2025 NFL Combine Open Thread

[SunsetBengal]

(02-28-2025, 10:26 PM)Synric Wrote:  Nah. It would have been more of a surprise if he wasn't fast. 

So, Hill to slot Corner and Emmanwori to Free Safety?

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(02-28-2025, 09:50 AM)Goalpost Wrote: Stewart's RAS score was the best ever since 1987.  Out of 1802 DE's that have been tested, he ranked 1st.  

https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/aggies/football/2025/02/27/shemar-stewart-nfl-scouting-combine-relative-athletic-score-2025-nfl-draft/80763233007/

https://ras.football/2020/01/23/vernon-gholston-ras/

For DEs, athleticism isn't the end all be all.

[Whatever]

(03-01-2025, 02:11 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: https://ras.football/2020/01/23/vernon-gholston-ras/

For DEs, athleticism isn't the end all be all.

I'm not a big fan of Stewart, but pretty much any current premier edge rusher you can name has a RAS of 9.5 or higher.

Just because a prospect has a high RAS doesn't mean that they will necessarily pan out, but your chances of drafting an elite edge that doesn't have a high RAS is very remote.

[Luvnit2]

(03-01-2025, 02:39 PM)Whatever Wrote: I'm not a big fan of Stewart, but pretty much any current premier edge rusher you can name has a RAS of 9.5 or higher.

Just because a prospect has a high RAS doesn't mean that they will necessarily pan out, but your chances of drafting an elite edge that doesn't have a high RAS is very remote.

Trey Hendrickson had a RAS score of 9.53.

https://ras.football/2020/01/23/trey-hendrickson-ras/

He played at Florida Atlantic and was drafted in round 3 by the Saints. He ran a 4.65 forty yard dash.

Then there is Myles Murphy who is faster and had a gigher RAS score than Trey.

I truly don’t understand the negativity that has gained steam revolving around Murphy during this draft process. Myles Murphy is an absolute athletic freak with tremendous size. He’s 6’4 ½ at 268 pounds while posting a 9.71 RAS and a 4.53 40 after a very productive 3 years with starter reps with absolutely 0 durability concerns. Also, this is a guy who checks all of the athletic/physical boxes while also possessing an extremely high motor. Why are we trying to make up unquantifiable nonsense about his upside? He’s a Top 5 player in this draft class. I think he’s a close player comp as a prospect to Bradley Chubb, who was drafted 5th in 2018 out of NC State. They have a near-identical RAS chart being within a half inch and 4 pounds of each other. He is more of a DLineman than a stand-up guy like Chubb but they have a similar impact as pass rushers while sharing many traits. I see his worst-case NFL scenario as a Rashan Gary type, who’s had 20.5 sacks over the last 3 years while being a good run stopper. I view Murphy as an extremely safe prospect while his upside is being undersold. A good mix of immediate contribution while having the potential to grow.

[Whatever]

(03-01-2025, 02:49 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Trey Hendrickson had a RAS score of 9.53.

https://ras.football/2020/01/23/trey-hendrickson-ras/

He played at Florida Atlantic and was drafted in round 3 by the Saints. He ran a 4.65 forty yard dash.

Then there is Myles Murphy who is faster and had a gigher RAS score than Trey.

I truly don’t understand the negativity that has gained steam revolving around Murphy during this draft process. Myles Murphy is an absolute athletic freak with tremendous size. He’s 6’4 ½ at 268 pounds while posting a 9.71 RAS and a 4.53 40 after a very productive 3 years with starter reps with absolutely 0 durability concerns. Also, this is a guy who checks all of the athletic/physical boxes while also possessing an extremely high motor. Why are we trying to make up unquantifiable nonsense about his upside? He’s a Top 5 player in this draft class. I think he’s a close player comp as a prospect to Bradley Chubb, who was drafted 5th in 2018 out of NC State. They have a near-identical RAS chart being within a half inch and 4 pounds of each other. He is more of a DLineman than a stand-up guy like Chubb but they have a similar impact as pass rushers while sharing many traits. I see his worst-case NFL scenario as a Rashan Gary type, who’s had 20.5 sacks over the last 3 years while being a good run stopper. I view Murphy as an extremely safe prospect while his upside is being undersold. A good mix of immediate contribution while having the potential to grow.

Folks are down on Murphy because he just hasn't put it all together and struggles to finish.  I'm kind of in that weird area of I'm not giving up on him, but I don't trust him enough to rely on him, either.

[Luvnit2]

(03-01-2025, 03:25 PM)Whatever Wrote: Folks are down on Murphy because he just hasn't put it all together and struggles to finish.  I'm kind of in that weird area of I'm not giving up on him, but I don't trust him enough to rely on him, either.

I agree, I am not ready to give up on him. I hope he starts playing to his athletic ability consistently. He showed some flashes last year.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-01-2025, 03:28 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I agree, I am not ready to give up on him. I hope he starts playing to his athletic ability consistently. He showed some flashes last year.

Some guys train like track athletes in order to do well at the combine, maybe Myles Murphy is one of those guys? He ran 4.53 at the combine, but he pursues opposing players like he's got sand in his boots.

[*Synric*]

After running well yesterday getting a good bit of character issue chatter with James Pearce Jr.

Quote:James Pearce Jr. may fall further than you could imagine
Everyone knows how athletic Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. is. He came into the season as some analyst’s top prospect in the class from summer scouting. But his junior year in Knoxville did not go to plan in 2024.

I was told that the Tennessee football program could not only breathe easier once Pearce left campus but that his pitch count in SEC play was not injury related. Pearce was seen as undeniably uncoachable and as a player with one foot out the door already this season, giving his coaches little incentive to put him on the field full-time.

Pending the Mike Green reports that have flooded the media over the past month, I was told by one scout that Pearce Jr. is seen as the player with the worst character report of any player in this draft class.

Another scout told me they think the environment and people around him in Tennessee are the main issues, and they think he could become a pro when he enters an NFL building.

I was left with a final note that while the general public would be stunned to see it happen, NFL personnel won’t be shocked to see him on the board after the first 64 picks in the draft.

https://www.daftondraft.football/p/nfl-combine-nfl-draft-rumors-2025

[CJD]

So.

Malaki Starks has had a nightmare week, huh?

I wonder how it affects his stock.

[*Synric*]

Jayden Higgins with a 4.47 check and check.

[*Synric*]

(03-01-2025, 05:26 PM)CJD Wrote: So.

Malaki Starks has had a nightmare week, huh?

I wonder how it affects his stock.

Starks was the fastest safety during the drills. 

[CJD]

(03-01-2025, 05:48 PM)Synric Wrote: Starks was the fastest safety during the drills. 

As a smaller safety, that was expected. But his other metrics have been awful.

Malaki Starks is a FS prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 5.50 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 498 out of 1105 FS from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/ZFaScYexyC pic.twitter.com/E7a0rpRNx6

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 1, 2025

 

[Whatever]

(03-01-2025, 05:48 PM)Synric Wrote: Starks was the fastest safety during the drills. 

Personally, I don't put as much value on timed speed and agility drills for LB's and S's.  It's so easy for a guy to gain or lose a tenth just off of vision and read/react ability.  Now, for defenders like CB's that have to run with receivers in man, yeah, it's quite huge. 

[*Synric*]

(03-01-2025, 01:58 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: So, Hill to slot Corner and Emmanwori to Free Safety?

Emmanwori isn't Kyle Hamilton even if he gets the comps. Whoever drafts him will keep him as close to the line as scrimmage as possible early in his career along with working him as a split safety in cover 2/4/6 looks.

Hill to slot corner/star though yes. Mike Hilton's CB/S role.

[*Synric*]

Lol.

The OL at the Combine “lost” over half an inch of arm length on average compared to what they measured in at their respective bowl games

?? pic.twitter.com/DitjLqcGkJ

— neal (@nangleberger) March 2, 2025

[coachmcneil71]

(03-01-2025, 05:18 PM)Synric Wrote: After running well yesterday getting a good bit of character issue chatter with James Pearce Jr.

https://www.daftondraft.football/p/nfl-combine-nfl-draft-rumors-2025

Damn! While I don't doubt the report, every mock out there has him gone by pick #20. 

[coachmcneil71]

(03-01-2025, 03:28 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I agree, I am not ready to give up on him. I hope he starts playing to his athletic ability consistently. He showed some flashes last year.

(03-01-2025, 03:35 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Some guys train like track athletes in order to do well at the combine, maybe Myles Murphy is one of those guys? He ran 4.53 at the combine, but he pursues opposing players like he's got sand in his boots.

I didn't like this pick and for obvious reasons still don't. Contract year is coming up, so we'll see what he's capable of soon, I suspect. I think when offensive tackles see that they are facing Murphy they smile knowing they are going to basically get a day off. 

I mean, we would all love to see him come out and start breaking OTs and QBs, but if he's only going to do it every 3 years or so, is he worth retaining? The verdict is still out on a lot of the ex-Clemson players imo. 

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 02:06 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: I didn't like this pick and for obvious reasons still don't. Contract year is coming up, so we'll see what he's capable of soon, I suspect. I think when offensive tackles see that they are facing Murphy they smile knowing they are going to basically get a day off. 

I mean, we would all love to see him come out and start breaking OTs and QBs, but if he's only going to do it every 3 years or so, is he worth retaining? The verdict is still out on a lot of the ex-Clemson players imo. 

He turned 23 last month. Bengals have him under contract for 2 more years. They can then decide to also exercise 5th year after the 2025 seson. He has a long way to go before we cut bait in my opinion.

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 02:06 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: I didn't like this pick and for obvious reasons still don't. Contract year is coming up, so we'll see what he's capable of soon, I suspect. I think when offensive tackles see that they are facing Murphy they smile knowing they are going to basically get a day off. 

I mean, we would all love to see him come out and start breaking OTs and QBs, but if he's only going to do it every 3 years or so, is he worth retaining? The verdict is still out on a lot of the ex-Clemson players imo. 

Yeah, it's weird how the Bengals seem to pick the ones who benefitted from being a part of a stacked team, rather than the ones who truly made it a stacked team. At least that is my opinion on the subject, anyway.

[coachmcneil71]

(03-01-2025, 03:28 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I agree, I am not ready to give up on him. I hope he starts playing to his athletic ability consistently. He showed some flashes last year.

(Yesterday, 03:47 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: He turned 23 last month. Bengals have him under contract for 2 more years. They can then decide to also exercise 5th year after the 2025 seson. He has a long way to go before we cut bait in my opinion.

I would love to see him elevate his game and become a monster! Hope so! I will say that adding Golden and Desai may give him the opportunity to make the leap. Once again, hope so! 

However, I won't be holding my breath. I'm aware of his contract year status. We typically sign all high drafted rookies to 4 year deals. If he is going to make the leap I think this will be the year. Fingers crossed!