2020 NFL Combine: Takeaways from Day 2 of OL, RB workouts

Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Combine is officially in the books, and it was certainly an action-packed evening from start to finish.

From a stacked offensive line class to a talented group of running backs—and a handful of speedy special teamers—Friday had its fair share of talking points.

Let’s not waste any time; here are some of the winners and losers from Day 2 of the Combine.

Offensive line

Winners:

Mekhi Becton, Louisville

Perhaps no player generated more of a buzz at the Combine on Day 2 than Becton.

Measuring in at 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds—heavier than any other player invited to Indianapolis—Becton exploded with a 5.10 40-yard dash, finishing among the top-15 offensive linemen in the drill, despite weighing considerably more than his competition. He participated in one agility drill, but the impact he made in that singular run alone made an impact as big as he is.

When you’re in a tackle class as deep as this one, you need something to hang your hat on and separate yourself from the pack, and Becton certainly did that by showcasing freakish athleticism for such a massive individual.

Nick Harris, Washington

With a relative lack of strength and physicality-based drills at the Combine, the format of the workouts benefit offensive linemen who possesses quality functional athleticism. Harris is among those who fit that bill.

A stockier blocker at 6-foot-1 and 302 pounds, Harris used positional drills to really showcase his upside as a Year 1 starter along the interior offensive line at the next level. He looked very fluid moving around, showing off textbook footwork, optimum agility and the technique necessary to succeed in the NFL. His 40-yard dash was pretty good, too, as he finished among the top 15 with a 5.10.

Harris probably won’t be a first-round pick, but with Tyler Biadasz fighting through yet another major injury, the Washington product could end up being the first center drafted in this year’s draft.

Tristan Wirfs, Iowa

You know you have a good Combine performance when you outrun tight ends and jump higher than wide receivers, all at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.

That applies to Wirfs, who broke records for the offensive line position with his vertical and broad jumps at 36.5 inches and 10-foot-1, respectively. He put up an impressive a 4.85 40-yard dash, as well, leading all offensive line in that regard. The explosiveness and fluidity he showed off in positional drills was also admirable, as he moved like a player much smaller than he and changed direction seamlessly in space.

With the top-notch athleticism he showed off, Wirfs proved himself worthy of a high first-round pick. Given the need for offensive linemen within the top 10, he should be a prime candidate to be the first one selected in this year’s draft.

Losers:

Trey Adams, Washington

One has to feel for Adams, who was a first-round prospect heading into the 2018 draft before two serious injuries derailed his professional dreams for a few years. He managed to stay healthy for all of 2019, but he suffered another setback in the form of a poor Combine.

It was a series of worsts for Adams, who ran a disappointing 5.60 40-yard dash. While he looked relatively stiff on tape, putting up the worst time for an offensive lineman will surely hurt his stock. He also finished dead last at his position in both the vertical and broad jumps with 24.5 inches and 7-foot-8, respectively. His positional drills didn’t look too great, either, as his hips looked stiff and he struggled changing direction.

The hits just keep on coming for Adams, who admittedly does have NFL-caliber talent. He should still be drafted, but he’s looking at a late Day 3 target at this point.

Colton McKivitz, West Virginia

Players who are typically identified as Day 3 prospects typically get the chance to use the Combine as a chance to propel their draft stock. McKivitz didn’t really do that on Friday.

Finishing in the bottom half of offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump and bench press, the former West Virginia starter didn’t necessarily help his case as a developmental tackle prospect late in the draft. The stiffness in his lower body that appears on tape was clear in drills, too, as he struggled with changing direction and garnering much acceleration while turning the corner.

McKivitz is a 6-foot-6 blocker with length and enough of a pedigree that he could end being drafted. Hopefully for him, the Combine will someday end up being a roadblock on a path of success.

Running backs

Winners:

Raymond Calais, Louisiana-Lafayette

A relative unknown heading into the Combine, Calais took advantage of the opportunity given and made an impact.

Calais ran a 4.42 40-yard dash, finishing third at the running back position, as well as placing in the top 10 with a 37.5-inch vertical jump. He showcased plenty of agility in positional drills, and he looked right at home in receiving situations, showing off smooth hands and the body control to track down balls.

Though Calais’ stats don’t necessarily jump off the page—he doesn’t have a 1,000-yard season to his name and his receiving production isn’t great—his performance at the Combine indicates his tape is worth a look. NFL teams will likely do the same thing I will eventually be doing, and that’s finding a spot for him on their big board.

Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Perhaps no big-name prospect has been as pleasantly surprising at the Combine as Taylor was on Friday.

Taylor led all running backs with a 4.39 40-yard dash, and he managed to do so at 226 pounds. Having made a name for himself as a high-volume, powerful runner, it was eye-opening to see his straight-line athleticism on display. He looked sharp and quick in positional drills, and he also dominated receiving drills, where he proved to have reliable hands and impressive sharpness in his routes.

When you average over 2,000 rushing yards per season in your collegiate career, you’re going to get the attention of NFL scouts. Taylor took advantage of that attention, and he used the Combine to enhance his draft portfolio and place him into borderline Round 1 territory.

Losers:

Salvon Ahmed, Washington

This one pains me to write, as I legitimately thought Ahmed would have a chance to lead all running backs in 40 times. Little did I know his time would be the seventh-worst at his position.

The Washington scat back showed off plenty of athleticism and open-field speed on tape, but he only ended up running a 4.62 40-yard dash at less than 200 pounds. His positional drills were decent, but they didn't display the dynamic agility those who watched his film have come to respect in his game.

Considering Ahmed ran a 4.32 just last spring, it’s unfathomable that he put forth such a pedestrian effort at the Combine. Whatever the case may be, expect him to look to correct it for his Pro Day.

Zack Moss, Utah

Moss has always been a power-first running back, so expecting him to light up the Combine would have been a bit unrealistic. Still, he put together an underwhelming performance Friday night.

Finishing in the bottom five among running backs with a 4.65 40-yard dash, Moss didn’t bring much in the way of juice to the Combine. His positional drills were decent at best, and while his tape will ultimately win over, he didn’t look incredibly electric or elusive in the open field.

In a class that doesn’t necessarily have incredible depth at the running back position, Moss finds himself in the second tier of prospects. Though his Combine was fairly disappointing, he should still end up being a top-10 back selected in this year’s draft.