2009 NFL Combine: Stock Watch

Stock Up:

Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Cincinnati. Barwin helped himself as much as anyone here at the Combine. He recorded workout numbers very similar to some of the premiere pass rushers in the 3-4. Though he’s still very raw, coaches will adore his work ethic and give him an opportunity. Possessing long arms, a quick first step, and great explosiveness, Barwin is going to be a difficult match-up for offenses at the next level. After this week, I feel the odds of him going as high as number 9 to Green Bay are more likely than him dropping to round two where some had projected him. Remember that Ted Thompson, General Manager of the Packers, isn’t afraid to go outside of public opinion to grab the guy who he feels is the best player available.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. In a week that’s said to have been slow, Darrius Heyward-Bey came out Sunday morning and ran a 4.30 40 yard dash, boosting his stock more than any wide receiver there. His electrifying speed and surprising polish might just be enough to propel him to the spot just behind Michael Crabtree among receivers. The latest I see him lasting is at number 18 overall to the Chicago Bears.

Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose State. Over the last several months, no prospect has done as much for his stock as Jarron Gilbert. He’s expected to play the 5-technique in the NFL, or the defensive end in the 3-4 alignment. This is a physical specimen like no other. At nearly 6’6, 288 pounds, with the longest arms at the Combine, Gilbert is ready to play in the NFL now and should be unblockable in a year or two without double teams. His athleticism, drive, and explosiveness, all tested here this week, may have some playoff teams giving him strong looks at the end of the first round.

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. With his numbers out in the public, Curry has solidified himself as one of the best linebacker prospects in the last decade. Curry plays both fast and strong and backed this up with a 4.56 40, 25 reps, a 37” vertical, and a 10’4” broad jump. In a very weak linebacker class, Curry is the cream of the crop, by miles. Pencil this guy in the first five selections, even if it means all that guaranteed money to a linebacker.

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. In every step of his interview process, Raji has dominated, intimidated, and impressed. This kid is a beast in every meaning of the word. His athleticism rivals Haloti Ngata for a man his size, which is very high praise. Every team in the top ten will be eyeing him closely and find it difficult to pass him up for any other player. He just looks like a special football player whenever he steps foot on the field.

Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina. His 4.50 40 topped all tight ends on Sunday and each one of those seconds probably tacking on another half million dollars to his rookie contract. Cook has lean and cut body, the type that will demand attention split out wide in the NFL. Cook’s size, speed, and hops will be coveted by one of the playoff teams in the first round and if he manages to slide by, look for some team to trade up to grab his services early in the 2nd round.

Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut. Though the conflicting stories and theories about the 40 times on Tuesday for defensive backs have become scrutinized, there’s nothing questionable about heights of corners this year. When you look through the list of cornerbacks, notice the shrinkage we’ve seen from the listed heights. Then compare that to the inflation in size and speed of wide receivers (does Larry Fitzgerald ring a bell?). Cornerbacks are going to slide more than ever this year, but that won’t include Connecticut’s Darius Butler, who is one of the most natural athletes in the draft. Though he measured in at nearly 5’10 1/2, a less than ideal height, he showed great vertical explosion jumping 43 inches in the air. Butler has to be among the first couple corners taken and should be in the late first to early second round range.

Lawrence Sidbury Jr., DE, Richmond. Richmond’s Sidbury is another one of the players who has interviewed remarkably for a job these last couple of months. His explosiveness on the field speaks for itself, but it’s nice to see him back it up on the field unlike some other tweeners. Sidbury also has incredible length and should get looks from every team looking to bolster their front 7. Eric Wood, C, Louisville. There’s nothing special about Eric Wood as an athlete or in simple drills. Throw him out on the field and you’ll find a solid starting center in the NFL. Surprisingly, he performed very well this week in drills, which should give him a much desired boost to his stock. From what I hear, he interviewed very well with coaches and scouts. Wood’s one of those players that just “gets it.”

Deon Butler, WR, Penn State/Tiquan Underwood, WR, Rutgers. I love to cheat and add players where I can so I’m taking a pair of undersized receivers with my final spot. As shown this week, both Butler and Underwood are remarkable athletes. Butler is a shorter, smaller receiver, but has been incredibly productive at Penn State. Fans of the team and some close to the program will even say that Butler is a better prospect than teammate Derrick Williams. If 40 times are indicative of great play that would certainly be the case. His 4.38 40 and 37” vertical rank among the best at his position and are great measuring tools in sizing up athletic ability and potential in the NFL. Tiquan Underwood on the other hand, hasn’t had the same type of consistency of Deon Butler. His inconsistent hands were one of the factors leading to a season where his senior production dropped to less than half of that of his junior year. Still, Underwood tested as one of the best athletes with a 4.41 40, a 41.5” vertical, and numbers near the top in the shuttle, cone, and broad jump. Underwood has improved his stock from undrafted free agent to potential late round prospect.

Stock Down:

NFL Scouting Combine. Fans have classified this as one of the more boring Combines in recent memory as a result of slower times and numbers across the board. I’m going to have to strongly disagree with that assessment, but I will go out on a limb and predict that many more prospects may defer to their pro days next year in hopes of posting a much better time.

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. Andre Smith has proven that you can hurt yourself just as much by not showing up than you can by performing poorly. Smith may have cost himself the most money of anyone at the Combine. Even though he may just drop a couple spots, the difference in money between each spot at the very top of the draft is significant. Smith put another strike against his character by coming across in a negative way to NFL teams. I do feel bad for Andre, because I don’t think it’s entirely his fault and he’ll remain my top offensive tackle prospect for now, but the gap is bridging. Smith can’t afford any more screw-ups between now and April.

Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State/Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. By running slow 40’s neither prospect took the Combine by storm. With times in the 4.6 range, both prospects all but moved themselves out of top ten range, where the demand for backs outside of Cincinnati is fairly low. The optimistic sign for both Wells and Moreno was that speed was never considered either’s biggest asset. Wells is known as a power back while Moreno is known for elite lateral movements. Neither should slip out of the first round still.

Jaison Williams, WR, Oregon. If Williams is still trying to prove that he can play wide receiver in the league, then that opportunity is closing fast on him. At 6’4, 237 and in the 4.65 range, Williams doesn’t have a great shot. The good thing is that his size will allow him to bulk up and play more of an H-Back role in which teams can use his size to create mismatches. At the Combine he dropped a very high percentage of balls thrown to him.

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. I almost feel like scolding myself for putting Pettigrew on this list, but I feel obligated to do so. After all, the purpose of the Combine is only for money. It’s not as if performing well or poorly here will equate to any difference on the field. However, Pettigrew’s 4.85 40 yard dash didn’t look very good. Basically the only effect the Combine will have on Pettigrew is that no team will be more likely to put him on their radar. Don’t worry Brandon. You have enough suitors and many of them willing to pull the trigger in the 1st round.

Combine Coverage: Preview | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday
Combine Results: QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | ILB | OLB | CB | S | ST