INDIANAPOLIS—The NFL Scouting Combine's Sunday session featured quarterbacks, receivers and running backs. Here are the players who impressed and who struggled:
1. Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech, 6-4, 215, 33 3/8 arm, 4.36 (40 time)
Coming from a program like Georgia Tech and getting limited opportunities to show his receiving skills, the Combine was a huge opportunity. Hill aced his exams and impressed scouts with the day's fastest 40-yard time and fluid routes during drills. He also showed strong hands the ability to make acrobatic catches. Hill increased his value and should fly up draft boards with his combination of size and skills.
2. Chris Polk, RB, Washington, 5-11, 215 weight, 31 1/2 arm, 4.57 (40 time)
After looking a bit heavy at the Senior Bowl, Polk lost nine pounds and came to the Combine fit and trim. It was noticeable especially after knocking out a strong 40-yard dash. He accelerated quickly out of his cuts and looked more athletic in drills. Polk also answered questions about his skills as a receiver by running crisp routes and showing good-enough hands to be a three-down back at the next level.
3. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame, 6-3, 220, 32 7/8 arm, 4.47 (40 time)
Floyd had a lot to potentially lose Sunday. After running very and working out so well, Floyd locked up the spot as the second-best receiver in this draft. For a man of his size, he showed a combination of speed, agility and burst coming out of his breaks as a route-runner. Additionally, he caught the ball well by plucking the ball with his hands without letting it into his body. NFL teams love to see a top prospect have the confidence to compete and prove his skills, which is exactly what Floyd did Sunday.
4. Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State, 6-3, 214, 31 3/4 arm, 4.84 (40 time)
Of all the quarterbacks who worked out Sunday, Cousins stood out as the best. He showed a smooth, easy delivery and all of his passes were accurate. He no doubt benefited from playing in a pro-style offense at Michigan State. It showed as other quarterbacks looked unnatural in their three-, five- and seven-step drops, while Cousins made it look easy. He did a great job with his ball placement, allowing the receivers to make catches in stride.
5. Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers, 6-2, 211, 33 1/2 arm, 4.67 (40 time)
Sanu is the most recent example of a big receiver who doesn't run fast 40-yard times, but shows enough compensating factors to be a highly effective player in the NFL. Many coaches and scouts learned a valuable lesson several years ago, when Anquan Boldin ran a 4.67 in the 40 and dropped down many draft boards. Although Sanu shows average explosiveness and burst, he has outstanding body control. He also does a great job of coming back to the quarterback, where his long arms and ability to extend to catch the ball away from his body make it nearly impossible for the corner to make a play.
Struggled (in order of least impressive performances)
1. Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas, 6-3, 219, 34 1/8 arm, 4.50 (40 time)
Childs has struggled through the postseason evaluations, including the Combine. While his measureables are good, Childs struggled to make catches throughout receiving drills and lacked explosiveness in his routes. He showed a lack of fluidity and rounded out his breaks consistently. His inability to plant and go means he'll struggle to create separation. With his Sunday performance, Childs is likely to fall to the lower rounds of the draft.
2. Case Keenum, QB, Houston, 6-1, 208, 30 7/8 arm, 4.75 (40 time)
Keenum's sidearm delivery and below-average arm strength made him look really bad in comparison to his peers. He particularly struggled in the short, underneath passes, which is strange considering the nature of his college spread offense. With his performance Sunday, it's unlikely Keenum will be drafted.
3. Patrick Witt, QB, Yale, 6-4, 225, 31 3/8 arm, did not run 40
Witt had more to prove coming from a lower-level program than some of his peers. Unfortunately, Witt confirmed he still has a lot of work to do before being considered as a draft-worthy prospect. He was the least accurate of all of the quarterbacks who worked out Sunday. Witt appeared to allow one bad throw to turn into several as he pressed on the big stage.
4. Marc Tyler, RB, USC, 5-11, 219, 32 arm, 4.78 (40 time)
Tyler struggled Sunday, starting with his time in the 40. In addition, he looked unnatural in transitions and showed poor balance during drills. In the bag drill, he was caught guessing instead of using patience and vision to get him through the hole. Tyler wasn’t nearly as productive at USC as he was projected to be coming out of high school. Adding Sunday’s performance to his college film, it’s difficult to imagine him being productive at the NFL level.
5. James Rodgers, WR, Oregon State, 5-7, 184, 29 5/8 arm, 4.68 (40 time)
Rodgers ran a disappointing 40 on Sunday. Combined with his stature and injury (knee) history, it's questionable he'll be drafted come April. On film, he looks like an elusive playmaker, but Rodgers didn't show the same flash during Sunday's workout. He may not be 100 percent just yet. He will need a big Pro Day to revive his draft status and join his brother Jacquizz (Falcons) in the NFL.
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