NFL Combine Day 2: Wide Receiver and Tight End Risers and Fallers

The quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends of the 2017 NFL Draft class took to the field today at the NFL Combine. Who stood out, and who fell behind?

On this, the second day of the 2017 NFL Combine, pass catchers and pass throwers hit the field. I won’t be jotting down any quarterback notes because the Eagles don’t need one. I don’t know if you heard, but they have this North Dakotan ginger guy who’s pretty darn good.

But there was plenty to watch between the wideouts and the tight ends. Every Philly fan knows how desperately the Eagles need a true WR1. They’ve been linked to free agents and even rumored to be considering a trade, but will likely address the position in the draft regardless.

After signing RFA Trey Burton, TE may not be as big of a need for Philly, but both Celek and Burton could walk after the 2017 season, leaving the Eagles in need of depth. A historically talented tight end class took the field in Indianapolis, so Roseman could find great value on Day 3, if the cards fall just right.

Let’s get into some notable performances and lingering questions from Day 2 of the NFL Combine. (If you missed our recap of Day 1, that’s right here).

John Ross is, you know, kinda fast

John Ross, a consensus Top-3 WR in this draft class, had an opportunity to make waves with his Combine performance this week. His peers at the top, Corey Davis and Mike Williams, both didn’t participate in the 40-yard dash. Ross, a renowned speedster from Washington, came into the week among the challengers threatening Chris Johnson‘s 4.24 40-yard dash record. While few believed he could do it, posting a sub 4.3 would certainly help the off-injured and undersized Ross push himself firmly into first round conversation.

Yeah, and then he broke Chris Johnson’s record.

The name of the game going forward for Ross? Health. He posted this time off of two knee surgeries, and he has shoulder surgery incoming. For Philadelphia to spend the 14th overall pick on Ross and his game-changing–game-transforming–speed, they would need to believe wholeheartedly in his durability.

The entire TE class is, you know, kinda fast

The average 40-yard dash time for this TE class was 4.66, per NFL Research. That’s the best time since the 2003 class. That’s straight insanity.

But beyond speed this TE class is all-around awesome. 1st-round potentials O.J. Howard (4.51 40 at 251 lbs), David Njoku (37.5″ vertical and 11’1″ broad), and Evan Engram (4.42 40 at 234 lbs) all showed up big, checking boxes in every athletic drill and impressing as blockers and receivers. But Philly won’t invest early in the tight end position. They’ll turn to the later rounds.

Pharaoh Brown out of Oregon missed all of 2015 with a leg injury and underwent multiple police investigations regarding violent activities, so his stock is way down. But as a developmental guy, he tied for the most bench reps with Adam Shaheen from Ashland, and he measured beautifully at 6’5, 255 lbs with 35 5/8″ arms and 10 3/8″ hands. Keep an eye on him in Round 6.

Shaheen, a DII product, also impressed among big school competition with a 4.79 40 and a 10’1 broad jump. I thought he looked technically smooth in positional drills for such an inexperienced prospect, and I really like his potential moving forward. He may prove too pricey for Philly, however. Round 3-4 is a possibility

Two guys who received some love in our TE positional overview, Jeremy Sprinkle from Arkansas and Gerald Everett from South Alabama, both had nice drills. Mychal Roberts, the beast out of Toledo, came in at a healthy 270 lbs with 11 1/2 hands and still posted a solid 4.86 40. Jonnu Smith, another small-school project out of Florida International, looked really sharp in his routes and hit a 38″ vertical and a 10’7″ broad. Nice.

You want a really under-the-radar name to impress your friends? Darrell Daniels, a converted tight end from Washington: 6’3, 247 lbs, 34 1/2″ arms, 4.55 40, and he looked real fine in the pass-catching drills. I need to get into his tape.

There’s great mid-round WR value for Philadelphia

The first-round wide receiver conversation this year isn’t as great as in years past. Davis and Williams will both go in early, but there are warranted questions about Davis’ hands and Williams’ separation ability. Ross likely cemented himself as a first-rounder today, but the durability doubts remain.

After that, I’ve seen names like PSU’s Chris Godwin, USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Cal’s Chad Hansen floating around the end of Round 1. Those seem like big reaches to me.

But if the WRs fall as most anticipate, multiple playmakers will be available on Day 2 that can eventually develop into WR1s.

All three of those names already mentioned will have nice Day 2 value. Godwin is a catch-radius monster who really impressed today with a 4.42 40, a smooth gauntlet run, and solid routes. Smith-Schuster answered doubters with a 4.54 40 and creates separation on tape with a rare blend of twitchiness and physicality. Hansen attacks the football in the air, knows how to outleverage CBs, and checked the athleticism boxes with a 4.53 40, 35″ vertical, and 9’11 broad.

KD Cannon out of Baylor came in as a bit of a one-trick pony. He was doggone fast, but his route tree was really limited and his hands weren’t perfect. His speed through cuts and catches away from his frame really impressed me today. If the Eagles miss on Cooks, KD Cannon is a great Day 2 option.

ECU’s Zay Jones looked smooth, long, and as reliable as ever in positional drills. His speed and explosiveness really impressed: 4.45 40, 36.5″ vertical, 11’1 broad. Carlos Henderson, shorter and more tightly wound than Jones, posted similar numbers: 4.46, 36″, and 10’11.

Next: Philadelphia Eagles Draft: Offensive Line Positional Preview

Two guys whose performance warranted a tape look: Gabe Marks from Washington State and Robert Davis from Georgia State. Marks caught absolutely everything near him while running pretty tight routes. Davis surprised with a 4.44 40, 41″ vertical (wheew!) and a 11’4 broad.