The 2024 NFL combine is in the books after Sunday’s on-field drills featuring the offensive linemen. It was a busy week for the NFL in Indianapolis concerning not only the 2024 NFL draft but also concerning free agency.
After meetings and workouts during the day at Lucas Oil Stadium, executives representing all 32 NFL teams and agents spent the evenings at local pubs or steakhouses discussing players they want to retain — or sign from other teams.
As far as what happened on the field and how it will impact next month’s draft? With a focus on the Washington Commanders and their needs, here are seven takeaways from the NFL combine.
The Commanders will stay put at No. 2
The Commanders have a massive need for a franchise quarterback. They have a new owner, a new GM, and a new coaching staff. Opportunities like this are rare for a complete reset. Washington has been searching for a franchise quarterback since Kirk Cousins left after the 2017 season — and longer.
While the Commanders would love to bring Caleb Williams home, the Bears can make that impossible. Even if the Bears would move the pick, would a “recalibrating” Washington franchise want to part with the capital to move up one spot and select Williams?
It’s unlikely the Commanders move up and even more unlikely they’ll trade down. Washington will stay put and take one of Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels.
Speed is everywhere
From the moment the linebackers and edge rushers took the field last week, it was clear this was a good draft to improve your team’s speed. Washington must improve its team speed everywhere. The Commanders need a true Mike linebacker, such as NC State’s Payton Wilson. His workout was incredible. No worries, his tape is even better.
At edge rusher, Penn State’s Chop Robinson likely solidified himself as a first-round pick with his workouts. Robinson was a good college player, but had just six college sacks. NFL teams will covet his athleticism coming off the edge. Dan Quinn loves speedy edge rushers with elite tools.
At cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo looks like a top-15 pick. This is a good draft for cornerbacks, and Mitchell could be the best of the bunch. He has everything and began his climb at the Senior Bowl. He ran a 4.33 40-yard dash.
Finally, there were the wide receivers. It seemed like they were all fast. Xavier Worthy of Texas set a new combine record with a 40 time of 4.21 seconds.
Watching these prospects run the 40 and go through some of the drills has made the combine fun again.
The Commanders will have wide receiver options beyond 1st round
Let’s say you need a wide receiver and can’t land Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, or Brian Thomas Jr. You will have options. While players like Worthy and Ladd McConkey may have pushed themselves into the bottom of round one, players such as Xavier Legette (South Carolina), Ricky Pearsall (Florida), Keon Coleman (Florida State) and Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky) are just some of the names you can land on day two.
The Commanders need another wide receiver. They met with Thomas. While they won’t land Thomas unless they move back up in the first round, they will have options.
It's a good year to need an offensive tackle
Everyone knows the Commanders need help on the offensive line and have for a while. Picking at No. 2, they can land the draft’s top OL prospect in Notre Dame’s Joe Alt. However, barring a trade down, Washington will be looking for an offensive tackle with either of its second-round picks (No. 36 and No. 40). We didn’t need the combine to know that this is a deep draft class for offensive tackles.
Alt, Olu Fashanu (Penn State), Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State), JC Latham (Alabama), Amarius Mims (Georgia), Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma), Troy Fautanu (Washington) are just some of the names expected to go in round one. Others could follow, too. If the Commanders miss out one of the above players, there are other options early in the second round, like Patrick Paul (Houston), Jordan Morgan (Arizona) and Kingsley Saumataia (BYU).
Don’t be surprised if Washington moves back up into the first round to pair its young QB with a young blindside protector.
Several top players opted out: Sign of the future?
Caleb Williams, the top overall prospect, announced last week he wouldn’t be throwing or doing on-field drills in Indianapolis, but he would do the media session and team interviews. That’s not new. Players have been skipping the drills for years, but this year felt there were so many more. The top three passers (Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels) all opted to wait until their individual pro days to throw.
You can’t blame them. Don’t be surprised if, in the future, all of the first or second-round prospects start waiting until their pro days to go through on-field drills.
A good draft for the Commanders to need a running back
We were told there weren’t any good running backs in this class. Slow down. The truth is there aren’t any first-round running backs in this draft like Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs. There are multiple talented backs in this draft and a run on those backs could begin sometime late in the second round or early in the third round.
Jaylen Wright of Tennessee put on a show. Wright has it all. He improved in each season in college and his best football is ahead of him. You take chances on players like Jaylen Wright.
Wright isn’t the only one. Jonathon Brooks (Texas), Bucky Irving (Oregon), Trey Benson (Florida State) and Blake Corum (Michigan) are among some of the draft’s most talented backs. The Commanders will have options to land a change-of-pace back alongside Brian Robinson Jr.
