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Heading into the 2025 NFL Combine, one of the fastest players in this year’s class, Isaiah Bond, made a bold prediction that would either look incredible or horrible in hindsight: Xavier Worthy’s 4.21 40 record was going down.
As one of the premier deep threats in college both at Alabama and during his final run in Texas, Bond’s production never really took off in the Lonestar State, but with a blistering 40? Goodness, the sky could be the limit for the former 4-star recruit, with a first-round draft spot not out of the question, as his fellow Longhorn Worthy proved last spring.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be.
Taking the track with his fellow group mates, Bond ran the track twice but, unfortunately, did not lead his position grouping in terms of production, topping out with 4.39 as his top time. To make matters worse, Bond wasn’t even the fastest runner out of Texas, with his fellow teammate, Matthew Golden, being the lone receiver to break the 4.30 mark with a 4.29.
Will this impact Bond’s draft status? No, probably not, as most talent evaluators had him as a Day 2 pick, and that likely won’t change now that he “only” ran a 4.39. Still, Golden’s stock unquestionably went up in Indianapolis, which could have been Bond’s experience, too, if he was able to get into the 4.2s instead of coming in a tick under 4.4.
Isaiah Bond is still a prospect to watch in the NFL Draft
While Bond may not be a record-breaking athletic talent, the Alabama/Texas product is still a very interesting product in 2025, as he’s still one of the better athletes in this class and a veteran performer with experience playing in two high-profile offenses.
Breaking down his prospect profile for NFL.com, Lance Zierlein noted that Bond’s untapped potential should entice teams instead of giving them pause.
“Fluid, fast and untapped. Bond played decoy for the betterment of Texas’ offense but clearly has the talent to take on a more focused, productive role. He’s a capable route-runner, has good hands, and can play wide or from the slot,” Zierlein wrote. “An offense should feed him a heavier diet of shallow crossers, deep digs, and quick-game throws, allowing him to make magic with the ball in his hands and add to their chunk play total. He’s tough but can struggle on combat catches and against contact-oriented coverage. Bond is an explosive athlete with above-average skill. He simply needs more targets to reach his potential. He’s well-suited to the NFL game and could become a very good pro within his first three seasons.”
Would it have been nice to see Bond put up 1,000 yards and prove he’s a certified superstar? Sure thing, but for a team in the playoffs who may miss out on one of the premier receivers in this year’s classing, taking Bond on Day 2 could have enough upside to inch him up boards, though not quite as fast as a 4.20 40 time would have.
More must-reads:
- Browns may not be prepared for one thing with Shedeur Sanders
- Broncos QB Bo Nix pumps the brakes on his own head coach's hype train
- The 'NFL single-season reception leaders' quiz
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Browns may not be prepared for one thing with Shedeur Sanders
During a recent edition of the "Orange and Brown Talk Podcast," Cleveland Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggested that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski may not be prepared for the "potential fan backlash" that could arise regarding the team's handling of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Stefanski seemed to say plenty about the subject when it was learned on Monday that Sanders remains fourth on the club's unofficial depth chart even though he enjoyed a solid NFL debut in the club's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Also on Monday, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer made it known that Stefanski won't be in a rush to play Sanders or fellow first-year pro Dillon Gabriel ahead of schedule. "Stefanski and the other offensive coaches have a plan for the rookie QBs, and they’re not about to be swayed by public opinion and the Sanders-mania that’s sweeping the nation," Cabot wrote. "Yes, it was a great debut against the Panthers with two beautiful touchdown passes to first-year receiver Kaden Davis. But Stefanski always keeps things simple for his rookie quarterbacks in preseason games, and most have looked excellent in their outings under him. Therefore, he wasn’t ready Monday to start handing over those precious starting reps to Sanders when he’s unlikely to start Week 1 and doesn’t necessarily need that valuable time with the ones — yet." Neither Gabriel nor presumed backup Kenny Pickett played against the Panthers after they were slowed by hamstring injuries during training camp. Meanwhile, Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 30-10 victory over Carolina. Gabriel returned to the practice field on Monday, but Pickett reportedly could be sidelined "for a couple more weeks." It's unclear if either signal-caller will play in Cleveland's preseason matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Saturday. "They have had a process with Shedeur all the way through," Cabot added during the latest episode of the podcast. "And even when they were taking heat nationally from all kinds of pundits and experts saying that they were setting Shedeur up to fail, they stuck to their guns. And even after his really, really nice debut, they really haven’t changed the process." As recently as Tuesday morning, Zac Jackson of The Athletic mentioned that veteran Joe Flacco is still "the clear leader" to be Cleveland's Week 1 starter over Sanders, Gabriel and Pickett. As of Tuesday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook had Flacco as a -310 betting favorite to get the nod for the Browns' regular-season opener versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Previous whispers indicated Stefanski will want to name his Week 1 QB1 before Cleveland wraps the preseason up with a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. It certainly sounds like Stefanski won't lose any sleep over disappointing members of a passionate fan base who want to see what Sanders can do against live defenses in meaningful contests.
Bryson DeChambeau divulges Scottie Scheffler's biggest advantage
We all know Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer on the planet by a fairly large margin, but what makes him so much more consistent than other stars in professional golf? Bryson DeChambeau, one of Scheffler's biggest rivals in major championships, thinks he knows the answer. In Tuesday's appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," DeChambeau detailed how Scheffler dominates the PGA Tour weekly. "He's got the best spin and distance control I've ever seen," DeChambeau said. "He controls the golf ball from a spin perspective so much better than everybody else. Like, if you're 175 yards out, and it's 10 miles [an hour] into the wind, he knows how to control the flight and spin to get that ball to land right next to the hole every time. Probably since Tiger [Woods], he's the best that we've seen." The stats confirm DeChambeau's breakdown. Scheffler has ranked first on the PGA Tour in strokes gained on approach in three straight seasons. He also ranks first in proximity to the hole and greens in regulation percentage over the last four years. Iron play is Scheffler's superpower, but it wasn't always that way. "I played with him in college a bunch, and I've said it before, but he's definitely improved since college for sure," DeChambeau said with a chuckle. "It's impressive to see what he's done, and we're all aspiring to do that. That's something I've gotta get better at. I can hit it farther than him. I can hit it probably straighter than him. I can make just as many putts as him, but, really, it's about my iron play right now and wedges to get a little more consistent." Iron play is the biggest indicator of success in professional golf. If you're giving yourself more birdie chances from close range than anyone in the field, you're going to have the best chance to win by Sunday afternoon. No one is better at hitting specific distances more consistently than Scheffler. Just look at how accurate he is. DeChambeau has the best chance to catch Scheffler as the best player in the world because he's elite off the tee and on the greens, but that won't happen unless he makes a major improvement to his iron game.
The Commanders should take a flyer on this former third-round pick who just became available to improve a major team need
Dan Quinn said in a press conference recently that the Washington Commanders will always be willing to add to its roster if it helps improve certain positions. That same day, they hosted 14 players for workouts and signed three of them. The Commanders are likely not done moving pieces around and trying out players, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if they took a look at a player that just became available. Adam Peters should take a flyer on former third-round pick Brian Asamoah II to improve the depth at linebacker and possibly more. Recent moves showed their opinions on the position The team wasted no time moving on from LB Dominique Hampton, who was a recent fifth-round pick of Peters after just one preseason game. Hampton was a liability at LB, and the team needed more flexibility on special teams as well. The next corresponding move made was the signing of veteran LB Duke Riley, who directly replaces Hampton and can play both sides. Riley is 31 years old, though, and no one is sure if he will actually stick on the roster. It wouldn't surprise me if the team added more options as roster cuts start making players available, like Asamoah II, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. Asamoah II was drafted by the Vikings with the 66th overall pick back in 2022, but never could carve out a sustainable role on the defense. He's only played a total of 70 snaps on defense over the last two seasons after falling down the depth chart, but he's still only 25 years old. Maybe learning behind Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner could go a long way in his development. He also fits the mold of what Peters looks for as a freak athlete who had an 8.90 Relative Athletic Score when he was working out for the NFL draft. The potential has always been there for Asamoah II. Jordan Magee is still hurt, and Nick Bellore is 36 years old and only plays on special teams. Riley is the next man up with rookie Kain Medrano, so the depth is a major weak point of the defense right now, and they also need someone who can be versatile on special teams. Asamoah II did have a major role on special teams for the Vikings though, and he logged almost 800 snaps on that side of the ball over the last three seasons. The special teams efforts in the first preseason game showed that they need some backup help as well. The Commanders have a real roster need at backup linebacker as well as special teams tacklers, and Asamoah II could provide both while the young project continues to develop. Keep an eye on the Commanders making more changes before the season starts.
Handicapping the 49ers' tight end competition: A Young TE is Emerging
One position to watch in the next two weeks is the San Francisco 49ers tight end room. The team may only keep three, but will likely keep four tight ends on their 53-man roster. They appear to have two locks and three players competing for the final two spots. Which depth players will make the San Francisco 49ers roster at tight end? George Kittle and Luke Farrell should be locked down. Kittle is the star tight end, and Farrell was given a modest free agent contract, solidifying that he would have a role this year. He played sparingly in the preseason opener, likely because he was new to the team, but he left the game early. The thought is that Farrell is an in-line tight end who takes pride in blocking. This will allow Kittle to be spaced out and used in mismatches that you do not see from a normal tight end. The final two spots will come down to Brayden Willis, Ross Dwelley and Jake Tonges. Is Brayden Willis a lock? Willis appears to be the frontrunner for the third spot. He is a former seventh-round pick who has developed in his first two years. Now, in year three, he is a better blocker than he used to be, which has given him a step up on his competition. Willis started next to Farrell in the preseason, indicating he would be the next man off the bench. He played 35 snaps with 28 as an in-line tight end. This is valuable as it shows he can step in and replace Farrell if anything happens, being a complement to Kittle, who allows him to remain a weapon. He has also been a special teams contributor over the past two years, so his spot feels safe. So, one spot may be down to Dwelley and Tonges. There are two ways that you can take this battle. The case of Ross Dwelley Ross Dwelley did not play any offensive snaps in the 49ers preseason opener, but he did play 12 special teams snaps. So, the team was not sitting him with the rest of the starters. The vibe was more that he was behind Farrell, Willis, and Tonges and was hoping to show that he can stick around with enough special teams value. A positive spin is that Dwelley was with the team from 2018-2023, so they did not need to see him on offense. His main role will be special teams, so of course, he played there. Meanwhile, Willis is still developing, Farrell is new, and they do not know much about Tonges. Is it that Dwelley is a lock, and they needed to see more from others, or that Dwelley is truly behind them? How do the 49ers view Jake Tonges? Tonges played three fewer special teams snaps than Dwelley, which can speak to the idea that Dwelley is a core player. However, Tonges played 38 offensive snaps, so he was the one with the chance to prove he belongs on the roster, while Dwelley could not. Still, while Tonges played 38 snaps, only 15 were as an in-line tight end. He has 13 snaps in the backfield, eight in the slot, and two as a wide receiver. If anything, the 49ers may not view Tonges as competition for the tight end role; they may view him as a backup to Kyle Juszcyk. If that is the case, they are likely going to push him back to the practice squad, where he was most of last year. The final two weeks will determine things, and you can spin the preseason usage however you want. It will be interesting to see how the room sorts out.
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