2023 NFL Combine have completed defensive drills, and on Saturday the offense was on the field for televised drills. As is tradition, one group began by running the 40-yard dash and then switched to positional drills, while another group completed agility drills and measured jumps.
In the past, we have profiled the following job groups:
Quarterbacks and wide receivers do their on-field drills together, and while the NFL is equipped with some great technology, they somehow lack the ability to identify both the quarterback and wide receiver on their broadcasts. And with the league’s focus on quarterbacks, trying to track receivers through drills with only their numbers to identify them during a rep became very difficult.
With that in mind, in this position review, I’m focusing on two things: the players I was able to identify who stood out, and selecting receivers who had solid performances in their measured drills.
While the Detroit Lions seem to have a preference for receivers with speed, there is one commonality among the receivers acquired by Brad Holmes during his tenure as Lions general manager: most hit certain thresholds in vertical jump (VJ), broad jump (BJ). ), and 3-cone (3C) scores.
The key figures to look for are:
VJ: 37′ or more
BJ: 10-foot-4 or taller
3C: 6.9 seconds or less
Now, not all receiver subjects were tested in each category, but when any of the 12 receivers chosen as standouts hit or exceeded a benchmark, their scores were marked in bold for easy identification.
Let’s take a closer look at the wide receivers who stood out.
WR-X
Quentin Johnston, TCU6-foot-3, 208
(No 40 time), 40.5 (VJ), 11-foot-2 (BJ)
Johnston looks massive and when the ball comes into his reach he gobbles it up. He surpassed both jump benchmarks and the Lions reportedly had a meeting with him earlier this week.
Cedric Tillman, Tennessee, 6-foot-3, 213
4.54 (40), 37′ (VJ), 10-foot-8 (BJ)
Another WR-X with impressive size and movement capabilities, Tillman didn’t match Johnston’s numbers, but he also doesn’t carry the same expensive price tag.
Andrei Iosivas, Princeton, 6-foot-3, 205
4.43 (40), 39′ (VJ), 10-foot-8 (BJ), 6.85 (3C)
Iosivas exceeded benchmarks in all three categories and also ran a solid 40-yard dash time. He ran his routes smoothly at the Combine and showed solid hands. Princeton isn’t a powerhouse for producing NFL players, but he had early Day 3 hype heading into the Combine and could see his stock rise with his measurables.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton, West Virginia, 6-foot-4, 221
4.38 (40), 41′ (VJ), 10-foot-9 (BJ)6.97 (3C)
For Ford-Wheaton to hit the marks he did at 6-foot-4 is awfully impressive, and in drills he was a bit easier to identify because of his elongated wingspan. Originally identified as a late Day 3 prospect, his combination of size, speed, explosion and agility usually pushes teams to play in the middle rounds.
Grant Dubose, Charlotte, 6-foot-2, 201
4.57 (40), 35′ (VJ), 10-foot-5 (BJ), 6.89 (3C)
A raw prospect with an impressive 3-cone at his size, there’s enough potential to keep an eye on late on Day 3.
Antione Green, North Carolina, 6-foot-2, 199
4.48 (40), 33.5′ (VJ), 10-foot-3 (BJ), 6.99 (3C)
Green didn’t actually hit any of the previously identified benchmarks—though he came close in a few—but after it was reported that he met the lions at the combine, I made a point to keep looking for him. In the glove, he waved too much of the line for my liking, indicating possible balance issues, but he attacked the ball in the air, which was promising. He’s a developmental late Day 3 prospect for me, but I’ll go back to see tape on him.
WR-Z/Castle
Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee, 6-foot-0, 176
4.4 (40), 40 (VJ), 11-foot-3 (BJ)
Hyatt will be a WR-Z in the NFL and could be the first receiver off the board on draft day. He is a long strider, fills up quickly, gets in and out of his breaks easily and had strong hands at the catch point. The jump results match the explosion you see in his game film.
Jaxon Smith-Mens, Ohio State6-foot-1, 196
No. 40, 35′ (VJ), 10-foot-5 (BJ), 6.57 (3C)3.93 (SS)
Primarily a slot receiver at Ohio State, Smith-Nigba is not an exploder like the Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown, but is instead a more traditional speedy receiver who is difficult to handle when he cuts. His 6.57 3-cone score – which measures the ability to change direction at top speed – was far from the best of the Combine so far.
Josh Downs, North Carolina, 5-foot-9, 171
4.48 (40), 38.5 (VJ), 10-foot-11 (BJ)
Downs is another slot receiver who might not be a perfect fit in Detroit with St. Brown in that role, but he is able to get time on the outside (just like St. Brown) and his yards after catch (YAC) are special. On the combine he showed great body control at high speeds and the ability to make sharp cuts quickly.
Tyler Scott, Cincinnati, 5-foot-10, 177
4.44 (40), 39.5′ (VJ), 11-foot-1 (BJ)
Scott fits the Tyler Lockett mold as a WR-Z/slot who will split time in both roles but is best suited as a field carrier. He is a more natural positional fit with St. Brown than Smith-Nigba and Downs, and he runs with speed and confidence. An underrated player right now.
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma, 5-foot-11, 183
4.38 (40), 39.5′ (VJ), 10-foot-9 (BJ), 6.90 (3C)
Another athlete who exceeded all three benchmarks. Mims can operate at WR-Z and out of the slot, and his ability to make big plays both on offense and in the return game will be appealing. At the Combine, he was smooth and controlled, and his combination of skills and measurables could make him a steal in the third round.
Ronnie Bell, Michigan, 6-foot-0, 191
4.54 (40), 38.5′ (VJ)10-foot-0 (BJ), 6.98 (3C)
Bell looks like a Day 3 option that could develop into a starting slot/WR-Z over time. He’s reliable and a bit unassuming, but he showed nice explosion and change of direction at the combine. His impressive one-handed catch under a whip route stood out as one of the better catches of this year’s event.
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