2019 NFL Combine: 5 Takeaways from Day 1 of workouts

The 2019 NFL Combine cranked up a notch on Friday with the beginning of on-field drills for running backs, offensive linemen, and special teamers.

The poking and prodding has begun in earnest in Indianapolis as the 2019 NFL Draft’s top prospects have converged on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in the biggest job interviews of their young lives. Everyone is looking to make a strong impression, one that causes a team, or teams, to fall in love with them and earmark one of their coveted draft selections for them.

Friday brought the beginning of on-field drills for the running backs, offensive linemen, and specialists. Those who were healthy enough to participate went through a variety of drills, including the 40-yard dash, bench press, and the vertical jump.

Big impressions, positive and negative, were made by the prospects in participation.

Along with the beginning of the on-field testing, defensive lineman and linebackers were measured, weighed, and interviewed by NFL teams, with several interesting tidbits being revealed during that process as well.

The NFL Draft is still over a month away, but movers and shakers have begun emerging, and we are starting to get a better idea of which prospects might find themselves selected in the coveted first round.

Some who have looked like first round locks are beginning to fade, with surprise prospects jumping up and snatching those spots away. Prospects will have a shot to make up for lackluster combines with the coming pro days, but first impressions matter a lot to NFL scouts, and irreparable harm can be done to a prospect’s draft stock with their performance in Indianapolis.

Let’s take a look at five takeaways from the combine on Friday: