fbpx
Skip to main content

Burning questions heading into 2019 NFL Scouting Combine

More than 300 young men are currently preparing for the biggest job interview of their lives ahead of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.

There are some big questions that they’ll be asked to answer during interviews, and on the field. Pressure is high. Historically, some have handled said pressure better than others as the evaluation process unfolds.

These are the biggest questions we have ahead of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.

Will we see any trades?

The combine is when the NFL offseason truly begins to unfold. All the league’s personnel men and women are in one place, and the rumors fly fast and furious about what they discuss on an annual basis. This year, some massive trades will be discussed.

The big fish everyone is talking about is, of course, Antonio Brown. He’s going to be moved after his scorched-earth social media campaign burned every bridge left to Pittsburgh.

There are other players who could potentially be moved as well, which we recently discussed in some detail here.

How tall is Kyler Murray?

The most talked-about prospect in this year’s draft is Kyler Murray, without question.

The biggest question everyone has is how tall he is. One of his coaches at Oklahoma is on record saying Murray is a shade under 5-foot-10 in socks. If that’s the case, then his recently bulked-up physique should be seen as durable enough to withstand the rigors of the NFL.

If he’s shorter than that, there will be endless articles written about whether he can succeed in the NFL, and some teams desperate for a quarterback will certainly balk.

How much weight did D.K. Metcalf put on?

If you’re a draft nut, then you almost certainly saw a recent picture of the Ole Miss star looking like a gosh darn defensive lineman. D.K. Metcalf appears to have put on a ton of weight — all of it pure muscle.

A receiver with the potential to be the first player at his position selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, Metcalf’s physique is certainly impressive. What scouts will need to see is whether the bulk he’s carrying will negatively effect his ability to explode off the line and move laterally.

Will teams be blown away by Dwayne Haskins?

Despite being a one-year starter at Ohio State, Dwayne Haskins certainly has a good chance to be the first quarterback selected in this year’s draft. He shattered Big Ten passing records last season and has the kind of live arm teams love to see.

Haskins is also being touted by many as having an extremely high football IQ. If he blows teams away during interviews he could finally give this draft a consensus No. 1 quarterback. He’s going to throw at the combine and has a real chance to separate himself throughout the process this weekend.

How fast is Andy Isabella?

One of the fast risers this winter is UMass receiver Andy Isabella. He was featured almost every week on our list of players who put up huge stats during the 2018 college football season and stood out big time at the 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

If Isabella can scorch the track at Lucas Oil Stadium his stock could soar. He’s on record saying he has run a 4.26-second 40-yard dash. The combine record is 4.22 seconds, set by John Ross a couple years back. Anything under 4.3 seconds would help keep his draft stock red hot.

Who will this year’s workout warrior be?

Being a star on the field in Indianapolis does not make one a good NFL prospect. However, despite what everyone likes to say about the annual meet-up at Lucas Oil Stadium, standing out as a workout warrior has absolutely helped prospects move up draft boards historically.

Last year, Saquon Barkley and Mike Gesicki out of Penn State absolutely dominated. This year, Murray has a chance to light up social media and put jaws on the floor if he chooses to run. Other prospects who could have a big impact include the aforementioned Metcalf, some of the top defensive linemen, and guys like Parris Campbell who are known for their blazing speed.

How big and fast is Devin Singletary?

Right now, Josh Jacobs out of Alabama is getting a lot of hype about being the top back in this year’s draft class. However, in the end we might be talking about Devin Singletary out of FAU as the best of the bunch.

A prolific runner for the Owls, Singletary is a diminutive back who was listed at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds. Yet he was a workhorse who not only carried the ball a ton but who averaged 6.0 yards per carry at FAU. He has blazing speed and incredible lateral quickness. If he shows he’s bulked up and hasn’t lost any of his speed, his stock could get a nice boost.

Will Nick Bosa solidify status as No. 1 overall talent?

There’s no consensus about who the top quarterback will be this year. But there’s little argument about who the top overall player is. Nick Bosa is seen by most as that guy.

An undoubtedly talented pass rusher, Bosa plays well against the pass and the run. He tallied 17.5 sacks in 29 games at Ohio State.

Bosa does have a potential red flag, however, as he missed time due to a significant injury last season. His medical will be important, along with how he performs on the field. Especially as it compares to his fellow edge rushers, one of whom we’ll discuss momentarily.

Can Josh Allen blow everyone away?

The one edge rusher who could give Bosa a run for his money as the first off the board is Josh Allen out of Kentucky.

While he lacks the overall polish of Bosa, Allen possesses a freaky first step and put together a phenomenal senior campaign at Kentucky last year. Allen’s 17 sacks in 2018 were almost the most in the nation. He also has 31 sacks and 11 forced fumbles since 2016, making him one of the most productive players in the SEC during that stretch.

If Allen comes out and dominates on the field in Indy, he could wind up being selected before Bosa when it’s all said and done.

Which other defensive linemen will show out?

There are some really good defensive linemen in this year’s class. Most analysts have Alabama’s Quinnen Williams as the top guy, but Ed Oliver and Rashan Gary would both like to think they are worthy of that distinction, too.

Other defensive linemen like Clelin Ferrell out of Clemson, Devin Bush out of Michigan, and Montez Sweat out of Mississippi State have a chance to significantly improve their stock with dominant showings this weekend.

More About: