The combine workouts have started this afternoon with an important position for the Patriots, the tight ends. Some news and notes on the workouts:
- Missouri TE Albert Okwuegbunam leaped off the screen with unofficial times of 4.49 and 4.50 — which is in the mix for an all-time record at the position. He hasn't been mentioned as one of the top tight ends — he's a bit raw — but I've had him on my list for this season. I figured he would test very well and his raw ability is pretty good.
6'5", 258 lbs.@MizzouFootball TE Albert Okwuegbunam runs a 4.49u 40-yard dash!
Would tie for fourth-fastest 40 by a tight end since 2003.
?: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/hGZ8nbXRVw
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2020
- Others showing well: Hunter Bryant (Washington) 4.60, Josiah Deguara (Cincinnati) 4.60, Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) 4.65, Brycen Hopkins (Purdue) 4.66.
- Stephen Sullivan, a former LSU receiver, tested really well at 4.63, which was expected. He's a very intriguing project and someone who would be on my list for the Patriots. The upside is crazy on Sullivan once he settles into being a tight end.
- Harrison Bryant (FAU) had a disappointing time of 4.72, and so did Adam Trautman (Dayton) at 4.80.
- Jared Pinkney (Vandy) probably hurt himself the most at about 5 seconds.
- Okwuegbunam, Hunter Bryant, Kmet and Sullivan were all natural ball catchers.
- Hopkins, O'Grady and Trautman all fought the ball a little bit.
- Harrison Bryant, Hopkins, Deguara, Colby Parkinson, Pinkney showed good drive. Trautman was great.
- Okwuegbunam, Sullivan were among those who struggled.
The tight ends go through the gauntlet! @ColeKmet @Cheyenne_OGrady @AOkwuegbunam
?: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/bHbiqufDoe
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2020
- Harrison Bryant ... ok.
- Hunter Bryant ... not bad.
- Hopkins ... pretty good.
- Keene ... Not natural but caught all the passes.
- Kmet ... Very good. Excellent.
- O'Grady ... Surprisingly good.
- Okwuegbunam ... natural but slowed down too much.
- Parkinson ... Excellent.
- Pinkney ... Pretty good. Didn't slow down.
- Sullivan ... Phenomenal.
- Taumoepeau ... ok, clunky.
- Trautman ... Excellent. A little bit of a slowdown.
- Wilcox from USF was terrible.
- Woerner ... solid.
- Wood-Anderson ... Excellent.
- Harrison Bryant ... good.
- Hunter Bryant ... excellent
- Hopkins ... pretty good.
- Keene ... Good
- Kmet ... Little slow.
- O'Grady ... Great.
- Okwuegbunam ... ok
- Parkinson ... ok.
- Pinkney ... sloppy
- Sullivan ... Great.
- Taumoepeau ... solid
- Trautman ... Good
- Wilcox ... awful
- Woerner ... slow.
- Wood-Anderson ... Ok.
- Thought Cole Kmet looked like the best overall tight end. He was definitely the most polished and comfortable.
- Okwuegbunam was a close second. Definitely helped himself.
- Thought C.J. O'Grady helped himself the most in the on-field drills. Very good pass catcher. That will help because he was viewed as more of a blocker.
- Hunter Bryant and Adam Trautman were both disappointments but they showed well at the Senior Bowl.
- Jared Pinkney had a rough workout and will have the most work to do come his pro day.
- Stephen Sullivan definitely looked the part of a former receiver with a ton of upside. He could shoot up draft boards.
WIDE RECEIVERS AND QUARTERBACKS
The receivers and quarterbacks went through workouts in the evening. Here are some observations
- I kind of liked Mizzou QB Kelly Bryant. Through the ball well to the outs and also had nice deep touch. The former Clemson QB, however, has issues with pressure. That's the book.
- Oregon QB Justin Herbert looked solid. I'm not a huge fan. Footwork is lacking and he's a little inconsistent, sort of like Josh Allen of the Bills. Herbert definitely showed out on the deep passes.
- Jacob Eason throws that easy cheese — the ball explodes out of his hand. It's just sometimes he's not sure where it's going. Little bit like a young Joe Flacco. Would be a good fit for the Bucs and Bruce Arians. Eason has better feet than Herbert.
- Jake Fromm is efficient but the arm strength is lacking on deep balls.
- WR Devin Duvernay from Texas timed well and showed really good speed in the drills. Not a surprise. He showed that at the Senior Bowl. Smooth. Inconsistent hands.
- WR Justin Jefferson from LSU looked really good on his routes. Good explosion and body control.
- Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool tested off the charts for a 6-4 body that might be a TE at some point. Drills were OK.
- WR Jerry Jeudy ran well in the 40 but he's even better on the field.
- Damn ... Baylor WR Denzel Mims moved (4.40) for a big, long-strider.
- Love Henry Ruggs on film and he's even faster on the turf with a 4.28.
- SMU slot WR James Proche caught the ball really well.
- Oregon WR Juwan Johnson had a good workout.
- WR CeeDee Lamb is phenomenal. At everything.
This sideline catch by CeeDee Lamb is RIDICULOUS ?
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/NM2yqD6Tr2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 28, 2020
- TCU WR Jalen Reagor worked out better than he ran. Small guy getting a little too thick.
- Utah State QB Jordan Love threw the ball very well. Another easy cheese guy.