Who says no? 1 QB? The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is over, and we’ve got answers to some of your burning questions as well as the biggest risers and fallers. In the hope of raising their draft stock, hundreds of prospects traveled to Indianapolis, and many of them did just that.
Below, CBS Sports NFL Draft analysts Chris Trapasso and Josh Edwards provide a recap of all of the action, including QB performances, the biggest risers and fallers, sleepers, and additional information.
What is the most important plot line emerging from the combine?
Josh Edwards’ measurements for Bryce Young: Young was the right height and weight for the job. It’s encouraging to see that he can reach that weight, but if he doesn’t plan to keep it off throughout his playing career, it doesn’t mean much that this will happen in March.
Anthony Richardson’s predominance
Chris Trapasso: Richardson exceeded (met?) the huge expectations for someone 6’4″ and 244 pounds. I shared the overwhelming majority’s belief that the former Florida quarterback would excel in Indianapolis. To be honest, I don’t think I would have predicted a combination quite as absurd as Richardson’s. Young’s decision to sit was understandable, but Richardson’s decision to show off his extraordinary athletic abilities was clearly smart.
Who contributed the most to their draft stock?
Josh Edwards, EDGE/DL, Northwestern Adetomiwa Adebawore: If it weren’t for Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, Adebawore wouldn’t have been able to compete with the other players. He performed exceptionally well in virtually every category. He ran a 4.49 seconds 40-yard run at 282 pounds after upward bouncing 37.5 inches and extensively hopping 10-feet-5-inches. In addition, the Florida native bench-pressed 225 pounds 27 times. Groups should have an arrangement set up for his size, however he checked a great deal of boxes physically.
Chris Trapasso, Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland: This selection was somewhat obscure due to the difficulty of identifying just one. Deonte Banks, Bennett’s teammate, was Maryland’s top cornerback at the combine. Bennett finishes with an explosiveness that is almost identical to Banks’, and he ran 4.30 compared to Banks’ 4.35. At 5-foot-11, 188 pounds, and with arms that are just under 32 inches long, Bennett will not meet the size requirements of every team. However, he played more inside and outside than Banks, so we now know that he is an elite athlete.
Who did the most damage to their draft stock?
LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte Josh Edwards: Because of his inconsistent behavior while he was in Baton Rouge, many people were willing to give Boutte the benefit of the doubt. After Joe Burrow, the team’s leadership changed, and quarterback play was a problem. However, it is much more challenging to support his stock given the way things ended and the fact that his athletic testing was below expectations.
Chris Trapasso, WR, USC Jordan Addison: With a height of 5 feet 11 inches and a weight of 173 pounds, Addison had arms that were less than 31 inches long and hands that were just under the 9-inch mark that many teams want in their receivers. Then, despite having little weight, Addison ran the 40 in 4.49 seconds, placing him 21st among wideouts. remarkably slow. His 10-foot-2 broad and 34-inch vertical were the lowest at the position, respectively. On film, Addison is a slick and dependable stud. The stock of Addison fell here at the combine. At 173 pounds, he should have tested more explosively.
Who performed the most impressively?
Josh Edwards, quarterback, Florida Anthony Richardson: For Richardson’s size, his performance was historic. With a vertical jump of 40.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet 9 inches early in the day, he set the tone. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash when he first appeared in front of the nation, and he followed that up with a fantastic performance on the field. In the NFL, athleticism only gets a quarterback so far, but if Richardson can figure out the rest, he will be special.
Chris Trapasso, TE, Old Dominion Zack Kuntz: We’ve talked about Richardson and Adebawore’s ridiculous efforts. Give Kuntz some attention. This former Penn State tight end was 6-foot-7, 255 pounds, had 34-inch arms, ran a 4.55 in the 40, and led his position in all major drills. The fastest three-cone with a receiver-list time of 6.87 seconds and the highest vertical (40 inches) and broad jump (10 feet 8 inches). You are aware of how challenging it is for a 6-7 tight end to execute a clean three-cone drill.
Which of the QBs’ lessons did you take away most from?
Josh Edwards: Top quarterbacks shine Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and C.J. Stroud—considered to be the best quarterback prospects—threw the ball exceptionally well. The Chicago Bears, who have selected the No. 1 pick, are in luck because talent evaluators should have much more positive feelings about the group at the top. The trade block has one overall selection.
Chris Trapasso: Stroud lives up to the hype. During the throwing sessions, Stroud lived up to the “ball-placement specialist” label he gave himself. Throwing to a random group of unfamiliar wideouts has historically been extremely difficult for quarterbacks. His passes also had a lot of zip, and he didn’t have any trouble getting it more than 60 yards down the field. Ball never rippled, didn’t linger palpably until the end of time. Stroud was a surgical passer in general on Saturday night.
Who are you? 1 QB: Why?
Alabama’s Bryce Young Josh Edwards: While the action on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf was impressive, the tape is the most important part of an evaluation. At the position, Young is the most natural playmaker. He has the ability to create plays outside of the play structure and is a great leader.
Chris Trapasso, Ohio State, C.J. Stroud: many of the reasons I mentioned earlier. He resembles Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in that he is not a freaky, designed run-game type. Instead, he is just explosive and naturally gifted enough to elude rushers to extend plays and find open receivers in scramble drills. I saw more “big-time” throws from him on film than any other quarterback.
Before Pro Days and the rest of the draft process, who is one sleeper to watch?
Josh Edwards: Carrington Valentine, Kentucky CB Valentine had a wide jump of 10 feet 8 inches and a vertical jump of 39 inches. On the other hand, he ought to move and run quickly at his Pro Day. The lack of ball production and tackling concerns aside, teams will be intrigued by the athletic testing.
Chris Trapasso, Durell Nchami, EDGE, Maryland: Picking a Terrapin seems like a fairly safe bet after what we saw from Banks, Bennett, offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan, and wide receivers Dontay Demus and Rakim Jarrett. I loved Nchami on film. He has burst, bend, and pass-rush moves, but he never regained his magic as a pass rusher from early in his college career. Additionally, his lean physique makes him an excellent candidate for an explosive Pro Day workout.
