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Which Prospects Stood Out at the 2024 NFL Combine?

Buzz 03.04

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books.

NFL coaches and scouts got their first glimpse at some top prospects during in-person meetings and on-field drills.

And there were a number of players who stood out in Indianapolis.

Perhaps one of the biggest names to work out last week was Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, who participated in every drill.

Odunze finished with an official 4.45 40-yard dash and 39-inch vertical jump and all but cemented himself as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the draft.

CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso gave Odunze a ‘B+’ grade for his Combine performance because of what he was able to show at his size.

Trapasso wrote:

Odunze was one of the largest wideouts in this collection of receivers at 6-3 and 212 pounds. He ran 4.45, which rocks for his size, but was slower relative to how fast many others ran. His 39-inch vertical was no joke and matches the film… The three-cone of 6.88 is silly at his size.

Odunze was among the impressive wide receiver showings at the Combine that also included LSU's Brian Thomas, Jr., plus Texas' Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, and others.

Take a look back at photos of the Bolt Fam showing out during the 2023 season

Worthy broke the record for fastest 40-yard dash in Combine history at 4.21 seconds, while Thomas also showed off the speed with a 4.33 in the 40 in addition to a 38.5-inch vertical — all while being listed at a big size of 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds.

Meanwhile, Mitchell had one of the best performances of the week at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds and well could've locked up his first round status, finishing in the 94th percentile in the 40-yard dash, 98th percentile in the broad jump and 89th percentile in the vertical jump according to Pro Football Focus.

Overall, as Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald noted, it was a performance that showed the depth of the class.

McDonald wrote:

"Wideouts of all different types and draft projections were able to shine… There's a wide receiver for every need in this draft class and they're expected to fly off the board early."

On the tight end front, Penn State's Theo Johnson stood out among the rest in Indy.

Johnson was second among tight ends in the 40-yard dash, broad jump and vertical jump and first in the 20-yard shuttle.

It was one of the most athletic Combine performances from a tight end prospect ever, as he earned a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score that ranked second among tight ends since 1987.

Rounding out the offensive side of the ball was tackle Troy Fautanu from Washington, who made a strong impression.

NFL.com's Chad Reuter wrote:

[Fautanu's] lateral movement and low pad level shined during pass protection drills. His explosion out of his stance also impressed, and his quick hands hit pads in concert with his footwork… He should lock up a top-25 draft spot with his combine performance.

Take a look back at the best photos of the Chargers 2023 draft class in their inaugural NFL campaign

Among the top defensive prospects to show out were a pair of Alabama teammates in edge rusher Dallas Turner and cornerback Terrion Arnold.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote:

Among the edge rushers, Alabama's Dallas Turner showed why he is the favorite to be the first defensive player drafted… The word "freak" can get overused, but there might not be a player in this draft more deserving — and seeing him move up close only confirmed that status.

Arnold had a similar strong showing, making his case to be the first cornerback taken along with Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell who also had quite an afternoon in Indy.

Brugler wrote:

In the secondary, my top-ranked cornerbacks, Terrion Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell, confirmed (in my eyes) they should be the first CBs drafted.

Those among the defensive line had some pretty athletic showings similar to those on the offensive trenches.

Texas' Byron Murphy II's afternoon was stellar, as was Michigan's Kris Jenkins, as they continue to firmly position themselves among their position.

But the biggest headline was Florida State's Braden Fiske, who put on a show in every drill.

He led all interior defensive linemen at the combine in the 40-yard dash (4.78 seconds), vertical jump (33.5 inches) and broad jump (9-foot-9) while tying for first in the 20-yard shuttle (4.37 seconds).

Fiske wasn't one of the first on the shortlist among his position prior to the Combine, but his showing definitely turned some heads.

Brugler wrote:

[Fiske] won't be a fit for every scheme because of his size, but he cemented himself in the second round for those teams considering him. Texas' Byron Murphy II was a close second at the position and reinforced why many believe he is the top DT prospect this year.

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