- Are two of the top linebacker prospects healthy? UCLA's Myles Jack and Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith are both recovering from serious knee injuries. They both have the talent to be Top 5 picks, and both have said their rehab is going well. This will be a chance for scouts, coaches, and fans to see if how far along in that process they are.
- Will character issues rear their ugly heads again? Last year, the big tumble down the draft from the Combine came in the form of Nebraska DE/OLB Randy Gregory. A projected Top 10 pick, Gregory failed a drug test at the Combine, fell into the 2nd round to the Cowboys (who seem to have no moral compass) and has now been suspended the first 4 games of 2016 for failing another test. Surely, this may cause some teams to again think twice about players with failed drug tests and character issues. The two biggest names in this draft that full under that cloud are Noah Spence of EKU, and former top prospect Robert Nkemdiche of Ole Miss. Both defensive linemen have had substance issues. Spence has admitted he was an addict, so much so that he was not only kicked out of Ohio State, but banned from the entire Big Ten. He also had a public intoxication incident this past May. Since then, he has passed numerous tests, but I am positive that teams will be asking him about his issues. Nkemdiche's case is a bit more mysterious. He has denied using synthetic marijuana, but was charged with possession after he famously "fell" out of a hotel window, resulting in being suspended from the Sugar Bowl. Scouts also seem to question his work ethic as well. Nkemdiche will need a great interview, and show a ton of intensity in workouts, if he wants to get himself back in the Top 20 conversation.
- Who will fail a drug test? As I mentioned before, this seems to be an issue every year. A couple of these young men simply don't understand that this is the most important job interview of their lives, and decide that the green of weed is more important than the green of money. I don't even think that smoking weed is the real issue. Hell, it is legal in a few states now. But the utter stupidity of smoking it before the Combine shows a massive lapse in judgement to me. That would be my biggest problem with whoever fails the tests.
- Is Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil worthy of being the #1 pick? The Titans biggest need is O-line to protect Marcus Mariota. Tunsil is presumed to be the guy for them, but a poor showing could cost him dearly. Maybe a player like Ronnie Stanley of Notre Dame, the #2 tackle on the board, could launch himself ahead of Tunsil with a superb workout. I expect both to be solid NFL linemen for a long time, but the difference in money from being picked #1 and #10 last year was in the neighborhood of $10 million of the life of their first contract. That's major money.
And now, because they deserve a section all to themselves, I present to you THE QUARTERBACKS!
- Who gets to be stuck in Cleveland? This may be one time when you don't want to be the first QB taken. The Browns are a massive joke of a franchise right now. Their owner, their GM, their new stats guys, advisers from the Mets, everything. North Dakota State's Carson Wentz seems to be the pick right now, with all of the physical tools, but no one is exactly sure of how good he is due to the level of his competition. Jared Goff of Cal was the #1 QB coming into the year, but didn't exactly shine the entire year. His up and down play may have come from being the best player on a mediocre team, and his measurables are all there as well. His arm may be the best of the bunch. Finally, how have we managed to forget about Paxton Lynch? Lynch was a revelation for Memphis this year, leading that team to one of their best seasons in recent memory. He has the size and mobility that could be comparable to an unpolished Cam Newton. He may not be the #1 pick, but he should find his name called in the 1st round.
- Does anyone like Connor Cook? I tend to see Michigan State QBs as projects. They are all pretty similar in the NFL. Drew Stanton is Brian Hoyer is Kirk Cousins. Similar skill set. Similar mindset. Comparable success if they are able to sit behind another QB and learn the system. Cook could be that kind of QB, but is there a team out there willing to take a steady/non-flashy QB to sit and learn for a few years instead of a guy with a ton of upside?
- Can Dak Prescott find a home? Prescott had a wonderful career at Mississippi State, and shined in the Senior Bowl. While his play may be a bit too Tebow-esque for some, he has shown good play-making ability with both his feet and his arm. He could fit well as a backup to Cam Newton, or even a project for Chip Kelly in San Francisco.
- The Hackenberg/Hogan dilemma. This is a personal one for me, since Kevin Hogan went to my high school (Hail Gonzaga!) and is the younger brother of my classmate Brian. All he did at Stanford was win. He took over for a legend in Andrew Luck, and kept the team competitive, guiding them to three Rose Bowl appearances and two victories in his 4 years as a started (they also steamrolled Maryland in the Fosters Farm bowl in 2014, a game in which Hogan earned MVP honors). He has been a model of consistency, toughness, and intelligence. Yet somehow, his name isn't mentioned anywhere near the top of the draft, nor the middle. Hogan is seen to be a late round prospect, and I am unsure why. Why does consistent winning in the PAC-12 not translate well to the pros?
The flipside of this coin is Christian Hackenberg of Penn State. Every scout drooled over this kid coming out of high school. Texans coach Bill O'Brien recruited him, and he had a great freshman year. Then O'Brien left, and Hackenberg fell apart. He has been fairly awful the past two seasons, leading a disastrous Penn State "offense". His completion percentage is below average, and he turns the ball over too often. Add into that the fact that Hackenberg was a human pinata (with injuries and missed games to show for it) thanks to a non-existent offensive line, and I don't see a player worth drafting. I see a gun-shy QB who was hit too much, and has forgotten how to play. Hackenberg has the measurables, but so does Hogan. They are the same size. Comparable arms, though Hackenberg's may bit a bit better, yet Hogan has better athleticism and mobility. If I am a GM, and I see the numbers and the track record of both players, do I take a guy who is a proven winner with some fixable mechanical issues to work on as my project, or a talented but extremely raw player that has to be rebuilt from the ground up due to an awful college system?
So there you go. A few thoughts before the workouts begin. Enjoy the Combine this week, and make sure you don't miss Rich Eisen running the 40. It is great every year.
