
What We Learned on Day 4
- NFL Combine Measurements for RB, OL
- 10 Fastest Players at NFL Combine
- 11 Freakiest Athletes at NFL Combine
Day 4 Winners
Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
Height: 6-8 | Weight: 302 | Arm: 33 7/8" | Hand: 10"
40 Time: 4.98 | Vertical: 37" | Broad: 10-0 | 3-Cone: 7.46 | Shuttle: 4.71
Freeland (scouting report) had a top-notch day. He has great size and jumped out of the gym (37-inch vertical and 10-foot broad jump). The BYU product showed off his explosiveness and light, pitter-pat feet. He has straight-line speed thanks to his long strides, which helped him run a 4.98-second 40-yard dash.
Freeland helped himself and did an excellent job answering any questions scouts may have about his athletic ability. When he gets into an NFL building, he should look to add some strength and weight to maximize his ability.
>>READ: Freeland Among Biggest Freak Athletes at Combine
Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Height: 6-8 | Weight: 374 | Arm: 36 3/8" | Hand: 11 5/8"
40 Time: 5.35| Vertical: DNP | Broad: DNP | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: DNP
Jones (scouting report) did not disappoint in Indianapolis. He is an enormous man with rare arm length (36 3/8 inches). He has some of the most enormous hands in this draft class. When an offensive tackle has issues blocking speed rushers, having great length will always be a fallback to bail him out.
To go along with his length, Jones moves well for his size. He is not stiff at all and ran a 5.35 40-yard dash at 374 pounds. He should do the rest of his drills on his pro day, but he was a winner on Sunday.
Sidy Sow, OT, Eastern Michigan
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 323 | Arm: 33 5/8" | Hand: 10 3/8"
40 Time: 5.07| Vertical: 32" | Broad: 9'2" | 3-Cone: 7.62 | Shuttle: 4.69
People don’t know much about him, but Sow had a solid day. He measured up well vs. many of the top offensive linemen in the country. He has good size (323 pounds) and good enough length with just under 34-inch arms.
Sow has good movement skills and looks fluid on his feet. Any time a player over 320 pounds runs a 5.11 40-yard dash, you take notice. He displayed explosiveness with a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-2 broad jump.
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 311 | Arm: 34 3/4" | Hand: 10 5/8"
40 Time: 4.97 | Vertical: 30" | Broad: 9-0 | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: DNP
Sunday was the first chance to get official measurements of Jones and he came in a little taller and longer than expected. He hit some important metrics for a future left tackle. He ran the fastest 40 (4.97) among offensive linemen and registered the fifth-best 10-yard split (1.74).
When he moved to fieldwork, Jones showed the wide base, fluid movement and strength he displayed at Georgia. At 21 years old, his best football is ahead of him.
.@GeorgiaFootball OT Broderick Jones, @movethesticks’ 17th overall prospect, shows off the wheels with a 4.98u. @millionairemov3
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/MuBBTBLzDw— NFL (@NFL) March 5, 2023
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 215 | Arm: 31 1/8" | Hand: 9 3/4"
40 Time: 4.46 | Vertical: 37" | Broad: 10-4 | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: DNP
Robinson was outstanding in position drills. He is a top-level route runner and pass catcher. The Texas running back has natural hands to pluck the ball outside the framework of his body. His confidence in his hands stood out during drills.
He can be at top speed and does not have to gear down to catch the ball; he just snatches it and rolls up the field. That is what they call “play speed.” He plays faster than his 4.46 timed speed. Robinson was also explosive in his jumps (37-inch vertical and 10-foot-4 broad jump).
Bijan Robinson’s footwork is something ELSE 😳
The Longhorns RB put on a CLINIC today at the NFL Combine. pic.twitter.com/NVtlOQfeby
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) March 6, 2023
Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Height: 5-9 1/2" | Weight: 209 | Arm: 31" | Hand: 10"
40 Time: 4.43| Vertical: 40" | Broad: 10-7 | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: DNP
Sunday was an excellent day for Brown (scouting report). He led all running backs with a 10-foot-7 broad jump and a 40-inch vertical. Brown ran well with a 4.43 40 time to add to his impressive day.
He looked smooth in his cuts during position drills with good eyes and awareness. He ran crisp routes and showed soft hands with natural technique. Brown improved his stock with a good showing.
Day 3 Losers
T.J. Bass, OG, Oregon
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 317 | Arm: 32 3/8" | Hand: 9 1/4"
40 Time: 5.48 | Vertical: 29" | Broad: 9-10 | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: 4.25
Bass (scouting report) struggled. Teams around the league are split on Bass, so there are a variety of opinions and grades on him. He measured in with poor length (32 3/8-inch arms). He looked stiff and rigid athletically.
Bass’ 40 time of 5.48 was one of the worst of the entire week, and he only jumped 28.5 inches in the vertical. He must improve those numbers at his pro day later this month.
Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan
Height: 6-2 1/2" | Weight: 309 | Arm: 32 3/4" | Hand: 8 5/8"
40 Time: 5.38 | Vertical: 29" | Broad: 9-2 | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: DNP
Oluwatimi’s (scouting report) strength is what he can do in pads with his power, toughness and intelligence. The combine is not his game. Oluwatimi has good film, but his testing numbers were below average.
His arm length was under 33 inches, and his hand size was only 8 5/8 inches. Plus, he was under 6-3 (6'2 1/2"). Oluwatimi didn't run well (5.38), and his jumps were ordinary (29-inch vertical and 9-foot-2 broad). However, there are plenty of reasons to believe in his ability. Look for him to improve on his pro day.
O'Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
Height: 6-5" | Weight: 330 | Arm: 33 7/8" | Hand: 11 1/4"
40 Time: 5.31 | Vertical: 23.5" | Broad: 8-5 | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: 4.81
Torrence (scouting report) struggled during his fieldwork. He lacked explosiveness, registering a 23.5-inch vertical and an 8-foot-5 broad jump. The former Florida Gator ran an average 40 time, clocking in at a 5.31 with a 1.84 10-yard split. In his position work, he showed average change-of-direction ability and get off.
Torrence isn't known as a shifty athlete and relies on power to be successful. However, he did nothing to alleviate the concerns about his athletic ability.
Tavion Thomas, RB, Utah
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 237 | Arm: 31 1/8" | Hand: 9 1/4"
40 Time: 4.74 | Vertical: 30" | Broad: 9-10 | 3-Cone: DNP | Shuttle: DNP
Thomas (scouting report) is the biggest running back at the combine, so expectations were not high for him going into tests. But he did not show any explosiveness. He is a one-speed player with heavy feet and lower body tightness.
Thomas underwhelmed with a 30-inch vertical and a 9-foot-10 broad jump. He also confirmed his lack of a second gear by running a 4.74 40-yard dash. He may be too heavy, cutting some weight might help.
The 33rd Team Scouting Department
- T.J. McCreight: Former player personnel executive for the Philadelphia Eagles and former director of college scouting for the Indianapolis Colts
- Justin Casey: Worked for the Arizona Cardinals in football administration and then as the senior player personnel executive for the Montreal Alouettes
- Kevin Cohn: Former scouting assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars and assistant director of player personnel for the University of Connecticut
- Evan Pritt: Former Eagles scouting assistant and player personnel assistant for the University of Maryland