Philadelphia Eagles Draft: 5 Combine Prospects To Watch

Carlos Henderson, WR, LA Tech

Listen, I promise you, the Carlos Henderson train will come hurtling out of the station post-Combine. Best to hop on now.

The Louisiana Tech product spent the majority of the year unknown among draftniks and bloggers, but has exploded onto the scene as of late. A YAC maven who rarely falls at first contact, he has the ability to climb the ladder and make contested catches, create separation with physicality at the line, and catch away from his frame. Dude’s a straight beast. He’s starting to show up at the tail-end of Round 1 mock drafts, and I expect those appearances in greater frequency as time continues. I haven’t finished his grading yet, but as of right now he’d come in at WR4.

Will Henderson have questions to answer at the Combine? Honestly, no. You can’t deny his long speed, lateral agility, and explosiveness when watching his tape. His jumps, short shuttle, and three-cone should rank among the best in the class, along with his 10-yard split in the 40. Strong Combine performances always help prospects make a little extra cash by boosting their stock, but nobody has as much to gain as Henderson. The word ‘meteoric’ come to mind.

Next: Should The Eagles Trade Matthews?

If the Philadelphia Eagles already have tabs on Henderson, they’ll watch solely to affirm their belief in his extraordinary potential. However, the increased buzz will likely make the buying price of Henderson higher and higher. Is he worth a selection at #15? Right now, I’ll take a pass. On a positive note, small-school WRs don’t have a great history in the making it into Round 1 unless they’re undeniably elite (e.g. Corey Davis). If Henderson slips into Round 2, every WR-needy team will try to pounce. Philly just has to hope to get there first.