The second day of drills and tests took place on Friday at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. While fans are looking forward to when quarterbacks start throwing, Friday was all about tight ends and defensive backs.
With two days of NFL Scouting Combine drills in the books, let’s look at the biggest winners and losers from the tight end and defensive back prospects.
Related: NFL Combine 2024: Participants, dates, event info, drills and everything you need to know
Quinyon Mitchell’s 40 time makes Sauce Gardner look pedestrian
Ever since Toledo’s season ended, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has seen his draft stock soar. It began with stellar performances during the Senior Bowl, and it’s continuing during the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis.
Viewed as a fringe first-round prospect, Mitchell erased any doubts about his speed, blazing an official 4.33 40-yard dash. This not only makes Mitchell one of the fastest cornerbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft class, but it also puts him ahead of superstar Jets corner Sauce Gardner, who clocked a 4.41 time in 2022.
Yet, it should be noted that Gardner is also 6-foot-3, whereas Mitchell is a bit smaller at 6 feet tall. Still, Mitchell showed he has NFL speed.
Later on, Mitchell showed he’s not just full of speed, he has hands too.
Decamerion Richardson is one of many 2024 NFL Combine freaks
Athletes like Mississippi State’s Decamerion Richardson don’t come around often. He’s not viewed as a top draft prospect, but scouts may want to go back and review the tape after his NFL Combine performance.
Richardson measured in at 6-foot-2 and clocked a 40 time of 4.34 seconds, the third fastest time among defensive backs this year. Those traits alone will get him drafted, now it’s just a matter of how high.
Related: 2024 NFL Combine: 10 prospects with the most to prove
Tyler Owens leaps to the stars at NFL Combine
Say what you want about Tyler Owens’ thoughts on astronomy, but his ability to broad jump is out of this world.
Owens started the combine as a fringe safety prospect who wasn’t viewed as a Day 1 or Day 2 pick. But he showed incredible athleticism, not only with his broad jump but also with a 41-inch vertical.
Will scouts find other areas to pick apart about Owens’ game? Sure, that’s always possible, but he’s at least knocked the testing portion out of the park.
Penn State’s Kalen King raises questions with ‘slow’ 40 time
One player who had a big chance to impress during this year’s NFL Scouting Combine is Penn State’s Kalen King. Originally a four-star recruit who chose the Nittany Lions over other prestigious programs such as Michigan, King decided to enter the NFL Draft after his junior season, but now he may be regretting his decision.
King started the season as one of the top cornerback prospects primed to have a chance to become a first-round pick, but after an underwhelming season, and even worse performances during the NFL Combine, his draft stock has fallen.
When others are clocking times in the 4.3-second range, seeing King have a 40-yard dash of 4.61 seconds all but ensures he won’t be a Day 1, and possibly not even a Day 2 pick.
Related: 5 biggest NFL Combine fails of all time
Ja’Tavion Sanders underwhelms with 40-yard dash
When the NFL Combine began, Ja’Tavion Sanders entered the process as a fringe first-round prospect who likely would have been pushed to Day 2 due to a talented draft class. Yet, Sanders didn’t do his draft stock any favors after clocking a 4.69 40-yard dash, second-slowest among tight end prospects. It wasn’t a great look for a player who looked quick on film, yet that same factor of being able to show up in games should still keep Sanders in the conversation when scouts evaluate what they saw today.
Related: Illinois NFL Draft prospect Tip Reiman is very skeptical about birds and pigeons: Are they real?
Nate Wiggins has NFL Combine’s fastest 40-yard dash in 2024, so far
As one of a few projected first-round cornerback prospects, Clemson’s Nate Wiggins already had a lot of eyes on him during the NFL Scouting Combine. Measuring in at 6-foot-1 shows Wiggins has the size to be a No. 1 cornerback, and his speed checked another box.
So far Wiggins has the fastest 40 yard dash in the 2024 NFL Combine, with a blistering time of 4.28 seconds.
Oh my, Nate Wiggins. 4.29u. Wow.
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2024
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At that size and speed, Wiggins could even hear his name called within the first ten picks. As important as having a good passing offense or a good pass rush is, teams also know having a potential shutdown cornerback like Wiggins can transform a defense.
Fastest 40 times at 2024 NFL Combine – Tight ends
- Devin Culp – 4.47 seconds
- Theo Johnson – 4.57
- Tanner McLachlan – 4.61
- Jaheim Bell – 4.61
- Jared Wiley – 4.62
Fastest 40 times at 2024 NFL Combine – Defensive backs
- Nate Wiggins – 4.28 seconds
- Quinyon Mitchell – 4.33
- Decamerion Richardson – 4.34
- Nehemiah Pritchett – 4.36
- Jarrian Jones – 4.38
Related: Fastest 40 yard dash: Fastest players in NFL Combine history, fastest NFL players