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Offensive Winners and Loser from Every Position at the NFL Combine

Dwayne Haskins and D.K. Metcalf highlight the winners of the Combine. Check here for the full list of winners and losers from the 2019 NFL Combine.
NFL Combine

The offensive portion of the 2019 NFL Combine has come and gone just like that. That said, here are the winners and losers from every offensive position from this year’s testing.

Quarterback

Winner: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

Dwayne Haskins showed up in Indy to cement himself as the top quarterback in the draft class, and he did just that. His 5.04 40-yard dash was the slowest of any quarterback to participate, and that’s a good thing. The athleticism wasn’t a concern for Haskins. He stood out in the drills that mattered, throwing darts to the wide receivers and showing off a strong arm. A strong performance in the throwing drills should set Haskins apart from the pack heading into Pro Days.

Loser: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

A lot of folks are calling Kyler Murray a winner. Not here. Sure, he measured in at a bigger size than expected (5’10”, 207 pounds), but that is not his playing weight. He opted not to participate in any drills, therefore he wasn’t able to prove he could play at that weight. In all likelihood, Murray added weight to appear bigger heading into the combine while planning to throw at his Pro Day instead. Not competing head-to-head with Haskins could wind up costly in April.

Running Back

Winner: Alex Barnes, RB, Kansas State

Alex Barnes stole the show in Indianapolis. With all the talk focused on the big-name backs, Barnes was able to show up and gain some respect. He led all backs with 34 reps on the bench press and finished third in the vertical jump. He also finished in the top five in the broad jump (fifth), three-cone drill (second), and twenty-yard shuttle (first). Barnes displayed a wide array of talent, with strength, agility, and decent speed in a relatively slow running back class. He also showed scouts his soft hands as a receiver.

https://twitter.com/BillyM_91/status/1101572412993425409

Here is a taste of the power Barnes brings:

Loser: Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia

This was a disaster performance for Elijah Holyfield. He had the slowest 40-yard dash among all running backs. Then he posted the second-lowest vertical jump and the sixth-lowest broad jump. He looked rough in the field drills, dropping passes and playing stiff. Outside of his performance on the bench press (26 reps), this was a forgettable workout for Elijah Holyfield.

Wide Receiver

Winner: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

Here is a no-doubter. D.K. Metcalf had a ton of hype prior to his workout, and he lived up to it. After coming in at 6’3” and 228 pounds and just 1.6% body fat, Metcalf put on a show. He ran the third-best 40-yard dash of all wide receivers while posting the most reps on the bench press with 27. Metcalf went on to display soft hands and his ability to catch away from the body. He may have solidified himself as the top receiver in the class. There are talks of Metcalf breaking into the top five picks of the draft after his strong output in Indianapolis.

Loser: Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR, Texas

Lil’Jordan Humphrey left school early. Maybe he shouldn’t have. He posted the worst 40-yard dash time of all wide receivers at 4.75 seconds. His 13 reps on the bench press were good for the second-worst total at the position. For a guy with jump ball expectations, Humphrey disappointed. He finished near the bottom in the vertical jump and broad jump. Perhaps he is saving his best for his Pro Day, but with the rest of the wide receiver class looking great, Humphrey seems to have taken a step back.

Winner: Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State

There were a ton of great receivers in Indy. The final winner of the group was difficult to choose, but Hakeem Butler may have entered his name into round one discussions. He measured in at over 6’5” with a combine-record wingspan (83 7/8 inches). At that size, he managed to run a 4.49 40-yard dash. He displayed a rare combination of size and speed while adding quality performances on the bench press and broad jump. Butler tracked the ball well in his receiving drills on top of his testing. There is plenty of buzz surrounding Butler as the NFL Draft approaches.

Tight End

Winner: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

Noah Fant heard about the love for other tight ends and raised the bar. It’s widely believed that his college teammate, T.J. Hockenson, is the best in the class. But Fant showed up and put on a dominant performance for scouts. He led tight ends the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, and the three-cone drill. He tested off the charts for the position, putting him back in the mix to be the top tight end drafted in April. Even if not, he will still be a first-round pick.

Loser: Isaac Nauta, TE, Georgia

Isaac Nauta had a chance to prove himself in a deep tight in class, but he failed. He finished dead last in the vertical jump and three-cone drill, then third-worst in the 40-yard dash. To make things worse (or prevent matters from getting even worse), Nauta elected not to participate in the broad jump. Overall, it was a bad workout for Nauta.

Offensive Line

Winner: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

The talk around Jonah Williams has been in regards to where he will play in the NFL. Whether he plays at guard or tackle, he is going to be a stellar player. Williams has faced stiff competition from other top tackle prospects, including Jawaan Taylor and Andre Dillard. But his performance at the Combine should have solidified Williams as the top lineman in the class. He looked smooth in drills and seemingly sought to prove that he is a left tackle with exceptional footwork and body control.

Loser: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss

Greg Little has all of the physical tools to be a stud tackle. However, he has a reputation to struggle on the technical side of things. He had strong tests, but his field drills were a bit concerning, as he looked unpolished. His stock is on a downfall in the final stretch.

Winner: Erik McCoy, IOL, Texas A&M

The interior offensive lineman generally had positive workouts. Erik McCoy stood out above the rest, though. He left Indianapolis with the best 40 time among offensive linemen and top-ten finishes in the bench press and vertical jump. The big boys don’t usually get much love, but McCoy was one of the best athletes at the Combine. He has entered his name into the mix as the top center in the draft.

The defensive winners and losers will be available upon the conclusion of defensive on-field workouts.

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Luke Parrish

Luke Parrish

I am a student at Wabash College in Indiana, and I have written for several blogs/websites covering the NFL, the Vikings, and the Pacers.

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