Jacksonville Jaguars pass rushers Josh Allen and Travon Walker combined for an impressive 27.5 sacks — more than any other duo in the NFL in 2023. Yet, the team still finished 25th in the league in sacks and 22nd in yards allowed.
Clearly, there’s work to be done up front and the Jaguars got a good look at the crop of players who could be added to the mix in the 2024 NFL draft.
On Thursday, defensive linemen and linebackers were on display the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. While that included everyone from 210-pound linebacker Kalen Deloach to 366-pound defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, all the players who participated on Day 1 will compete to play in the front seven of an NFL defense next year.
Here are the five players who stood out most:
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
.@FSUFootball DL Braden Fiske's footwork is mesmerizing
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1CJigK0V7T— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
Fiske doesn’t have the longest arms or ideal length, but he won often at FSU due to his motor and quickness. Those traits showed up in Indianapolis where his 4.78 40-yard dash was the best among interior linemen at the event, as were his 33.5-inch vertical and 117-inch broad jumps. His numbers earned him a Geno Atkins comparison from NFL Network.
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
4.49u for DL Chop Robinson. 🔥
Absolutely flying.
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9UjjsGhQvZ— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
The 1.54 10-yard split on Robinson’s 4.48 40-yard dash wasn’t just the fastest of the day, it was the quickest any edge rusher over 250 pounds has ever exploded out the gates at the combine. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network compared Robinson’s game to Yannick Ngakoue, but he blew away the former Jaguars rusher’s numbers.
Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Here you go:
DALLAS TURNER – SLOW MO🎥
40 1/2 inch vertical🚀 pic.twitter.com/4vsO1UdiiP
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) February 29, 2024
Turner’s argument to be the top pass rusher of the 2024 NFL draft was made on the field at Alabama, but he only helped his case Thursday. After recording the only vertical jump of the day over 40 inches, he laid down a 4.46 40-yard dash.
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
.@TexasFootball DL Byron Murphy II is nearly 300 pounds running a 4.88u 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/c0y9xZUF5f— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
Murphy is a big fella to be putting down a 4.87 40-yard dash. The 297-pounder then rounded out his day with an impressive 33-inch vertical jump and some violent reps in positional drills.
Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
A new Day 1 leader.
Payton Wilson of @PackFootball with a 4.44u. 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/lValfnTQGT— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2024
The fastest 40-yard dash of the day came from the very last player to run. Wilson, a 230-pound off-ball linebacker, put down a blazing 4.43 time and recorded a 34.5-inch vertical jump to boot.
