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Ultimate NFL Scouting Combine Q&A: Schedule, QB3, Ohio State's best ... and a left-footed kicker?
The NFL Scouting Combine — also known as the "Underwear Olympics" — has begun with medical evaluations for players and more. But on-field workouts will not start until Thursday (3 p.m. ET), when defensive linemen and linebackers go through drills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
On Friday (3 p.m. ET), defensive backs and tight ends will work out, followed by drills Saturday (1 p.m. ET) for quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs. Offensive linemen will work out Sunday (1 p.m. ET) and bench press Monday.
Yardbarker NFL writers Eric Smithling and Clark Dalton dive into the annual event, available on NFL Network and via streaming on fuboTV.
1. Will Miami QB Cam Ward set himself apart as QB1?
Ward is trending upward entering the Combine, where his trajectory could skyrocket. The three-year starter began his collegiate career at Washington State before transferring to Miami in 2024. He was one of the country’s best QBs with the Hurricanes, ending the season 305-of-454 (67.2 percent) for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdown passes and seven interceptions..
Along with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Ward (6-foot-2, 223 pounds) is considered a first-round pick, and he has begun to separate himself as the top QB in his class.
“He directed that passing attack down in Miami this year with the kind of precision and kind of maturity that is worthy of being considered a No. 1 overall pick,” ESPN’s Louis Riddick recently said on “First Take.”
The big question is whether Ward will throw at the Combine (and whether that even matters). On Sunday, NFL Network reported Sanders won’t work out, instead saving himself for Colorado’s pro day in March. (h/t ESPN). As of late last week, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, “Ward is preparing as if he’ll participate in drills.”
At the Combine last year, Bears QB Caleb Williams, Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and Patriots QB Drake Maye — selected 1-2-3 in the 2024 draft — didn’t work out. — Eric Smithling
2. Who will emerge as QB3?
It’s anyone’s guess.
Ahead of the event, Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) is the favorite. He’s the only other QB to appear in the top 50 of big boards from Pro Football Focus, ESPN, The 33rd Team, Tankathon and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. (He ranked No. 36, according to ESPN, and No. 41, per Jeremiah and Tankathon.)
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) could also claim the spot directly behind Ward and Sanders. He has excellent speed, which could be intriguing to certain teams. Per Pro Football Focus, Milroe gained 679 rushing yards on designed QB runs, the most among Power Five QBs in 2024.
It will be interesting to see where College Football Playoff QBs land in the 2025 pecking order. National champion Ohio State QB Will Howard, Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel received invites and could use the opportunity to remind scouts why they were successful in college. — Eric Smithling
3. Will we see any trades?
Trades can’t be formalized until March 12, but teams can agree in principle before the 2025 league year commences. The Titans are reportedly exploring all options with the No. 1 pick, including trading down. If Tennessee isn’t sold on this year’s QB class but another team is, talks could accelerate toward the end of the Combine.
In 2023, the Bears traded that year’s No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers on March 10, four days after the Combine ended March 6.
The Rams could loom large over the Combine. On Saturday, NFL Network insiders Pelissero and Ian Rapoport shared that Los Angeles had allowed QB Matthew Stafford’s agent to gauge other teams’ interest in the 16-year veteran. The team has already told wide receiver Cooper Kupp it plans on trading him.
A potential trade the Combine won’t impact is one involving Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. Cleveland would incur a $36.2M dead-cap charge by trading Garrett before June 1, giving the Brown no rush to trade the star before the draft in April. — Eric Smithling
4. Which of Ohio State’s 15 prospects stands out?
The national champions have the most draft prospects scheduled to attend.
Of the 15 Buckeyes, left tackle Josh Simmons (6-foot-5, 310 pounds), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in October, is arguably the best available. After Simmons declared for the draft in December, agent Drew Rosenahus told ESPN the lineman “will be fully cleared for practice by the start of NFL training camp.”
Among Ohio State players expected to participate at the Combine, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and running back TreVeyon Henderson (5-foot-10, 208 pounds) should stand out. In 2024, Egbuka had 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. In 2024, Henderson averaged a Big Ten-high 7.1 yards per carry and rushed for 1,016 yards and 10 TDs.
Defensively, lineman Tyleik Williams (6-foot-3, 327 pounds) and edge-rushers Jack Sawyer (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) and J.T. Tuimoloau (6-foot-5, 269 pounds) are worth monitoring. Williams was arguably the team’s best run defender, while Tuimoloau had a conference-high 12.5 sacks, and Sawyer led the team with 64 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. — Eric Smithling
5. Why could Pitt kicker Ben Sauls be one of the week’s biggest stars?
Sauls is the one thing rarer than a unicorn: a left-footed kicker. Alex Katson wrote for WideLeft.Football about the dearth of lefty kickers in the modern NFL.
Katson noted that Sauls is the first left-footed kicker to be invited to the Combine since 2008, when two attended — Wisconsin’s Taylor Mehlhaff and Louisville’s Art Carmody. Digging further, Katson found that of the 181 players to make a field goal since 2000, 15 were left-footed, including two punters (Jamie Gillan, Micah Knorr) and a wide receiver (Wes Welker).
From 2022-24, Sauls was 52-of-64 (81.3 percent) on field-goal attempts and automatic on extra points, going 119-of-119 (100 percent). In 2024, he was 21-of-24 on field goals, including 6-of-7 on attempts over 50 yards. — Eric Smithling
6. Will a clear position for Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter emerge?
Per the Associated Press’ Michael Marot, Hunter (6-foot-1,185 pounds) may work out with the WRs and DBs at the Combine, but don’t count on the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner playing both ways extensively in the NFL.
The Ringer’s Todd McShay recently told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer Hunter’s pass-catching skills are similar to those of New York Jets wideout Garrett Wilson, who has 1,000 or more yards receiving in each of his three seasons in the NFL. However, McShay believes Hunter will play corner because NFL defenses typically don’t have “package” players.
Teams that interview Hunter at the Combine may agree with McShay. In 13 games in 2024, he had four interceptions and 11 passes defended. In a recent scouting report, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso compared Hunter to Pro Football Hall of Fame CB Champ Bailey. — Clark Dalton
7. Will Deion Sanders pull an Eli Manning?
Before the 2004 NFL Draft, Manning and his father, Archie, told the Chargers (then in San Diego) he would refuse to play for them. After the Chargers took him with the No. 1 overall pick, he subsequently was traded to the New York Giants for a package that included QB Philip Rivers.
Sanders — the father of Colorado QB Shedeur — has already hinted he may do the same as the Mannings. During a recent interview with “The Dan Patrick Show,” the HOFer said he has some teams on his “do not draft me” list.
Some QB-needy teams (Tennessee Titans, New York Jets) don’t look like a great landing spot for a young passer. — Clark Dalton
8. Will anyone challenge Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record?
At the 2024 Combine, Worthy — a former Texas star — broke the 40-yard dash record (4.21 seconds). A prospect matching or surpassing that mark seems unlikely, but some could come close.
Georgia WR Arian Smith (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) was also a track star in five seasons with the Bulldogs. According to The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler, Smith ran the 100-meter dash in 10.18 seconds during his college career.
Also, keep an eye on Texas WR Isaiah Bond. “Bond might be faster than Worthy,” an NFL scout texted ESPN’s Matt Miller in September. In the Longhorns’ 56-7 Week 5 win over UTSA last season, the 5-foot-11,180-pounder clocked a top speed of 22.1 mph on a 50-yard touchdown (via Reel Analytics). — Clark Dalton
9. Which prospect will be the biggest riser at the combine?
Teams have recently avoided taking safeties early in the draft. No safeties were selected in the first round in 2024. But would teams make an exception for South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori if he aces the combine?
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman recently reported Emmanwori (6-foot-3, 227 pounds) has run a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, squatted 565 pounds and had a 42-inch vertical jump. That would’ve tied for the fifth-highest vertical jump at the 2024 Combine.
Emmanwori also had solid numbers in his final season at South Carolina. In 13 games, the first-team All-American had four interceptions, including two pick-sixes. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed a stellar 37.1 passer rating in coverage. — Clark Dalton
10. Which player will solidify himself as RB2 behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty?
On Monday, Jeanty’s agent, Henry Organ, told NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero he isn’t planning on working out at the Combine. Jeanty (5-foot-9, 215 pounds) — who won the 2024 Doak Walker Award as college football’s best RB — headlines the 2025 RB class, but he’s not the only back who could become a star in the NFL.
Breer suggested five RBs could be drafted within the top 40, including North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (6-foot, 220 pounds), Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins (6-foot, 219 pounds) and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds).
Hampton — who rushed for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games in 2024 — could be a name to remember. Jeremiah told Breer, “I wouldn’t be shocked if some teams ended up having Hampton as their top running back.” — Clark Dalton
More must-reads:
- Mel Kiper Jr. predicts Jets snag Aaron Rodgers replacement in NFL Draft
- Broncos reportedly meeting 2024 Heisman finalist at NFL Scouting Combine
- The 'Five game-winning-drives in a season' quiz
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