15 NFL prospects with most to gain at Pro Days
7. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
One report said that several NFL teams asked Lamar Jackson to participate in wide receivers drills at the combine because of concerns over his accuracy as a quarterback. While that is not an uncommon request for supremely athletic talents like Jackson, he insists he’s a quarterback through and through. Unfortunately, Jackson’s accuracy problems shined through at the combine and that did not help his draft stock. If he wishes to remain a highly-touted quarterback option, Jackson will need to show better timing and accuracy at Louisville’s March 29 Pro Day.
6. Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
Anthony Miller put up an impressive 22 reps on the bench press at the NFL Combine, but due to a fracture in his foot, he did little more. He was unable to participate in positional drills or athleticism testing, which is something he needs to do in front of scouts. Not being able to highlight his speed and route running ability could do damage to his draft stock. Assuming Miller is healthy enough to participate at Memphis’ April 6 Pro Day, he stands to gain quite a bit.
5. Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Carlton Davis aims to be a top 50 selection in the NFL Draft, but his combine performance did little to help his case. At 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, Davis is clearly a large, physical corner who is meant to lock-down larger receivers. However, during positional drills, Davis struggled to move in space and didn’t display good ball skills. Auburn has an early Pro Day on March 9, and Davis will need to use that time to shore up some of his weaker areas if he wishes to hear his name called over the first two rounds.
4. Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
Martinas Rankin showed some strength at the NFL Combine with his 24 reps on the bench press, but that was about the extent of his display. Due to a lingering ankle injury that hampered him during the season, Rankin opted not to participate in positional drills and athleticism testing. A first-round hopeful, Rankin will absolutely have to show a bit more at Mississippi State’s March 28 Pro Day in order to be taken as high as his potential otherwise warrants. If he remains hampered with an ankle injury, his draft stock could drop a bit.
3. Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State
There is a substantial amount of depth at the cornerback position entering the NFL Draft, so Tarvarus McFadden needed to bury concerns about his overall speed at the combine. Unfortunately for McFadden, that did not happen and he posted a 4.67 40-yard dash time, which was the second-slowest mark at the position. At FSU’s March 20 Pro Day, McFadden will have one final opportunity to better that time and hope that his physical play and ball-hawking skills continue to shine through. However, if he once again runs sluggishly, McFadden may not find his name called until Round 3 of the draft or later.
2. Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Many believe Sam Darnold is the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, but he did himself no favors at the combine in Indianapolis. Although Darnold did participate in athleticism testing and interviews, he opted not to throw in front of scouts — not because he was injured, but because he didn’t feel comfortable enough throwing to receivers other than his USC teammates. Whether Darnold likes it or not, that raised a red flag and has subsequently led to him dropping a bit in some mock drafts. At USC’s March 21 Pro Day he’ll have a chance to rectify some of that, but he better be on point in effort to overcome his earlier refusal to throw.
1. Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Things could not possibly have gone worse for Orlando Brown at the NFL Combine. In fact, Brown had one of the worst all-around combine performances in history. His 5.85-second 40-yard dash was the fifth-slowest at the combine since 2003. He also managed just 14 reps on the bench press, struggled in other drills, and was repeatedly seen being yelled at by scouts and coaches. Needless to say, Brown’s draft stock has fallen dramatically and he’ll need a much better performance at his March 14 Pro Day in order to salvage what remains of his worth. If he continues to struggle, it’s possible he falls deep in the draft.
