Thursday marked a shift at the NFL scouting combine.
After two days of speaking with general managers and coaches, the teams went into scouting mode while the players started filling the podiums, starting with corners and continuing with tight ends.
Here’s what we learned from Indianapolis on Day 3, as the on-field drills begin at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Look for an offensive explosion early in Round 1
Through conversations at restaurants and bars around Indianapolis, there’s a thought the first 10 picks of the draft may all come from the offensive side. Far from a guarantee, but plausible.
While players like Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner and Florida State Seminoles edge rusher Jared Verse could have a say in that regard, it seems a few things are certain.
First, there are going to be three quarterbacks and three receivers who can be put in ink, with Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers all expected to go early. Then there’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish left tackle Joe Alt, who is considered a consensus top-10 choice.
That’s seven. The question then becomes whether we’ll see another left tackle (or two), another quarterback (hello, J.J. McCarthy) or Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers.
Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports
While nothing is certain, or even close to it, two months out, the draft certainly is shaping up to be top-heavy with offense. Then look for defensive talent to start creeping up, especially at corner, where there are at least a half-dozen prospects who could be considered first-round picks.
Lastly, how rare would it be for the first 10 picks to all be offensive players?
Since the AFL and NFL merged their drafts in 1969, it hasn’t happened.
Bowers meets with Chargers, Bengals and many other teams
Bowers, a consensus top-10 draft prospect, estimated that he’s met with about 15 NFL teams during his time in Indianapolis for the scouting combine.
Bowers will certainly hear his name called on opening night of the 2024 NFL draft in April, but it’s a bit of a mystery on where he’ll land; tight ends typically don’t get drafted inside the top 10, and the ones who have in recent years have struggled to adjust at the pro level.
Bowers said his favorite tight end is New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski. The prospect also said he enjoys studying film of Travis Kelce and George Kittle. Those are three of the greatest tight ends of all time, and none of them were first-round picks. But Bowers is worth a Day 1 pick, because he has elite traits as a pass catcher, with a blend of speed and power to break tackles.
So where will he land? The tight end could go as high as No. 5 because the Los Angeles Chargers are in need of a tight end for Justin Herbert. Also, new coach Jim Harbaugh heavily recruited Bowers, who ultimately passed on the Michigan Wolverines to go to Georgia (and win a few national titles).
Brock Bowers on meeting with Chargers and Jim Harbaugh. LA has the fifth pick in NFL draft pic.twitter.com/mZHNXA9AFD
— Gilberto Manzano (@GManzano24) February 29, 2024
“I met with the Chargers the other night,” Bowers said. “Me and coach Harbaugh were talking a little bit about when we played them in 2021 and when he was recruiting me and stuff. It was cool to see him again and talk to him.”
If Bowers slides out of the top 10, perhaps the Cincinnati Bengals take him at No. 18 to pair him with Joe Burrow. Bowers confirmed that Cincinnati is one of the many teams he met with in Indy.
Who’s the best of the rest at receiver?
As aforementioned, the top three receivers are Harrison, Nabers and Odunze, in some order. After that? It gets interesting.
The general belief in league circles is this is a quality draft for receivers, something of a trend over the last decade as more collegiate offenses darken the sky with footballs.
However, the main question is how teams look at receivers starting with their fourth-highest grade.
There are some teams who will prioritize measurables and love a player like Florida State’s Keon Coleman. Coleman has inconsistent route-running but stands 6' 4" and 215 pounds, with a highlight tape that shows his ceiling. Then there’s Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, who is 5' 11" and 187 pounds but already has a terrific route tree with excellent hands.
Beyond them, look at Naber’s teammate in Brian Thomas Jr., another 6' 4" receiver coming out as a junior. Or how about Xavier Worthy from the Texas Longhorns, who is expected to weigh around 170 pounds but produced a 1,000-yard season for the Longhorns in 2023?
For a position that is headlined by a trio everyone seemingly agrees on, the rest of the receiver depth chart will be fascinating to watch unfold over the next two months.
Alabama’s Terrion Arnold makes bold claims
Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold has gained many admirers this week because of his brash confidence and high standards. Many reporters were smiling and laughing throughout Arnold’s entertaining podium interview Thursday morning.
I’m sure NFL teams have loved meeting with Alabama CB Terrion Arnold. Gotta love his confidence and high standards. “I want that gold jacket and not the one you can buy.” #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/GYCTLqTZbb
— Gilberto Manzano (@GManzano24) February 29, 2024
Arnold even made a lasting impression on some NFL head coaches, including Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce.
“He’s a guy full of energy,” Arnold said about meeting with Pierce. “When I walked into the room, he was like, ‘Are you an energetic person?’ I was like, ‘You know I am.’ … He was like, ‘I like you already.’”
Arnold mentioned his lofty goals during his podium interview, saying he aims to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The prospect also said that he should receive a 99 overall rating in the new EA college football video game, and made the bold claim that he’s the best cornerback in the NFL draft. Most draft experts agree, but Arnold has plenty of competition, including from Clemson Tigers CB Nate Wiggins—who made the same declaration Thursday.
“I’m a lockdown corner and I’m very fast and I’m a technician,” Wiggins told reporters Thursday. “I think that’s why I think I’m the best corner in the draft because I can lock down one side of the field and completely take the receiver out of the game.”
Wiggins can help his case for being the best prospect at his position if he runs 4.27 during the 40-yard dash. He said he posted that blazing time during a recent workout while preparing for the NFL draft.
Arnold, Wiggins and the rest of the defensive backs will hit the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday.
