NFL Combine 2023: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Darnell Washington among winners and losers in WR, TE groups

The day started sluggish for the pass-catchers, nevertheless it rapidly picked up with some memorable performances. A handful of prospects elevated their inventory with sturdy performances whereas others despatched scouts again to the tape. 

Listed below are among the winners and losers from Saturday’s on-field drills in Indianapolis, beginning with a have a look at the measurements of our winners:

Winners

Large receivers

Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati: Scott is enjoyable to look at together with his skill to get out and in of breaks. He confirmed explosive qualities in his broad and vertical jumps. Within the gauntlet drill, he saved his route flat throughout the sector and regarded actually easy within the course of. 

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU: Johnston might have actually blown individuals away with a powerful 40-yard sprint time, however he jumped out of the stadium in all instructions. Johnston adopted up with on-field drills displaying his skill to safe the catch down the road and monitor the ball deep. He acknowledged his declare because the draft’s prime vast receiver prospect. 

Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma: Mims examined quick and explosive. His on-field efficiency didn’t disappoint, both. Oklahoma was down this season and Mims transitioned from Caleb Williams to Dillon Gabriel, however Mims nonetheless asserted himself because the go-to vast receiver in that offense. He ought to see his inventory rise.

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston Faculty: Flowers was fast by the whip routes and usually excelled in areas that almost all would anticipate. Nonetheless, he did a superb job of taking part in above the rim when given the chance and examined respectably. Houston’s Tank Dell is one other who did a superb job within the gauntlet drill, flattening his route throughout the sector. 

Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina: Downs was a easy operator. His measurables might not stack up favorably to different prime prospects on this class, however his consideration to element operating routes, getting out and in of breaks and eluding defenders post-catch haven’t gone unnoticed. He will not be as function versatile however may have no drawback producing.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: Smith-Njigba missed a lot of the season with a nagging harm, so it was good to see him again on the sector. He didn’t do any athletic testing past the vertical and broad jumps. Nonetheless, his route-running was crisp and he caught every little thing cleanly. He ran a 6.57-second 3-cone drill, which was almost 0.3 seconds faster than the following quickest. His 3.93-second 20-yard shuttle was almost 0.2 seconds faster than the following quickest. Smith-Njigba was an elite tester in change of path drills. His inventory might bounce up a bit, nevertheless it might actually skyrocket with a quick 40-yard sprint time at his Professional Day.

Princeton’s Andrei Iosivas is one more vast receiver who regarded good from the primary vast receiver group.

Tight ends

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia: Washington was nearly second fiddle in Athens due to the influence of Brock Bowers. Washington was primarily used as a blocker, however he confirmed a fluid skill to work down the road on the gauntlet drill. He acquitted himself properly as a pass-catcher, along with his monitor file as a blocker. Washington made the catch of the night time on a fade in the direction of the tip of the on-field session.

Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa: LaPorta was a bit undersized, however he ran properly. Followers noticed him show a capability to trace the soccer downfield, in addition to hold his line throughout the sector within the gauntlet drill. One NFL crew goes to get a well-rounded tight finish from a constant producer of the place. LaPorta was not capable of haul within the last fade throw on the night time after a strong exercise.

Will Mallory, TE, Miami: Mallory rounds out what was a stellar displaying from the tight finish group. He’s frivolously mentioned relative to the remainder of the category, however he ran quick and jumped excessive. Miami had some inconsistent play at quarterback, however Mallory was constant.

Losers

Large receivers

Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU: Boutte wanted a powerful efficiency to essentially elevate his inventory, however that was not the case. He ranked low in almost all athletic testing aside from the 40-yard sprint. 

Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina: Brooks regarded a bit extra stiff relative to plenty of the opposite athletes among the many vast receiver teams. He ran the slowest 40-yard sprint time (4.69 seconds) and the slowest 3-cone drill (7.15 seconds).

Tight ends

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame: There have been hardly any losers from the tight finish group, however Mayer might have been one simply from the angle of different tight ends rising. Mayer caught the ball properly however didn’t check off-the-charts, which was to be anticipated. He’s going to be a profitable, professional however his inventory might have been impacted by others, like Darnell Washington, rising.

The 2023 NFL Draft will probably be held April 27-29 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. 

For stay response from at present’s festivities, take a look at Saturday’s stay weblog. The operating backs and offensive linemen wrap up motion in Indianapolis Sunday.