Xavier Worthy’s 40 builds buzz
Caleb Williams clears up some things at the NFL Combine
Quarterback Caleb Williams talks to reporters about declining medical and measurement exams and the Chicago Bears at the NFL Combine in Indy.
INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL’s annual scouting combine is effectively the closest thing the league has to a convention, all 32 teams assembling to evaluate draft prospects, meet with player agents and other representatives ahead of free agency, attend to league matters … with a little bit (or more) of hobnobbing at night in downtown Indy.
The event can also be a bit of “Groundhog Day” meets “Dazed and Confused” – “That’s what I love about these [inserts ‘draft prospects’], man. I get older, they stay the same age.”
Nonetheless, it’s a prime (47) opportunity to pick up scuttlebutt and gather first impressions of the NFL’s next stars – and it appears this draft could have quite a few.
The 32 things we learned from the 2024 NFL scouting combine
1. With the first pick of the 2024 NFL draft … Appropriate spot to reference former USC QB Caleb Williams, who’s widely projected to be taken No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears two months from now. He was poised during his media session Friday, while patiently explaining the narratives that have been attached to him and his rationale for not working out or even undergoing the combine’s universal medical evaluation (he’ll allow teams he visits to poke and prod him).
1a. And, take it for what it’s worth, but when asked if he’d been told yet by the Bears if they’d pick him first, Williams laughed. And paused. And declined to answer.
1b. In fairness to current Chicago QB Justin Fields, who wears No. 1, he also gets a mention here. Bears GM Ryan Poles maintains the team will try to “do right” by Fields as it pertains to his future, telegraphing an intention to find a resolution sooner than later. But it seems noteworthy that the team’s brain trust is almost universally not mentioning the notion of moving forward for a fourth season with Fields while openly entertaining its options rather than backing someone who would be considered the face of the franchise in several NFL cities – and could well be next season.
1c. As it pertains to Fields’ trade value? The New York Jets traded 2018 first-round QB Sam Darnold after his third season, getting a second-, fourth- and sixth-rounder in return.
2. In case you were wondering, yes – the combine actually concludes Sunday afternoon with the offensive linemen going through their paces.
3. And the blockers appear to be a fine group, led by Notre Dame OT Joe Alt. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they represent a full quarter of the first-round picks by the end of the night April 25.
4.21. Former Texas WR Xavier Worthy’s combine record 40-yard dash time, established Saturday night. He’ll be stretching defenses somewhere next fall.
4.22. The previous 40 record, held by former University of Washington and Cincinnati Bengals WR John Ross.
4.3. If Worthy, who amazingly was labeled “WO 40” going into the combine, is that fast, wouldn’t you think he’d have averaged more than 14 yards per catch during his Longhorns career? Just sayin’.
4.34. The time for Texas’ “slow” receiver, 6-2, 205-pound Adonai Mitchell, who’s very likely to wind up a first-round pick.
4.4. Nine combine wideouts ran faster than 4.4.
5. Defensive players will likely account for between one quarter and one half of Round 1 … yet don’t be shocked if none land in the top 10.
6. An almost universal opinion held by NFL executives and draft observers? This is an amazing group of wide receivers.
6a. Also, former Georgia TE Brock Bowers might actually be one, too.
7. An almost universal opinion held by NFL executives and draft observers? This is not an amazing group of running backs.
7a. But with Florida State’s Trey Benson and Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright clocking sub-4.4 40 times Saturday, don’t be surprised if either or both get tabbed in Round 2.
8. Expect the prominence of the NFLPA team report cards, which dropped Wednesday, to continue growing as players praise and/or air out their employers. Pretty shocking to see a dichotomy like the one in Kansas City, where the Chiefs’ champion players clearly adore A+ coach Andy Reid … yet have a 180-degree view of team owner Clark Hunt.
8a. Similarly – and no surprise – the Pittsburgh Steelers graded HC Mike Tomlin as an ‘A’ guy. Yet the Rooney family ownership got stung with an F. Whoa.
8b. “Oh, I pay attention to it,” Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard said of the report cards. “We do a lot with our players internally anyway and ask for their feedback. What I would tell you is there are some things I would probably debate with them, but we pay attention to it. Do I take it 100% to credence? No, no. But there will be questions asked and we’ll get feedback.”
8c. The Colts, the combine’s home team, finished 22nd overall among the league’s 32 clubs.
9. To date, only Bengals WR Tee Higgins…
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