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NFL Combine: Laquon Treadwell smart not to run 40?

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) attempts to stay inbounds as he is defended by Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Jared Collins (29) during the second quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) attempts to stay inbounds as he is defended by Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Jared Collins (29) during the second quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell won’t run the 40 at the NFL Combine, so will that decision hurt his NFL Draft stock?

Laquon Treadwell entered the pre-draft process as the No. 1 wide receiver prospect after an All-SEC season as a junior at Ole Miss. He was a consensus first round pick and getting compared to Pro Bowl receivers like Dez Bryant and Julio Jones.

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However, a lot can change despite not even playing a game when it comes to the NFL Draft and the ever-changing NFL Draft stock. You’ll hear about players stock rising and falling over the next few months and the NFL Combine this weekend will be the primary reason for that.

Treadwell announced he will not participate in running the 40 at the Combine, which can only be perceived as a negative when it comes to his draft stock.

If Treadwell was running sub 4.5 times in the 40, then he’d want to run and post that time to ease any concerns teams have about his speed. Deciding to hold out of the 40 signals Treadwell isn’t happy with his times and needs a little extra time before Ole Miss’ pro day to try to shave some precious tenths of a second off his time.

When it comes to receivers a tenth of a second difference in a 40 can mean millions. In Treadwell’s case, it could mean dropping from the top 10 to the bottom of the first round.

It also opens the door for Baylor’s Corey Coleman and Ohio State’s Michael Thomas to move up and claim the title of the draft’s top receiver.

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If Treadwell runs in the 4.7 range, it’s not the end of the world for him and his NFL outlook, but it could be the end for him as a first round prospect. But if the calculated risk of not running at the Combine buys him enough time to run a solid number at the pro day, it will be a smart move.

Treadwell still has a chance to impress NFL teams in other drills and in his interviews but they also want to see draft prospects compete in every drill, so he’s going into the draft process with one strike against him and one looming question about his speed.

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