Who Will Turn Heads At This Year’s NFL Scouting Combine?
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine Has 321 Listed Athletes Participating
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is set to begin on Monday, February 26, and drag through Monday, March 4.
This is an event made for many players to showcase their skills to NFL teams for a chance at a higher draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
The Combine began in 1982 and has been held annually in Indianapolis, Indiana since 1987.
In the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, players will be asked to participate in many drills. The list of drills at the Scouting Combine is below:
- 40-yard dash
- 20-yard shuttle
- 60-yard shuttle
- 3-cone drill
- Vertical jump
- Broad jump
- Bench press
- Position drills
The players are also asked to do team interviews and take a medical examination and injury evaluation. This year, there will be a total of 321 different prospects attending the event. There will be some hidden gems this year.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the most exciting prospects in the Scouting Combine by position.
Quarterbacks
The quarterback position is the most critical position in football. This year, there will be 14 different quarterbacks at the combine, including Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy.
While Williams could only ruin his stock, the other guys can have big days at the combine and earn some more income with a higher draft pick.
Out of that bunch, J.J. McCarthy could shine the most. He’s coming into the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine as a champion and never got to showcase his full skills because the Michigan Wolverines always ran the ball. McCarthy could have a really surprising Scouting Combine.
Running Backs
The running backs don’t get enough love as they used to in the NFL. But that’s not bad for rookies trying to make an early impact in the league.
The NFL believes this position is replaceable. This group is the next group of guys that will replace the older runners.
The running backs include Trey Benson, Audric Estime, Jonathan Brooks, Braelon Allen, and Blake Corum. Some of these guys, like Jonathan Brooks, are coming off major NFL injuries. This is an excellent opportunity for Brooks to prove he’s healthy again.
Wide Receivers
Some coaching staffs love the thought of speed at wide receiver. The staff members will watch the 40-yard dash, among other things, regarding the wide receiver position.
There were a bunch of fantastic wideouts during last year’s college football season who deserve a legitimate look heading into the draft.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has been compared to some of the best receivers in NFL history. He’ll compete with Romo Odunze and Malik Nabers, who put up insane numbers this season. Nabers’ teammate, Brian Thomas Jr., will also be there. That could ultimately help both stay focused and loose.
Tight Ends
On the other hand, the tight end position has really grown in the NFL over the last few years. Teams are looking for the next Travis Kelce every year.
The Lions got one last season with Sam LaPorta, for example.
This year, Brock Bowers is the main focus for tight ends. Bowers earned over 2,500 yards receiving with Georgia and earned 26 touchdowns in 35 games. He also added another five touchdowns as a runner and gained nearly 200 yards on the ground.
He’s the most dynamic player in the Scouting Combine and will be heavily watched by many teams.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Cade Stover, Ben Sinnott, and Jaheim Bell are also guys to watch out for at the position.
Defensive Players
We will unlikely see a defensive player come off the board at No. 1 or 2 this season. There’s no defensive player that genuinely stands out this year.
However, plenty of guys can make a difference as a first-rounder.
Dallas Turner of Alabama is one of them. He’s an edge rusher who earned ten sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss this season. Some scouts likely want to see how much strength he has before drafting him.
There’s also Laiatu Latu and Jared Verse, who are two other skilled edge rushers who added a bunch of sacks this year.
Someone who continues to shine is Braden Fiske, who was a teammate of Jared Verse’s at Florida State. He’s a defensive lineman who came from Western Michigan and shined on an elite FSU defense.
Meanwhile, last year, cornerbacks dominated the combine with some eye-popping numbers. That position could have another major impact on this year’s Combine.
Again, many scouts will want to look at 40-yard dashes and find speed at the defensive back position. They also want to see technique and instincts before drafting defensive backs. These traits help teams and players put up the best NFL stats possible.
When the Scouting Combine concludes, take a look at the NFL scores on the board. The draft board will start to change for each team once this Scouting Combine is finished.
For NFL news, NFL Matchups, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
