The 2022 NFL combine has arrived, with the best prospects for the NFL draft in Indianapolis to go through athletic testing and on-field drills, meet with teams for in-depth interviews and get accurately measured in front of hundreds of league evaluators. It's the most important event leading up to the draft, which begins Thursday, April 28 on ESPN and ABC.
Workouts start Thursday night, with the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends up first and participating in the 40-yard dash, vertical leap and broad jump, among other drills. The offensive line and running backs work out on Friday, the defensive linemen and linebackers follow on Saturday, and the combine ends with the defensive backs going Sunday.
Who are the most intriguing prospects in Indy? Which quarterbacks have a chance to rise this week? And who are the candidates to run the fastest 40-yard dash? We asked NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller to answer these questions and more.
ESPN's NFL Live will originate from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 3, 4 and 5 at 4 p.m. ET, and there is a special Saturday afternoon program on ABC at 2 p.m. ET.
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QB questions | Intriguing prospects
Workout warriors | 40-yard dash burners
Medical to watch | Who will stand out?
What are you most interested in seeing from the quarterbacks this week?
Kiper: The things I'm looking for are not necessarily about the on-field workouts. Of course, you want to see each guy be accurate against air, but the behind-the-scenes stuff is crucial at the combine. How do each of the quarterbacks interview with teams? How do they interact with each other? Really, the on-field evaluations for NFL teams are mostly set going into the combine, because they've put in the time to study and do research on each of them. There are little subjective things that scouts and evaluators look for, though.
One thing you've said before, Todd, is: Who's the alpha, right? Especially for the potential first-round guys, execs want a leader, a guy who can rally the entire offense.
McShay: Absolutely, and I'll be paying extra attention to how Liberty quarterback Malik Willis carries himself all week. Will he be focused and lead by example? Will he be dialed in even when it's someone else's rep? I'm already hearing strong reports from two different teams that he has interviewed with -- and I've been hearing similar from scouts dating back to October. So far, so good for the No. 1 QB on my board.
As far as the on-field stuff goes, how well Willis times his drops and releases and whether he can show consistent ball placement on his anticipation throws will be big points of emphasis. The guy has a rocket arm, and he is incredible when forced out of the pocket, but I'm curious how he'll handle getting the ball out on time and putting it in the right spot with some unfamiliar receivers. He has to know when to take something off the fastball and be able to hit the anticipation throws.
Which quarterback has the best chance to rise at the combine?
Reid: My original vote would've gone to Ole Miss' Matt Corral, but he has elected to wait until his pro day to throw to ensure that he's fully healthy after suffering a right ankle injury in the bowl game on Jan. 1.
I don't necessarily think one of these quarterbacks can make a significant move in Indianapolis, but the combine is great for proving (or disproving) prior evaluations. NFL teams want to see if the tape matches what they see in person as players get adjusted to throwing to unfamiliar weapons. The quarterback who can stand out most in this controlled environment is North Carolina's Sam Howell, who got mixed reviews coming out of the 2021 season and didn't elevate himself at the Senior Bowl. His deep accuracy stands out, and he has a consistent ability to layer the ball in different areas. He also has some dual-threat ability. I put Howell in Round 1 of my post-Senior Bowl mock draft, but he could drop into Day 2.
Which quarterback has the most to prove?
Miller: Corral would have been the easy answer here, too, but let's pivot to Willis, the most intriguing quarterback in the class. Riding a wave of momentum from a very strong performance at the Senior Bowl, Willis has a chance to put his name atop the quarterback group. His arm strength is the best of any passer in the class, and his speed is better than most running backs. If Willis is a full participant at the combine -- and he should be -- he has a chance to walk away with a Josh Allen-like performance that wows scouts and quiets questions about his mechanics or NFL-readiness.
Pick the five most intriguing prospects entering the combine.
McShay: LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and USC receiver Drake London would have made my list, but neither will work out this week as they rehab from injuries sustained during the 2021 season. So here are the five to watch this week:
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame: Hamilton has 6-foot-4 size, blazing speed and elite ball skills. I'm excited to see how he tests, but all eyes will also be on how his right knee looks, after an October injury ended his season.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon: He has tools to dominate this event. He plays with explosion, power at the point of contact and solid closing burst off the edge. But will he take over and make his presence known?
George Pickens, WR, Georgia: Pickens tore his ACL last spring, and despite being loaded with talent, he was never 100% this past season. But if he runs well this week and checks out medically, Pickens could lock down a top-50 draft selection.
Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia: A bunch of scouts and GMs have told me that I'll be disappointed by Dean's combine. I've heard everything from "He has shorter arms" to "I don't think he's an explosive athlete, and that should show up in his workout." Regardless of whether they are right or wrong, I'm not going to overly fixate on his numbers in Indy. I've seen plenty of great tape of Dean playing against the highest level of competition. He has excellent instincts both against the run and in coverage, and he shows a unique knack for locating creases and timing his blitzes.
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan: Hill has been overlooked because there are so many talented defensive backs in this class, but he has elite range in deep coverage, can cover one-on-one in the slot and is aggressive against the run. Hill had a 43-inch vertical jump in high school and is expected to run the 40-yard dash in the 4.4s. A strong showing in Indy could lock down a spot for him in Round 1.
Is there any chance Aidan Hutchinson is not the No. 1 prospect on your board coming out of the combine?
Kiper: It's possible. I don't see the Michigan edge rusher dropping, but it's close at the top, and if he tests poorly, he could take a slight step back. He's going to have to hold off offensive tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal, who are right behind him. Neal might not do all of the athletic testing at the combine, but Ekwonu is expected to test extremely well.
Hutchinson's on-field production -- 14 sacks and 19 total tackles for loss -- separates him from Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux, the other top pass-rusher in this class. The appeal of Thibodeaux is more about his ceiling; we already know that Hutchinson could be a double-digit sack guy.
Which prospects have the most to gain in Indy?
Reid: I'm going with a bit of a wild card here in UTSA cornerback Tariq Woolen. He measured just under 6-foot-4, weighed 205 pounds had 34-inch arms at the Senior Bowl last month. Those are massive measurements for a cornerback.
Woolen, a converted wide receiver, has only played the position for two years. He's raw, but he has intriguing traits. He has experience playing a mixture of man and zone and projects best in a defense that plays a lot of zone principles in order to take advantage of his size and ball skills. His speed in Mobile was on display during practices and backed up by GPS data, as he clocked the top speed (22.45 miles per hour) for any player on the American team roster. Woolen is expected to be one of the top testers at the combine, which means he could rise into the first-round discussion.
McShay: Woolen is a great answer, Jordan. I love his game, and he is so long for a corner. If he runs in the low-4.4s at that size, I think he's a second-round pick.
But I'll go with Washington's Kyler Gordon. The 6-foot, 200-pound cornerback is a former high-school track star who is expected to run the 40 in the low-4.3's. He also has exceptional flexibility and body control, which will help him in the shuttles and show up in position drills. It could be a massive week for Gordon, who is currently No. 22 on my board.
A few others who could rise:
Ohio State receiver Chris Olave should run in the low 4.3's and perhaps be the fastest of the first-round receiver prospects who work out (Jameson Williams won't run after his ACL tear).
North Dakota State receiver Christian Watson is 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and word is he will run in the mid-4.4s. He already had a big Senior Bowl week, and a great trip to Indy will only help him more.
Georgia defensive end Travon Walker has explosive traits and generates so much power from the ground up. Some teams wonder how he will fit certain schemes, while others love the fact that he's versatile. But he's a top-20 guy with a lot of great football ahead of him.
What about the prospects with the most to lose?
Miller: LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. should have won the Thorpe Award -- given annually to college football's best cornerback -- in 2019, but since that time he has struggled with injury (foot) and poor play. Since that breakout freshman campaign, he has played in just 10 games and did not record an interception during that time. A standout athlete, Stingley could have impressed scouts and answered questions about his foot injury and durability with what should have been a strong performance. However, he opted out of participating in the on-field drills, which opens the possibility for more questions about a foot injury suffered in the summer of 2021. Stingley headed into the college football season as my top-ranked cornerback but a no show at the combine won't help his cause.
Kiper: I agree, Matt. It's really tough to make sense of Stingley, who had essentially two seasons of non-production. General managers don't like risky top-15 picks, and Stingley would qualify. He needs to show up at his pro day later this month and wow people.
I mentioned Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux above, and he was my top-ranked prospect for much of the fall. He's trending down a little right now, though. He didn't play as well at the end of the season. Thibodeaux really needs to ace the interviews with teams and show off during the athletic testing to re-establish himself among the top group of prospects. If he shows any stiffness in drills and doesn't run well, he could drop some more. There are some high expectations for his 40-yard dash and 3-cone times. He needs to show that he has elite physical traits.
There's also a chance that Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis drops. I don't know how fast he's going to run in the 40-yard dash, which matters to teams. He was a little too quiet at times late in the season and didn't always finish when he did get to the quarterback. I wouldn't be surprised if he drops out of Round 1 if he tests poorly.
Pick the five workout warriors everyone should know.
Reid:
Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington: After polling a few scouts across the league about the prospects they were most looking forward to seeing in Indianapolis, Gordon's name came up. A scout for a team on the West Coast team told me that "He's going to put on a show." Expect Gordon, who is already generating first-round buzz, to have one of the best performances of any prospect. At 6-foot and 200 pounds, he's an explosive and fluid corner.
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan: Hill, who played mostly as a slot corner at Michigan, is a slender and explosive defender who could provide more than slot value on the next level. His physical tools showed often on tape, as he has a smooth transition in and out of his back pedal while also having the top end speed to stay with receivers and tight ends in his coverage areas. Said an area scout from an NFC team: "I think [Hill] can do more. Way more. That's what makes his evaluation so fascinating." He's the second-ranked safety in this class.
Boye Mafe, OLB, Minnesota: Mafe had a strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl and then dominated during the game with two sacks. With a quick first step, the 6-foot-3 and 255-pound Mafe projects best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He also has extremely quick hands that sequence well with his repertoire of pass-rush moves. That type of explosiveness is expected to carry over into his testing. Mafe has been a riser during the pre-draft process and could end up in Round 1.
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: Burks, the ultimate chess piece who can play everywhere on offense, could turn some heads this week as the pecking order for a deep receiver class gets sorted. He needs to be paired with a creative offensive coordinator who can put his skill set to use, as he could make an instant impact in 2022. At 6-foot-3, Burks has plenty of breakaway speed. Some scouts believe that he could run in the low 4.4s in the 40-yard dash. A personnel director for an AFC team told me this: "Go back and watch the back-shoulder fade against Alabama and look how he detaches from their defensive backs in the open field. We're talking about the best of the best there, and he left them all in the dust."
Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia: One of the unsung heroes of the Georgia defense, Wyatt had plenty of flash plays throughout the season, but his stock has risen since the season ended. At the Senior Bowl, he showed off stellar first-step quickness, explosiveness in short areas and finishing ability to get to quarterbacks. At 6-foot-3 and 307 pounds, he is a natural penetrator as a 3-technique tackle. With teams placing an even greater emphasis on creating pressure from the interior, Wyatt projects to either the first or second tackle on most teams' boards. He could have eye-popping testing numbers in multiple events.
What is the most important drill in Indy, and why?
McShay: It's not one-size-fits all here; every position has differing levels of importance on each drill.
For edge rushers, it's the three-cone drill. Nearly all who run it in 6.9 seconds or faster find success at the next level -- but 7.4 seconds or slower is a big red flag.
Arm length measurements and the 40-yard dash are the two key numbers for cornerbacks. The elite numbers there are 33 inches or longer and 4.4 seconds and faster. The cautionary measurements and scores? Cornerbacks with 30.5-inch or shorter arms, or speed in mid 4.6s or worse, warrant a closer examination. Washington's Kyler Gordon and UTSA's Tariq Woolen will impress in these areas, but one guy to watch is Auburn's Roger McCreary. He has the tape of a top-50 pick, but his length measured sub-30 inches at the Senior Bowl, and scouts have questions about his top-end speed.
I look at the weight-adjusted times in the 20-yard shuttle for offensive linemen. Tackles seeking elite status will want to be at or better than 4.62 seconds, while interior linemen will target 4.6 seconds. The concerns begin at 4.84 seconds for tackles and 4.82 seconds for centers and guards. Look for NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu to potentially set the bar for tackles, and Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum to post a fantastic time -- perhaps the best of all the linemen in Indianapolis. Tackles will also need to turn in strong length measurements, with 35-plus inches registering as outstanding. 33 7/8 inches or shorter can be concerning if it matches up with issues already seen on tape.
Which prospect-drill combination is must-see TV this year?
Kiper: The two that come to mind for me: Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and the three-cone drill, which will be Saturday night. Does he have the bend and agility of some of the top edge rushers in recent years? J.J. and T.J. Watt both were under 6.9 seconds, along with Joey Bosa. That's a great time. If Hutchinson can get under 7 seconds, it'll show his physical ability.
And I still love the gauntlet drill for pass-catchers at the combine. It's simple: Run in a straight line and catch the ball from both directions. The two guys I want to see are Arkansas' Treylon Burks, a big and physical wideout, and Memphis' Calvin Austin III, a 5-foot-9 speedster. You can see the receivers and tight ends on Thursday in prime time.
Who are the five burners who could post the fastest 40-yard dash time?
Miller:
Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor: He is a legit track star who has timed at 10.22 in the 100-meter dash and owns the Texas high school state record in the event. Running a 10.22 in the 100 equates to a 40-yard dash time in the low 4.2-second range. Barnes might threaten the record set by John Ross in 2017 (4.22).
Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis: A smaller (5-foot-8, 173 pounds) receiver who displayed game-breaking ability, Austin is a certified burner. He has a chance to post the fastest overall time in Indianapolis thanks to his natural speed and his background as a high school sprinting star.
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan: A compact athlete, Hill has the body type of a sprinter and has flashed elite speed on tape. He is so fast that some scouts I've spoken to believe he could make the move to cornerback from safety.
Danny Gray, WR, SMU: Scouts and trainers I've talked to in the lead up to the event rave about Gray's speed. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch and flashed vertical speed throughout the 2021 season.
Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA: Get used to hearing more and more about miles per hour from football players as better technology to track it comes available. It's notable for Woolen, who posted a top-end speed of 22.45 miles per hour at Senior Bowl practices. That's ridiculous speed.
Who's medical reports will teams be paying attention to in Indy?
Reid: We've mentioned LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. a couple times above, and teams will want to see how his medicals check out. His injuries could push him down the board.
Elsewhere, two SEC receivers come to mind: Clemson's Justyn Ross and Georgia's George Pickens. Ross, who had 153 receiving yards in the national title game victory over Alabama after the 2018 season, missed the entire 2020 season with a congenital fusion in his spine. He returned last season and had 46 catches in 10 games before a stress fracture in his foot forced him to have another surgery. The 6-foot-4 Ross was once thought of as a first-round lock, but he'll need a clean medical to be a midround pick. He has a slender frame but strong hands and could work out of the slot at the next level. He is expected to only participate in the interview portion of the combine.
Some NFL evaluators were surprised to see Pickens enter the draft. He tore his ACL last March but recovered to play in four games down the stretch for the national champs. He was in contention to be the top wideout in this class before the injury. Pickens turns 21 during the combine (March 4), and if the reports are positive about his knee, he could be a second-round target for receiver-needy teams. As one NFC area scout told me: "With a more aggressive QB, I think he can be a really, really solid No. 2 (receiver) if he stays healthy."
How could the offensive tackles at the top of the board differentiate themselves?
Miller: Evaluating offensive tackles has changed dramatically over the past decade to where we're now almost looking for prospects who could pass for NFL power forwards. With that in mind, the top five tackles in the class are all clustered together waiting for one to emerge as the top player and the others to establish themselves in the rankings. Alabama's Evan Neal is expected to test exceptionally well. Given his pedigree and game tape, if he turns in a performance close to what Tristan Wirfs did in 2020, we could see Neal cement his status at OT1. There is room, though, for challengers.
Ikem Ekwonu (NC State) is a smooth-moving, powerful athlete who could impress. The same goes for the long, lean, agile Charles Cross (Mississippi State). And while Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa) and Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan) are unlikely to challenge for the top tackle spot, both have excellent physical tools and could push their way up draft boards following strong workouts. The combine is tailor-made for Neal to shine, but his competitors can, too.
Predict the guy everyone will be talking about when the combine is over.
McShay: Matt just mentioned NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu, and for good reason. He's 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, and he reportedly had a 30-inch vertical at the team's testing day. Consider that offensive tackles average around 26 3/4 inches in the vert over the past five combines. Plus, I think Ekwonu could run extremely well in the 40-yard dash after hitting 18 miles per hour on the GPS at NC State. There's already a lot of buzz about the Jaguars choosing Ekwonu with the No. 1 pick. That buzz will only escalate coming out of the combine.
Kiper: I think Memphis wideout Calvin Austin III could be talked about as a top-40 and maybe even first-round pick. He's a tiny 5-foot-8, but he actually weighs seven pounds more than 2019 first-rounder Marquise Brown did at that combine. He's only an inch shorter than Brown. And Austin is going to fly in the 40-yard dash, likely in the 4.3s. I'm a big fan, and he impressed at the Senior Bowl too. A smart offensive coordinator will get him the ball in space. Austin is my No. 7 wideout right now.
Reid: Washington has two cornerback prospects who could impress in Indianapolis: Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon. With McDuffie already getting top-15 buzz, it's Gordon who I think will turn the most heads. He's a tall (6-foot-2) and rangy corner who started only one season, but his physical tools show up frequently on tape. He could only be scratching the surface of his potential. Gordon's leaping ability and straight-line speed are two areas to watch closely. With a strong combine performance, he could creep even higher in the first round.
Miller: It's rare that a defensive tackle is the talk of the town after the combine, but Georgia's Devonte Wyatt has the traits to steal the show. At 6-foot-3 and 307 pounds, he is expected to run in the high 4.7- to low 4.8-second range in the 40-yard dash. He's also capable of posting a vertical jump in the mid-30-inch range and has shown the short-area quickness, body control and flexibility to wow in the 3-cone drill and short shuttle. It's rare that we can compare any defensive tackle to Aaron Donald, but Wyatt has a chance to come close to Donald's legendary combine numbers at 20 pounds heavier.