The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is behind us, and with it, another weekend of terrific athletic displays. As always, with the festivities in Indianapolis in the books, we now have set the table for the upcoming NFL Draft in late April.
We saw one raw quarterback prospect break records as he potentially solidified himself as a top-five pick. At the same time, a fellow top QB prospect shot down the idea of playing with one franchise because of an established young star.
Meanwhile, a talented defensive prospect showed off a wingspan comparable to an NBA superstar. And the big boys up front and the fast guys on defense probably made themselves a lot of money by raising their draft stock.
Though, if you’re looking for a receiver — like the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants, to name a few franchises — this isn’t a weak receiver class per se. But, with potentially no true blue-chipper, you might be better served to wait and bide your team for an ideal pick in later rounds.
Let’s examine some of the more notable winners and losers from the 2023 NFL combine.
Winners
QB Anthony Richardson, Florida Gators
There’s no question about it: the NFL’s unofficial kickoff to the meat-and-potatoes portion of the draft calendar belonged to Richardson.
At 6-foot-4, 244 pounds, Richardson had one of the most athletic combines ever for a quarterback. Or for any prospect at any position. A 4.43 on the 40-yard dash and a 40.5-inch vertical paint the picture of a man who has the tools to excel at the next level.
Just look at this Relative Athletic Score (RAS) — one of the few prospects to ever garner a perfect 10 under Kent Lee Platte’s evaluative system:
Anthony Richardson RAS so far.
And there it is.https://t.co/g6dAq3ALm4 #RAS pic.twitter.com/p8isZWrHp4
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 4, 2023
Questions will remain about Richardson’s viability as a professional quarterback. Projecting Richardson to turn into an NFL star after a collegiate career as the centerpiece of an anemic passing offense is a massive leap.
But that’s also mostly irrelevant now because his traits are elite and worth investing in if you need a future quarterback. Oh, and lest I forget: he apparently crushed the interview process, too:
Anthony Richardson is said to be crushing the interview process at the Combine 👀
"I talked to a handful of scouts last night … Every single one of them said 'Anthony Richardson is the best QB interview they've had this year.'" — @nfldraftscout pic.twitter.com/MbZ3CAMBF5
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 2, 2023
Whoever takes Richardson — at this point, assuredly in the top six (maybe the Detroit Lions?) — will not ask him to start right away. He will get the opportunity to develop and refine his passing shortcomings at a comfortable pace. And if he can piece together that aspect of his game with his dynamic athleticism: the NFL’s about to have another Terminator-level quarterback.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
A hamstring injury plagued Smith-Njigba’s final year with the Buckeyes. As such, a player who entered the year in the conversation for WR1 was somewhat forgotten throughout the fall. After how Smith-Njigba tore up the Combine, he’s back in the discussion for the top offensive skill playmaker.
Smith-Njigba’s testing was so exemplary, he didn’t even run the 40-yard dash, and it was still clear he had the necessary quickness to thrive as a pro. A 6.57 three-cone time and a 3.93 time on the 20-yard shuttle is pure, unfiltered gold for a player who will likely feature in the slot in the NFL. Such numbers are rather comparable to two current/past slot-receiving stars: Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams and Odell Beckham Jr.
No wonder Smith-Njigba compares himself to some of these elite names:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba on which receivers he models his game after:
"I'm 1 of 1, I'm myself. But Davante Adams and his feet, Stefon Diggs and his route-running, Cooper Kupp, the way he finds space…" pic.twitter.com/6LDk6TDua8
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) March 3, 2023
With his Combine output, it’s challenging to see Smith-Njigba leaving the first round. Heck, he’ll probably even be the first WR off the board. Before his unfortunate 2022 campaign, he had the pedigree. Now, after showing he has the athleticism to boot — he just became one of the 2023 draft’s more intriguing puzzle pieces.
The beefy defensive boys up front
Need a defensive lineman who can push the envelope? Someone you can build your franchise around with that extra first step? You’re in luck. This Combine had no shortage of potential difference-makers along the first long line of defense in a front seven.
Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey surpassed the great Aaron Donald on the 40-yard time. Already viewed as a bona fide defensive workhorse, Clemson’s Bryan Bresee showed he could move pretty smoothly for a man who weighs just under 300 pounds.
Pittsburgh's Calijah Kancey ran the fastest 40-yard dash by someone 280+ lbs since 2003@Pitt_FB #NFLCombine2023 pic.twitter.com/PP8PEsfnxc
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) March 2, 2023
4.93 @ 6’5.5 300 pounds is pretty insane. bryan bresee top 12 lock. pic.twitter.com/FOn9DOe78C
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) March 2, 2023
Meanwhile, names like Iowa’s classic five-technique Lukas Van Ness and Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald IV also showed they’re worth draft investments. (In the case of McDonald, it was for different “toughness” reasons). Needless to say, if your team’s defense needs an infusion of size and speed this spring: you picked a phenomenal draft to be on the hunt.
The Chicago Bears' No. 1 overall trade-down possibilities
There’s one underlying way to view all the hoopla of the primary quarterbacks — Richardson, C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis — in context.
The Bears, who had an unconventional way of evaluating prospects’ competitiveness, might have been the biggest winners in Indianapolis. By far. You see, ever since the offseason began, the team with the top pick in April’s draft has been embroiled in a will-they-won’t-they trade-down conversation.
As our Charles Curtis wrote in mid-February, the Bears would be so stupid not to use the opportunity of having the top pick and trading down for more resources. Why? Because they have the bright Justin Fields:
“If you know Fields and saw what he did last season behind a bad offensive line and without much help at receiver, you know that he can be explosive and there’s still room to grow.”
And by GM Ryan Poles’ own (kind of coy) account, he seems to agree!
So, in the likely event that Chicago keeps the No. 1 overall pick (for now), they just watched a Combine unfold where the QB class lit it up. It’s a class where QB-needy teams in the top 10 (the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, etc.) will be potentially desperate not to miss out on the franchise quarterback fun. This opposes the alternative of one significant bidding war for one QB while everyone else drops down far.
Between Richardson, Stroud, Young, and Levis: all might go in the top 10, and the Bears’ wheeling and dealing might now decide where.
That puts the Bears in the envious position of kingmaker, where they can field blockbuster trade offers as they file in and build a stockpile of draft picks from any potential trade-downs. Poles and Co. essentially control the draft and what they can gain from it. This year’s top signal-callers coming to ball out in shorts and t-shirts all but solidified the most fascinating team this spring holding all the cards.
Losers
Teams who need top-flight WRs
On the flip side of Smith-Njigba cementing himself as a likely first-rounder is the state of the WR class. By no means is it poor or to be looked down upon, but it doesn’t exactly have a Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson “must-have” player.
Smith-Njigba aside, there’s a lot of depth here. TCU’s Quentin Johnston validated his prime athletic traits. The NFL’s potential next more diminutive outside playmaker, Boston College’s Zay Flowers (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), figures to be a seamless fit in some cities. And even USC’s Jordan Addison definitely plays a lot faster than a disappointing 4.55 on the 40-yard dash.
But I wouldn’t characterize any of these players as plug-and-play, immediate No. 1 options. Heck, I think there’ll be more of a typical adjustment period for most of the members of this draft class. As such, anyone who needs a receiver can probably wait until later rounds. That might not be what they want to hear, but patience will be prudent this April.
Also, look at these sizes. Weight isn’t the biggest concern for a receiver, but c’mon, not everyone can be DeVonta Smith:
Two years after DeVonta Smith, we got a slew of smaller WRs …
• Jordan Addison, USC: 173 pounds
• Tank Dell, Houston: 165 pounds
• Josh Downs, UNC: 171 pounds
• Zay Flowers, BC: 182 pounds
• Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee: 176 pounds— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 4, 2023
I mean, maybe the Steelers will at least reunite Addison with former Pittsburgh college teammate Kenny Pickett:
Jordan Addison to the Steelers:
“Come get me.” pic.twitter.com/GHFmuuCcdL
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) March 3, 2023
OT Peter Skoronski's earning potential
The top offensive lineman on many people’s draft boards, all Skoronski had to do was not screw it up at the Combine. Technically, the former Northwestern Wildcat achieved his mission. Whoever gets to plug him up front should count themselves as a fortunate organization.
Unfortunately for Skoronski, his thresholds — especially with shorter 32.25-inch arms — mean he’ll likely be a guard in the NFL. This isn’t a bad thing! He’ll still be in, you know, the NFL! A professional football player! Woo!
It’s just that … he’ll probably be a guard. To Skoronski’s credit, concerns over any possible physical limitations don’t seem to faze him:
Northwestern OL Peter Skoronski said teams have spoken to him about both guard and tackle. They like his versatility. Skoronski also dispelled the supposed short arm limitations. Said the issues charged to short arms are more technique than anything else. pic.twitter.com/ZQHzRLEKV7
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 4, 2023
But down the line, this sort of testing will likely hurt Skoronski’s wallet. First in the draft itself, when he potentially drops a bit in the first round, denting his first professional contract. Then, when it’s time for him to re-up with his first franchise, guards are paid considerably less than their tackle counterparts.
According to Over The Cap, the current top seven left tackles in the league all have at least $30 million fully guaranteed. Meanwhile, for right guards, only two have at least $30 million fully guaranteed.
Ouch.
Maybe someone takes a chance on Skoronski and plays him at tackle, much like former “short-arm” Northwestern standout Rashawn Slater. The comparison is certainly apt. Skoronski will still be hard-pressed to be a pick in the top half of the first round.
Peter Skoronski compared himself to Rashawn Slater yesterday.
Here's how their measurables shape up.
Slater: 6'4 1/4", 304 lbs, 33" arms, 80 1/8" wingspan
Skoronski: 6'4", 313 lbs, 32 1/4" arms, 79 1/2" wingspan pic.twitter.com/nMKCGqxKZj— Bradley Locker (@Bradley_Locker) March 5, 2023
Saquon Barkley and any veteran back's future on the open market
A brilliant day for the running backs — including head-of-class Texas’ Bijan Robinson and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs — is an awful turn of events for how teams will view any potential pending free agent RBs.
The biggest blue elephant in the room is the New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley, who the G-Men must make a franchise tag decision on by Tuesday. Barkley has said he doesn’t want a record-setting deal but still understandably wants security at the age of 26.
It’ll be harder for that to happen after watching Robinson and Gibbs, among others, crush it:
Bijan Robinson’s natural receiving skills are GORGEOUS 🥵
pic.twitter.com/2LcQWyYhBz— Luke Sawhook 🪚🪝 (@lukesawhook) March 5, 2023
40 times for the two top RBs in the Draft
— 4.46 official for #Texans RB Bijan Robinson.
— 4.36 official for #Bama RB Jahmyr Gibbs
💨 🔥
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2023
Unfortunately, with running backs already increasingly devalued, any instance where a new talented crop of backfield mates readies for the league (which feels like every year at this point) — veterans are caught in the crossfire.
It’s not just Barkley that the Giants may feel is expendable at his position. The same sentiment could apply to Kareem Hunt, Jamaal Williams, Raheem Mostert, David Montgomery, and … the list goes on. This is not a good time to be a running back seeking another contract. But that hasn’t been the case for years.
Props to Robinson and Gibbs for displaying electric talent. I’m not sure it was a great development for any of their peers already balling against NFL linebackers and safeties.
NFL players on the wrong end of the Combine rumor mill
Some affectionally refer to this time of year as “lying season.”
That’s because many NFL teams aren’t interested in their opponents knowing their free agency or draft plans. For strategic reasons, some organizations deliberately let loose false or misleading information about their ambitions to throw others off their scent.
But any piece of news that comes out of the Combine usually has more merit to it. The entire league is gathered in one place. When the sun sets, folks hang out in downtown Indianapolis, sipping and eating shrimp cocktails (you eat shrimp cocktails, right?) and doing some quality networking. Here, we start to understand what the landscape will look like before the new league year begins. Sorry, I meant before free agency starts (same thing).
For some veterans this season, these were not great revelations.
There are reports the Seattle Seahawks don’t want to franchise tag Geno Smith as they work on a long-term contract. But if we’re at this stage where he remains unsigned, it’s starting to feel like Smith will hit the open market.
In Baltimore, the Ravens are seemingly starting to be open to a non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson. This would either open the door to his departure or further sour a clearly passive-aggressive dynamic.
And poor, poor Mac Jones. He hasn’t even started Year 3 as a pro, and he’s already the subject of trade rumors (albeit unlikely … for now). Reuniting with Josh McDaniels? Are we sure that’s a good idea? Are we sure we’re not overrating that 2021 rookie campaign?
There's some chatter at the combine that the Raiders might try to acquire Mac Jones from the Patriots, according to @DanGrazianoESPN.
However, Graziano notes that it seems unlikely New England would consider moving Jones. pic.twitter.com/AThjQFBa7n
— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) March 5, 2023
I should rephrase.
Poor Jones for being tossed into the mix while trying to figure out his future with the New England Patriots. Poor McDaniels, if he ever thinks Jones can save his mediocre head coaching career. And poor anyone who roots for the Raiders if something like this were actually to manifest.
Either way, if we hear these kinds of murmurs during the Combine, I’m willing to bet there’s more heft to them than anyone would want to admit.
