It was Day 3 of the NFL Combine, but in many ways the week truly kicked off Thursday. Wide receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks ran the 40-yard dash among other on-field events. A host of defensive stars spoke to the media.
Pittman’s Positive Performance
Former USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. didn’t need to run a 4.3 to impress scouts Thursday. At 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, Pittman just had to display the straight-line speed required to win one-on-one matchups.
With an official time of 4.52 seconds, he accomplished that. The mark ranked fifth among receivers who weigh over 220 pounds, proving that he has the unique combination of size and speed that scouts love to see in an outside receiver. Pittman’s time solidifies his place in the 2nd-3rd round conversation.
Ahead of his drills, Pittman told reporters he hoped to wow them with his 40 time. A 4.52 didn’t quite cause jaws to drop, but it certainly didn’t hurt his case.
He also held serve in the vertical jump, posting a 36.5-inch jump that landed him in the top half of all receivers.
Pittman shined the most in the 3-cone drill, which according to The Athletic, “is used to measure agility, flexibility and change of direction.” He clocked in at 6.96 seconds, placing him in the top four at his position. Compared to the 40-yard dash, the 3-cone drill is a much better simulation of in-game speed, so Pittman succeeded where it really counted.
He failed to make an impression with 13 reps on the bench press Wednesday, but he aced the test Thursday. If this wasn’t one of the most stacked receiver classes in NFL history, Pittman would be graded as a first-round talent.
Young and Bold
Former Ohio State defensive end Chase Young made his presence felt in a big way Thursday and he didn’t even participate in a drill. In fact, he won’t do any Combine tests all week, only opting to take part in position drills.
That’s not because of a lack of confidence.
“I definitely think I’m the best player in this draft,” Young said. “I think I showed it on my tape.”
It’s hard to argue with Young there. The numbers don’t lie. He led the nation with 16.5 sacks, despite playing in only 11 of a possible 13 games.
Only one other player could legitimately claim this title from Young has a legitimate claim — former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. The two almost faced off in the National Championship, but Ohio State lost a nailbiter to Clemson in the semifinal.
“We came up short, but it happens,” Young said. “I’d have definitely loved to play LSU in the National Championship. Didn’t get that chance, but it’s all good.”
Right now, Burrow is projected to get drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals and D.C. native Young is pegged to go to the Washington Redskins second.
Go ahead and grab your popcorn. The Redskins and Bengals are confirmed to face off this season.
Punters are Jacked Too
Special teamers aren’t supposed to be known for their strength. Apparently, no one told former Arizona State punter Michael Turk.
Right after the first group of offensive linemen finished the bench press, Turk took the stage and did 25 reps of 225 pounds. That beat 19 offensive linemen whose job is to move 300-pound humans against their will.
According to NFL Research, Turk tied for the most bench reps among all kickers and punters since 2003. That’s not surprising, considering Turk looked more chiseled than the Peyton Manning statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium.
There’s not much of a correlation between kicking a football far and lifting 225 pounds several times in a row, but at least Turk got on everyone’s radar. Sometimes, that’s all the NFL Combine is about.