Justin Herbert, Justin Jefferson and Chase Claypool were among the big winners during the first night of the NFL Combine and helped their NFL Draft stock.
The 2020 NFL Combine began in primetime at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with tight ends, quarterbacks and wide receivers going through workouts. Even though Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa didn’t participate, there was plenty of anticipation leading up to see if a record was set in the 40 and if a winner would emerge for the No. 3 quarterback.
Henry Ruggs III didn’t set the record for the fastest 40 but he ran a blazing 4.27. The quarterback debate between Justin Herbert and Jordan Love will linger into the next month with both having great showings. These three were among the big winners of the opening night of the NFL Combine, but they’re joined by a few more who helped their NFL Draft resume with a strong showing.
NFL Combine winners and losers: Day 1
Winner: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Chase Claypool came in at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, which is nearing tight end numbers but put on a show reminiscent of Calvin Johnson. He’s happy he stuck at receiver, cause he showed out up against a fantastic group. He took the line in the 40 and ran an official 4.42, a number only Megatron is comparable with that time and that size.
Claypool also put together 40.5 in the vertical jump and 10-foot-6 in the broad jump, both also very good numbers. His stock is soaring right now into the day two range, where teams will take a chance on the size/speed combination.
Winner: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Justin Herbert has been one of the more polarizing quarterbacks in the draft process at the moment, but he’s quelled a lot of the concerns to this point. He got through another hurdle at the NFL scouting combine, putting up a 4.68 in the 40-yard dash, validating that athleticism we saw during the Rose Bowl, where he rushed for three scores. Herbert also looked solid in drills, where the football jumped out of his hand on throws to all levels of the field.
Winner: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Justin Jefferson exceeded expectations when he ran a 4.43 in the 40. During the NFL Network broadcast, Daniel Jeremiah said he wasn’t expecting a great time but came away blown away with the time that should secure his spot in the first round. Jefferson had an extremely productive year at LSU, showing great route-running ability from the slot and an ability to win in contested spots and after the catch. His 4.43 checked off the biggest question from his excellent tape.
Winner: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
This is a big win for Albert Okwuegbunam, who was a big-time recruit for Mizzou. He’s been up at the top of boards at tight end in summer scouting before but hasn’t put it all together on the field. He put on a show at Indianapolis when he ran one of the fastest times in the 40 we’ve ever seen from a tight end. “Albert O” ran a 4.49, a great time for a 258-pound tight end. Only Evan Engram has run a faster time from the position since the former New York Giants’ first round pick ran a 4.42 in 2017.
Winner: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
Donovan Peoples-Jones had a disappointing career with the Wolverines, but all of that can’t fall on him. The NFL has been high on him coming into the draft process, and the NFL Scouting Combine was his place to shine. He ran a 4.48 in the 40, which is fine at his size, but it was the explosion numbers that wowed the most. He led the way in the vertical and the broad jump, posting 44.5 inches and 11-foot-7, respectively. His stock is soaring.
Winner: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Henry Ruggs set the draft community ablaze with talk of breaking the 4.22 NFL Scouting Combine 40 record set by John Ross three years ago. He didn’t beat it but he ran an official 4.27, the fastest of any player so far. It’s likely to stand up as the top time at the Combine this year. He looked like he was gliding and could run faster if he chooses to run at Alabama’s pro day. He cemented his status as a top-15 pick so he doesn’t have anything more to prove.
Winner: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Jordan Love is already getting the Patrick Mahomes comparisons, and while there are similarities, it’s an unfair comp. Love ran a 4.74, but it was during the throwing drills that will keep him in the QB3 conversation with Herbert. The ball came off his hand with ease. He made the outs, digs and deep balls look so effortless with his arm talent. He could be a top-10 pick.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
The Heisman runner-up ran well, which was expected of the Jalen Hurts who ran for 3,274 yards at Alabama and Oklahoma. His 4.59 time was the second-best among quarterbacks, behind Hawaii’s Cole McDonald who ran a 4.58. He had the second-best broad jump and fifth-best vertical jump and impressed NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah with his footwork and how the ball pops out of his hand.
“We saw the athlete that he is and you see him throw the football. The ball is live. It jumps out of his hand. And watching him go through the drop right here I think his feet when you stack him up with the rest of the guys up there looks pretty good.”
Loser: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Herbert, Love and Hurts had good days where they showed their physical ability. Jake Fromm, unfortunately, wasn’t one of them. Fromm’s lack of arm strength showed as the drills moved further and further down the field. He struggled on the deep digs and vertically downfield. This is an expected area of weakness from Fromm who may not be viewed as a starter.
Losers: Quintez Cephus and Jauan Jennings, WRs
Quintez Cephus (Wisconsin) and Jauan Jennings (Tennessee) were two wide receivers teams and analysts have fallen for in the process so far. Cephus is a tough player with great hands through traffic, and Jennings is so physical after the catch. Both could have used some help in the 40 though, and they didn’t get it. Cephus posted a 4.73 and Jennings posted a 4.72. That’s not ideal in a deep receiver class that Hall of Famer Gil Brandt said is the fastest class he’s ever seen.