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NFL Combine: Biggest winners, losers and questions left unanswered

By Patrick Schmidt

Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 28, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa participates in workout drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa participates in workout drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Linemen

Joey Bosa, DeForest Buckner and Shaq Lawson are the top three defensive ends and didn’t do anything at Indy to open the door for a new top three. The door could be opening slightly for Buckner to move past Bosa after he turned in a 4.86 40 which was slower than he’d like.

Bosa is a better football player, but the 6-7, 291-pound Buckner is a better fit for the six teams running a 3-4 defense picking in the top seven. Bosa is ideally suited as a 4-3 end so he may slide because of fit. He did linebacker drills too but he’s at his best when he’s moving forward and attacking, not flipping his hips and dropping in coverage.

If there are concerns about the 6’5″ 269-pounder’s time in the 40, his 6.89 3-cone drill and 4.21 20-yard shuttle time should ease them because they were second only to Florida’s 239-pound end Alex McCallister.

Two players who made some money are Oklahoma State end Emmanuel Ogbah who ran the second fastest time at 4.63 and was a top performer in the other drills. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year didn’t always have the best film, but he’s now a first rounder.

Oklahoma’s Charles Tapper played all over the line for the Sooners during his career but enters the first round conversation after posting the fastest 40 at 4.59.

Former Ohio State edge rusher Noah Spence who finished his career at Eastern Kentucky was a fast-riser and mentioned as a potential top-15 pick but he didn’t have a “wow” performance after posting a 4.8 40. His first round bubble may have burst.

The defensive tackle position is stacked and NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said throughout the workouts on Sunday that you can find  a player in the third round this year who would have been a first rounder in other years.

Top performers at the position include Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins, Baylor’s Andrew Billings and UCLA’s Kenny Clark. Along with Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed and Ole Miss’ Robert Nkemdiche who had some up and down moments at the Combine to fortify this position.

Next: Linebackers

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