It’s combine time, the male version of a swimsuit calendar shoot. But don’t get too high or too low about this stuff. Like my friend Bill Smith says, “beware the workout warrior.” The site of the past Super Bowl, Indianapolis is also hosting the 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Combine. Let’s take a look at who’s draft stock is trading higher and who’s trading lower after the workouts.
BUYING
Luke Kuechly, Boston College
The linebacker won the Lombardi (an award I had a ballot for, yey!) and Butkus awards, and was an absolute force on the field for the Eagles this season. However, he wasn’t expected to be a big “measurables” guy. Boy were they wrong. Kuechly ran a 4.59, had the second best vertical, a nice bench press showing and interviewed well. He will be a top 15-20 pick
Mychal Kendricks, California
The Pac-12 Defensive player of the year had a great vertical leap and broad jump. And he ran the fastest forty (4.41) of any linebacker in 12 years. Welcome to the second round, if not higher, Mr. Kendricks.
Nick Perry, USC
The big defensive end ran a 4.64 officially, but clocked a 4.5 flat off the record. At 271 pounds, that’s impressive. He put up the best vertical jump of all defensive linemen as well. He’s alooking like a late first-rounder.
HOLD
Jared Crick, Nebraska Cornhuskers
His bad 40, 4.94 wasn’t all too damning, as that’s what was expected of him. What makes him a caution flag, just a yellow flag not a red flag yet, is his performance in the drills- blah.
SELLING
Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
This is just sad. It’s a like a defensive player Marcus Dupree story. Burfict was a top 10-20 prospect in the preseason, now he’s looking like a free agent prospect. He showed up out of shape, at least all his numbers across the board indicate so- he performed badly on all the major tests. Burfict called out his coaches and teammates for why he had a poor season during his media session, and he reportedly interviewed terrible with NFL reps.
Ryan Mallett had a terrible combine like this last year, and he was still drafted by the New England Patriots, so I’m guessing Burfict falls to Sunday. Again, very sad as he was a 1st-round prospect a few months ago.
Vinny Curry, Marshall
I never understood the attraction to him, and his poor combine showing confirmed it. His lack of impressive measurables will drop him to Friday or Saturday now.
Other combine stock reports:
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