NFL Combine Winners/Losers: Wide Receivers
The NFL combine is officially underway, and the prospects that have put their entire lives into creating an NFL career are now showcasing all of their talents over the course of the weekend. Some will thrive, but others will see their draft stock take a dip when the weekend wraps up. Here are the winners and losers among those at the wide receiver position.
Winners
Chris Olave
In a class filled with speedsters, it turns out Chris Olave is the one that emerged towards the top. The Ohio State Buckeye blazed the racetrack with a time of 4.39. On top of all that, he was very smooth through the route drills and was sharp on his movements. This is a class that has yet to have someone emerge to the top of the list, and if Olave is as fast as his time suggests, it may be enough to make him king of the hill.
Christian Watson
The combine is a great place for FCS players to prove that their athleticism is real and not just them playing against subpar competition. North Dakota State’s Christian Watson took full advantage of his opportunity and posted absurd numbers across the board. This was highlighted by an official 40 time of 4.36 on top of a vertical jump of 38.5 inches. This type of athleticism at his size is almost unheard of, and it should make him a massive threat in the NFL.
Calvin Austin III
Calvin Austin needed an incredible performance at the combine to gain draft stock at just 5’7. He certainly did that by recording a broad jump of 11’3 and a 40 time of 4.32. He ran The initial shock of some of the unofficial 40 times stole the show, but now that those numbers have been adjusted, people should remember Austin’s performance fondly as April approaches.
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Losers
Khalil Shakir
The Boise State Bronco receiver didn’t have a bad day by any means. Khalil Shakir is known to be one of the speed threats in this class, and he ran a 4.43 40: an extremely respectable time. That said, this class has proven to be a lot faster than anyone could have expected. Shakir’s time was the 13th fastest at the position. Without a stellar route tree, his explosiveness was one of the things he had going in his favor. After tonight, that even seems to be less of an advantage.
David Bell
No one expected Bell to put up some of the more spectacular athletic numbers, but you would think he’d at least be competitive towards the middle of the group. That simply wasn’t the case. He ran a 4.65 40 and ranked towards the bottom of the class in both the vertical and broad jumps as well. Bell’s draft stock will continue to rely on his tape as he gave very little to be excited about on Thursday.
NFL Combine Winners/Losers: Quarterbacks