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
Kirk Cousins, Michigan State Spartans
Cousins already had the off-the-field/intangibles stock on par with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, now he’s shown off his on-the-field/tangibles chops. When doing a NFL Draft radio spot for 92.3 the Fan, CBS radio Cleveland, I blabbed on and on about how much I love Cousins as a prospect. Especially since I heard him tell it like it is regarding the BCS and bowl system at the Big Ten championship. That type of outspokenness and fearlessness is exactly what you need in a guy leading the huddle.
The only one of the main QB prospects to throw, Cousins is probably the fourth signal caller off the board now, he impressed in the passing drills.
Robert Griffin III, Baylor
You’ve already heard lots about 4.38, and listened to Stuart Scott perform journalistic fellatio on him, so I don’t need to say much more
HOLD
Russell Wilson, Wisconsin Badgers
Measured in at 5’10” and ran a 4.55 40. Also threw some really nice passes in the drills. But overall he’s right back where he started- considered too short to be a starter and considered a decent backup/wildcat package signal caller. Can he prove them wrong and be the next Doug Flutie?
SELLING
Nick Foles, Arizona
Has a big time arm, and a good release, but ran a 5.14 40 yard dash which is atrocious for any skill position player at this level, regardless of size.
Brock Osweiler, Arizona State
What’s with this state and declining NFL draft stock for quarterbacks? I’ve always felt that the 6’7″ Osweiler was OVERRATED due to height (like Russell Wilson is underrated due to height) as this is the NFL not the NBA combine. Brock doesn’t have a ton of experience so he needed to throw to show scouts what he can do. He did not, due to a foot sprain suffered in ASU’s bowl game in December. Wait, we’re a couple days from March and he’s sitting out due to a sprain? Which didn’t require surgery even? Seems odd.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.
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