NFL Draft intel: Texas CB Jahdae Barron's bold statement may raise eyebrows

Blue (5-foot-9, 196 pounds) revealed he suffered a torn groin muscle while training for the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Despite the injury, he still ran a 4.38 at the combine.

"I didn't find out it was torn until I got back home and got an MRI," Blue said. "So, you know, of course, I was upset and I didn't get the time I ran, but yeah, I was healthy today and you could see I ran the time I wanted to."

The RB said he has top-30 visits set with the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans. Blue said he would "love to play in a system" like that of Broncos head coach Sean Payton. (Teams are allowed to bring 30 draft prospects to their team facility for "top-30" visits. The visits are an opportunity for teams to get to know players better. Teams may bring in local players for visits that don't count against the 30 visits.)

Payton may like Blue, a versatile back. In 15 games in 2024, he had 1,098 yards (730 rushing and 368 receiving) and 14 touchdowns (eight rushing and six receiving). 

WR Isaiah Bond improves 40-yard dash time

Bond ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine after saying he would break former Texas WR Xavier Worthy's event record. The Kansas City Chiefs star ran a 4.21 at the 2024 combine.

Bond didn't break or match Worthy's mark at Texas pro day, but he said he ran a 4.34.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder said he has top-30 visits set with the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. The speedy wideout could become an explosive playmaker for any of those teams. 

In three seasons at Texas and Alabama, he had 99 receptions for 1,428 yards and 10 touchdown catches. He also is a sure-handed pass-catcher. Per PFF, he had just six drops during his college career.

Why didn't TE Gunnar Helm re-run 40 at pro day?

At the combine, Helm (6-foot-5, 241 pounds) suffered a sprained ankle on a false start during his 40, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. That may be why he ran a 4.84, the third-slowest time among TEs. 

Helm — who's still rehabbing from the injury — said he opted not to re-run the 40 at pro day because his film proves his combine performance was an outlier.

"I think I'm a lot faster on tape and a straight 40-yard line run isn't gonna define me in any way," Helm said. 

Helm's speed didn't seem like a massive concern in his final season with the Longhorns. In 16 games last season, he finished first on the team in receptions (60), second in receiving yards (786) and tied for second in TD catches (seven). 

Helm said he has no top-30 visits yet. In a story published March 23, Mike Klis of KUSA-TV in Denver reported the Colorado native met with the Broncos on a "local" visit.

Could safety Andrew Mukuba land with NFC East team?

Mukuba (5-foot-11, 186 pounds) said he has top-30 visits scheduled with the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas could use a ballhawk like Mukuba after it finished 17th in the league in passing yards allowed (218.1) last season. In 15 games in 2024, the Clemson transfer intercepted a career-high five passes.

He could also be a potential replacement for Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson, who's entering the final year of his contract in 2025. 

Mukuba should still be available for the Cowboys on Day 2 of the draft. On his updated big board, ESPN's Matt Miller ranks the Texas star as his No. 5 safety. 

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.