There’s no consensus on who the best quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft is, and that won’t change after Saturday’s on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The most impressive QB in said workouts, though? That’s no contest. It was Josh Allen.
The Wyoming product ranked at or near the top of his position group in nearly every drill, recording the highest vertical jump (33 1/2 inches), the longest broad jump (119 inches) and the third-fastest 40-yard dash (4.75 seconds) while also showing off his renowned rocket arm.
Allen, who measured in at 6-foot-5, 237 pounds earlier in the week, launched the ball nearly 70 yards during deep ball drills and also had no trouble lofting passes into receivers’ hands on deep corner routes.
.@JoshAllenQB is throwing it nearly 70 YARDS in the air! 💪💪💪#NFLCombine
📺: @nflnetwork https://t.co/FeGntMp9Tt
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2018
.@JoshAllenQB launching it effortlessly on these post corner routes. 👏#NFLCombine
📺: @nflnetwork https://t.co/miiqkY2NWK
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2018
That being said, Allen’s combine performance won’t do much to change his public perception. He’ll still be one of the draft’s most polarizing prospects.
Everyone already knew Allen was physically gifted and could throw the ball a country mile. You can learn all that with a quick spin through DraftJoshAllen.com. He still needs to prove he possesses the accuracy and decision-making necessary to succeed at the NFL level, and we won’t get a true bearing on those skills until he appears in an actual game.
There was never any question that Josh Allen would put on a show with his arm.
The question is with his accuracy.
As one personnel exec told me this week, "You can't coach accuracy. You may think you can, but you can't. Period."— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 3, 2018
Some other takeaways from Saturday:
— Many expect the New England Patriots to draft a quarterback this year to groom as Tom Brady’s potential successor. Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore liked what he saw from Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, who hails from Gilmore’s native Rock Hill, S.C.
Mason Rudolph I’m a fan. Rock Hill product
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) March 3, 2018
NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock mentioned Rudolph as a potential Patriots fit earlier in the week.
— LSU wide receiver D.J. Chark ran the fastest 40-yard dash we’ve seen so far at the combine, crossing the line in 4.34 seconds. He also had the highest vertical jump (40 inches), tied for fourth in the broad jump (129 inches) and looked great in the gauntlet drill.
LSU WR D.J. Chark ran a 4.34 40-yd dash, put up 16 reps on the bench press and had an unofficial 40" vertical leap.
Since 2006, the only player who hit all of those marks at the NFL Combine as Michael Huff in 2006. Huff was picked 7th overall.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 3, 2018
Other wide receivers who impressed included Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk and Florida’s Antonio Callaway. Callaway was suspended for the entire 2017 season for off-the-field violations.
Christian Kirk at 2018 Combine:
5'10 3/8"
201 lbs
1.54 seconds in 10-yd split
4.47 seconds in 40-yd dashHe has some noteworthy NFL comparisons based on those numbers pic.twitter.com/w7WahdCjMq
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) March 3, 2018
— Folks on Twitter immediately began linking Trey Quinn to the Patriots after the SMU product ran a 4.55-second 40 and impressed in pass-catching drills.
— nick (@nick_pants) March 3, 2018
Quinn, an LSU transfer who caught 114 passes for 1,236 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, reportedly has a formal interview scheduled with the Patriots.
Least surprising news I’ve heard this week. The Patriots have a formal interview scheduled with SMU standout WR Trey Quinn here in Indy.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) March 2, 2018
— Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki put on a show, ranking first in the broad jump and vertical jump and tying Jaylen Samuels — the tight end/H-back/running back from N.C. State — for the best 40 time at 4.54 seconds. Gesicki also pumped out 22 bench press reps Friday, ranking second behind South Dakota State’s Dallas Goedert, who did not participate in Sunday’s workout.
#1 broad jump. #1 vertical jump. (among TEs)
Mike Gesicki's been an athletic beast since his HS basketball days. 😱 #NFLCombine @PennStateFball
📺: @nflnetwork https://t.co/O4dLTbkLxc
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2018
South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst, a former minor league pitcher whom many experts consider the top tight end available, also had a very strong day, especially in the positional drills.
