2019 NFL Combine: 5 Takeaways from Day 1 of workouts
5. Running Backs making a move
Alabama’s Josh Jacobs has emerged as the draft’s leading man at running back, and despite him being unable to go through on-field testing at the combine this week due to a groin injury, he looks like a first-round lock as the top running back on the board.
His measurables were strong, and his versatility pops on tape; he plans to go through on-field drills at Alabama’s Pro-Day, and barring some glaring issues that pop-up, every other back is fighting for second place.
The fight for second place is interesting, however, as a number of backs have staked their claim to the slot. Coming into the combine, Iowa State’s David Montgomery and Florida Atlantic’s Devin Singletary were two of the more popular choices for the spot behind Jacobs, but neither did themselves favors on Friday.
Montgomery and Singletary both posted sub-4.6 40-times; neither player was known as a burner, but those times certainly won’t help them, which opened up the door for other backs to make their move up the draft board.
The biggest winner of the day was Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill, who came into the combine looking like a late-round pick and may have worked himself into the day-two range despite suffering an injury during his second run of the 40 that kept him from completing the on the field work.
Hill led all running backs in the 40-yard dash and the vertical jump. He ran a 4.40 40-time and had a 40-inch vertical jump, showcasing his immense athleticism. If he can get back healthy in time for his Pro-Day to showcase his versatility on the field, then Hill could move up draft boards even further, potentially threatening for the No. 2 back in the draft.
In addition to Hill, Ohio State’s Mike Weber, Temple’s Ryquell Armstead, Kansas State’s Alex Barnes, and Penn State’s Miles Sanders all had good days. Weber had the third-best 40-time among running backs and constantly flashed during the on-field drills. Armstead showed some really strong hands in his drills, alleviating the concern about him as a receiver out of the backfield. Sanders was strong in on the field work as well, and Barnes blew away the competition with 34 reps on the bench press, while running a sub-4.6 40-time. He’ll find a home as a rotational player somewhere on day three.