NFL Draft Risers and Winners from NFL Scouting Combine

Welcome to our comprehensive analysis of the 2024 NFL Draft Risers and Winners from the NFL Scouting Combine! As one of the most pivotal events in the pre-draft process, the NFL Combine offers prospects a platform to showcase their athleticism and skills in front of NFL coaches, scouts, and executives.

In this in-depth review, we dissect the standout performances, surprising developments, and notable risers that could significantly impact draft boards leading up to the NFL Draft. Whether you’re a fan, analyst, or team executive, join us as we delve into the performances that have reshaped the landscape of the NFL Draft and identify the prospects poised for success at the next level.

Find out how the NFL Combine historically correlates with fantasy football relevance, here.

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NFL Draft Risers and Winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Stay tuned for updates throughout the entire 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. We will be updating this page as more official times, measurements, and news items happen.

Quarterbacks

With the top-tier quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels choosing to opt out of participating in drills at the Combine, the next tier had their chance to improve their NFL Draft stock. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy has been discussed as a mid-first-round pick, but he might not be there after the top ten picks with how he looked at the Combine. With several teams needing a quarterback, there could be some movement with trades to get in front of other teams to take McCarthy. His footwork looked phenomenal, and he put the ball in a rope and placed it well in throwing drills. We could see three quarterbacks taken with the first three picks, with four in the top ten next month.

A preseason favorite, Joe Milton III was up and down throughout the year but got the chance to show off his arm at the Combine. He was effortlessly dropping the ball in a bucket for his receivers when throwing go-routes deep down the field, putting 73 yards of air under the ball. There are some questions about other tangibles in his game, but a team with a veteran quarterback could look to develop Milton for the next couple of years and get a steal later in the draft.

Arguably, the biggest winner from the group of quarterbacks was Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. The main question was how he would do in the medical testing due to all the injuries he’s had throughout his extensive college career, and he passed them with zero issues. With that question put to rest, he showed his arm talent throughout the entirety of on-field drills. Penix displayed a snappy arm motion and pinpoint accuracy and should now be discussed as a potential late first-round pick with these questions answered.

Wide Receivers

We knew that Texas’ Xavier Worthy was fast, but did we think he would be setting records at the Combine? He did exactly that with an official 40-yard dash of 4.21, which is the blazing speed teams look for in today’s NFL. While he won’t blow you away with his size, Worthy will use all of that official time to beat defenders in various ways and with a team like the Kansas City Chiefs sitting at the end of the first round, he could hear his name called earlier than expected with his performance at the Combine.

With two of the top three receivers not participating at the Combine, the door was left open for Rome Odunze to put his name in the ring as the best receiver in the class. From the measurements to the testing to on-field drills, he looked every bit of the part of a WR1. Odunze was smooth in the gauntlet drill and was effortlessly changing directions while showing off his explosiveness and speed at his size. While Marvin Harrison Jr. is the consensus number-one wide receiver in the class, Odunze looks like he cemented himself as the next receiver to come off the board.

Defensive Linemen

After dominating the Senior Bowl, Florida State’s Braden Fiske was destined for a great showing at the Scouting Combine. He undoubtedly improved his NFL Draft stock significantly with his numbers. Fiske ran a 4.78 40-yard-dash at 292 pounds, with a 1.68 split, which is outstanding for an interior defensive lineman. He had a 4.37 20-yard-shuttle and a 9-foot-9 broad jump to add to his testing numbers. Fiske came into the Combine as a late day-two prospect who may have just snuck his way into the back end of the first round.

After an injury-filled season, LSU’s Maason Smith came into the week with a ton to prove. Summer rankings had him in or near the first round for projections but dropped off after an unproductive season. He’s back on the rise after showing his athleticism and movement skills at 306 pounds. Smith was moving effortlessly in position drills, easily changing directions and showing off his speed and power. With many questions to answer after last season, he put an exclamation point on those and should hear his name back in the day-two conversation.

EDGE Rushers

We knew players like Dallas Turner and Chop Robinson would test off the charts and dominate position drills, but there were a few players who improved their NFL Draft stock with their performance. Western Michigan’s defensive end Marshawn Kneeland looked the part of a starting edge rusher in the NFL on Thursday night. At 6030 and 267 pounds, he looked bendy with good ankle flexion in position drills, and his testing numbers were very solid, running a 4.75 40, a 4.18 20-yard-shuttle, and a 7.02 3-cone, both of which led the day. Kneeland confirmed what many already believed and has solidified himself as a late day-one to early day-two pick.

Another big-time winner was Texas Tech’s Myles Cole, who blew away people with his measurements at the Senior Bowl but then surprised everyone with his testing at the Scouting Combine. At 278 pounds, Cole ran a 4.67, and when it came to testing, he had us running back to the film to see what we missed. He was smoothly changing direction, showing flexibility and expressiveness. After Cole’s pre-draft process, he might not make it out of day two.

Linebackers

Without an elite player at the linebacker position, a few players had a chance to solidify themselves as the best at the position. Edgerrin Cooper from Texas A&M may have put an end to those questions on Thursday, moving well in position drills, running a 4.51 40-yard-dash with a 1.54 split, which tied for the best in the position group. Cooper showed off his athleticism, speed, and explosiveness at the Combine and appeared to be the clearcut LB1.

Again, the linebackers aren’t as deep as in previous classes, which means we could hear a few names creep into the mid-rounds of the NFL Draft. Florida State’s Kalen DeLoach looked great in the testing portion of the Combine, running a 4.47 40-yard dash with a 1.59 split and a 9-foot-11 broad jump. Showing that kind of speed and burst will definitely get the attention of NFL teams, and with the lack of depth at the position, DeLoach should hear his name called at the end of April.

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