Due to the unpopularity of last year’s positional NFL draft stock combine reports, we condensed them all into one this year. Which is fine by me, writing just once about the scouting combine instead of writing five separate times about it (one post each on QBs, WR/RB, OL/TE, DL, LB/DBs) works well! Also, due to unpopularity (and by unpopularity I mean not really unpopular, just not popular enough for me to do the work) there will be only a first round in this year’s NFL mock draft, no 2nd or 3rd.
The NFL scouting combine is boring as hell and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to watch big sweaty guys run wind sprints and do broad jumps, yet viewership set an all-time record this year. Across all mediums too. Go figure?
I proudly may not have watched a minute of the combine, but I can tell you who’s draft stock is rising and falling based on the results of it.
SELLING:
Manti Te’o LB, Notre Dame
The story of the combine, and not in a good way. No media herd around a player in combine history was ever as large as Te’o’s. He handled himself fine, but what NFL team wants to take on that elephant in the room? He also ran slow, weighed light and showed fatigue. No way he makes it into the first round now. He might be lucky if he makes it into the third.
Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Couldn’t participate in the combine due to a heart condition. How serious it is remains to be seen. Let’s hope it’s not serious. Was a top 5 pick heading in. Now, a big question mark as he must deal with things that are much greater than football.
Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M
Looked top ten, until he ran a 4.9 and didn’t participate in the other drills. adios first round!
Johnthan Banks, CB Mississippi St
Banks badly needs to buy a vowel in his name and he badly needs to run faster at the MSU pro day. A 4.6? That drops him from the teens to late Friday night in the draft
Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
was all over the map with his throws. terrible terrible combine.
BUYING
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Won’t be the #1 pick anymore because the K.C. Chiefs traded for Alex Smith, but solidified himself as the top signal caller in a draft weak at the position. Doesn;t matter much as this position gets reached on draft day like no other
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Smith’s former teammate ran well enough to cement a place in the top 20
Dion Jordan, LB, Oregon
Maybe the biggest winner of all among defensive prospects. Tested off the charts despite not being a 100%
Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M.
He ran much faster than people thought. He ran in the 4.3s; people thought he was a 4.5 guy. He showed top pass-catching skills, which everyone knew he had. He’ll probably go in top 60 picks of the draft.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Google News site generating millions of visitors. He also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
A Fulbright scholar, author and MBA, Banks has appeared on the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB)
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