INDIANAPOLIS — The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine is now in the rear-view mirror, but not without plenty of players putting their stamp on the event. This year's Combine came with some surprise performances, with players' size measurements giving their stock a boost this year perhaps more often than in recent Combines.
Although many of the 330-plus participants did a great job in their testing and on-field workouts, we've whittled down our list to 20 of the players who caused the biggest buzz around them at this year's Combine. These players all impressed with their athletic tests and the on-field positional drills that they took part in.
THE HEAVYWEIGHTS
These players were already pretty widely considered first-rounders, and they all but cemented their status with their performances at the Combine.
Garrett Bradbury | Interior Offensive Lineman | NC State
On the opening day of field workouts and testing, Bradbury established himself as arguably the top interior offensive lineman in the draft. He finished first among offensive linemen in the three-cone drill (7.41), third in 40-yard dash (4.92), second in the bench press (34), tied for sixth in the 20-yard shuttle (4.53) and tied for seventh in the vertical (31.0").
Brian Burns | Edge Defender | Florida State
Burns' main concern as a prospect was his slender frame. However, he added 21 pounds since the end of the season and didn't lose speed, running the 40 in 4.53 seconds, which was the third-fastest among edge players. He also had great measurables at 6-5, 249 pounds and 33 7/8" arms. We featured Burns during the Combine here.
Devin Bush | Linebacker | Michigan
Bush performed very well, running the 40 in 4.43 seconds, which was just a tenth of a second behind Devin White, who is largely considered the top linebacker in the draft. Bush's performance may have pulled him even with White. It's not a great linebacker class at the top, so this was a big deal for Bush.
Noah Fant | Tight End | Iowa
Fant called his shot when speaking to the media last week and saying he'd prove what he was capable of in workouts. He did just that, outdueling his Iowa teammate, T.J. Hockenson, who many consider to be the top tight end in the draft. Fant ran the fastest 40 among tight ends (4.50) and also logged the the best vertical (39.5"), broad jump (127.0"), three-cone (6.81) and 60-yard shuttle. He also put up 20 reps on the bench. We featured Fant during the Combine here.
Rashan Gary | Edge Defender | Michigan
Gary cemented his status as one of the top edge/defensive line prospects after running 4.58 40 (tops among defensive linemen) and leaping 38.0" in the vertical and 122.0" in the broad jump.
D.K. Metcalf | Wide Receiver | Ole Miss
Wow. Metcalf showed up on social media recently looking like he's from outer space, and he verified all of it at the Combine. The only thing he didn't smash out of the park was his three-cone and short-shuttle times. At 6-3 and 228 pounds, he ran a 4.33-second 40, put up 27 reps on the bench press, had a 40.5" vertical and 134.0" broad jump. This likely firmly planted his status as WR1.
Ed Oliver | Defensive Tackle | Houston
Oliver didn't do a full round of testing, but his measurements of 6-2 and 287 were enough to convince people he wasn't too small. Along with explosive scores in the vertical (36.0") and broad jumps (120.0"), Oliver also put up 32 reps on the bench despite getting pummeled beforehand by Washington Redskins head strength and conditioning coach, Chad Englehart.
Montez Sweat | Edge Defender | Mississippi State
People knew Sweat was fast, but maybe not 4.41 fast. Colts owner Jim Irsay was certainly caught off guard. That's not just fast, but it's a modern Combine record for defensive linemen. Sweat showed blazing speed and had nice scores in the vertical (36.0") and broad jumps (125.0"), three-cone drill (7.00) and short shuttle (4.29). It's a crowded edge class at the top, but Sweat's performance was a nice match to Burns.
Devin White | Linebacker | LSU
White led all linebackers in the 40 (4.42) and was tied for second in the vertical (39.5"). He also looked fluid in on-field drills, so he did nothing to hurt his stock, and he verified many of his high points.
Quinnen Williams | Interior Defensive Lineman | Alabama
At 303 pounds, Williams ran for a 4.83, which was good for sixth among defensive linemen. Again, people knew he was a great prospects, but like on-air commentator Daniel Jeremiah stated, Williams is in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
THE UP-AND-COMERS
It's pretty self-explanatory, but these players really helped themselves. Whether they make you go back and rewatch their film to find things you missed before, their on-field performances broke a tie between other prospects, or their interviews set them apart, these players' arrows are pointing up.
Johnathan Abram | Safety | Mississippi State
He's an aggressive, hard-hitting safety whose main questions were speed and athleticism. Abram's movement skills were on full display, and he may have put people's concerns to bed with his workout. He may have also had the quote of the Combine: "My wife, we talked about it a lot. She say if you're not hitting like Bobby Boucher, you're not really hitting."
Alex Barnes | Running Back | Kansas State
Barnes put himself on the map right away with a new high mark for running backs on the bench since 2003 with 34 reps of 225 pounds. He smashed much of the rest of his workout also, posting a 38.5" vertical, 126.0" broad jump, a sub-7.00 three-cone and a 4.1-second short shuttle. He's definitely a player that you move up your watch list following his performance.
Miles Boykin | Wide Receiver | Notre Dame
This is an incredibly deep receiver class, and Boykin putting up high marks everywhere and measuring in at 6-4 and 220 pounds certainly helped put some attention on him. He ran a 4.43-second 40, would tie for the lead among receivers with a crazy 43.5" vertical, was second in the broad jump 140.0" and led all receivers with a 6.77-second three-cone.
Hakeem Butler | Wide Receiver | Iowa State
At 6-5 and 227 pounds, Butler ran a sub-4.5 40 and had a 128.0" broad jump. The speed score definitely helps keep him in the conversation for being one of the top "big" receivers taken in the draft.
Parris Campbell | Wide Receiver | Ohio State
Like Boykin, Campbell went from a so-so name to someone that many people were talking about after scorching down the sideline for 4.31-second 40-yard dash time, tying for the lead among receivers. He also had great scores in the vertical (40.0"), broad jump (135.0") and 20-yard shuttle (4.03).
Jamel Dean | Cornerback | Auburn
Dean briefly owned the fastest 40 time of the 2019 Combine with a 4.30 before it was broken shortly after by Zedrick Woods' 4.29. At 6-1 and 206 pounds, Dean has nice size for the cornerback position, and his 40, vertical (41.0"), broad jump (130.0"), three-cone (7.02) and short shuttle (4.19) show that he is an explosive athlete who moves fluidly. Add him to your watch list.
Justice Hill | Running Back | Oklahoma State
Hill was all over the top of the Combine leaderboard among running backs, finishing first in the 40 (4.40), vertical (40.0") and broad jump (130.0"). He was injured during his second 40 attempt, so he was unable to participate in positional drills, but he was expected to perform well. He impressed while he was on the field.
Byron Murphy | Cornerback | Washington
Murphy's testing drills were just okay, but his on-field workout is what really did him a favor. He showed off his smooth mobility and good ball skills when it was time for cornerback drills.
Amani Oruwariye | Cornerback | Penn State
This one is kind of a 1A, 1B situation with Murphy and Oruwariye. Oruwariye had a better overall performance than Murphy — measuring in at 6-2, 205 with nice scores in everything that he did and a good on-field workout — but both of them gained ground in the top of the cornerback class. Greedy Williams, who is many people's top corner, ran fast in the 40, but that was never a question. He withdrew from the workouts early because of cramps, so guys like Murphy, Oruwariye and Deandre Baker were able to show what they were made of in cornerback drills.
Mike Weber | Running Back | Ohio State
Weber is someone who repeatedly caught my eye in Friday's workouts, and his test scores mostly back that up as he posted reasonable scores in everything in which he participated. He also looked good in on-field drills, catching the ball naturally and moving very seamlessly.
