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NFL Combine 2015: Players with the most to gain and lose
Jordan Raanan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Jordan Raanan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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on February 19, 2015 at 5:52 PM, updated February 19, 2015 at 5:53 PM
INDIANAPOLIS ‐ Watching game film serves as teams' first checkpoint for draft prospects. The NFL Scouting Combine is a second, third and fourth opinion.
Almost all prominent members of each of the league's 32 organizations have descended on Indianapolis to dissect all 320 or so draft prospects. That includes coaches, scouts, general managers, personnel executives and medical staffs.
They serve as the second, third and sometimes fourth checkpoints for prospects each February. It's vital for players to pass successfully through interviews, medicals, on-field workouts and drills. One red flag could prove detrimental both financially and professionally.
A lot can be gained or lost during this arduous process. A lot is at stake for each player. It's a week that could make or break a career.
Heading into Friday, when on-field workouts begin, here are some of the prospects with the most to gain and lost at this year's meat-market Combine:
Most to Gain
WR Dorial Beckham-Green, Oklahoma/Missouri ‐ Nobody has more to gain than the troubled but talented wide receiver who sat out the entire 2014 season. Beckham-Green can go anywhere from the first round to undrafted depending on his workouts and interviews. He must prove to NFL teams that they can trust him to make the correct decisions off the field.
RB T.J. Yeldon, Alabama ‐ There are some concerns whether Yeldon has the speed to be an impact player in the NFL. He can prove that is nothing but a myth by running well at the Combine.
WR Donatella Luckett, Harding ‐ Never heard of Harding? Exactly. That is why the 6-0, 210-pound receiver can make his mark. Most of the coaches in attendance haven't either.
TE Tyler Kroft, Rutgers ‐ With a passing game that struggled most of the season, Kroft's talents were hidden. This is his chance to show he can be a quality pass-catching tight end.
Most to Lose
QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon ‐ Mariota doesn't need to throw at the Combine in order to be a Top 10 pick. All that can happen is teams sour on his accuracy and his stock plummets.
LB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi St. ‐ He's already considered a borderline first-round pick with size (6-5, 249) that makes NFL teams salivate. If he shows a lack of elite athleticism it will hurt his draft prospects.
S Gerald Holliman, Louisville ‐ Holliman had a strong season that has him among the top safeties in the draft. The Combine could expose his flaws.
OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M ‐ Ogbuehi tore the ACL in his knee during bowl season. If his medicals don't come back clean, it could prove costly.
Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.
Jordan Raanan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Jordan Raanan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on February 19, 2015 at 5:52 PM, updated February 19, 2015 at 5:53 PM
INDIANAPOLIS ‐ Watching game film serves as teams' first checkpoint for draft prospects. The NFL Scouting Combine is a second, third and fourth opinion.
Almost all prominent members of each of the league's 32 organizations have descended on Indianapolis to dissect all 320 or so draft prospects. That includes coaches, scouts, general managers, personnel executives and medical staffs.
They serve as the second, third and sometimes fourth checkpoints for prospects each February. It's vital for players to pass successfully through interviews, medicals, on-field workouts and drills. One red flag could prove detrimental both financially and professionally.
A lot can be gained or lost during this arduous process. A lot is at stake for each player. It's a week that could make or break a career.
Heading into Friday, when on-field workouts begin, here are some of the prospects with the most to gain and lost at this year's meat-market Combine:
Most to Gain
WR Dorial Beckham-Green, Oklahoma/Missouri ‐ Nobody has more to gain than the troubled but talented wide receiver who sat out the entire 2014 season. Beckham-Green can go anywhere from the first round to undrafted depending on his workouts and interviews. He must prove to NFL teams that they can trust him to make the correct decisions off the field.
RB T.J. Yeldon, Alabama ‐ There are some concerns whether Yeldon has the speed to be an impact player in the NFL. He can prove that is nothing but a myth by running well at the Combine.
WR Donatella Luckett, Harding ‐ Never heard of Harding? Exactly. That is why the 6-0, 210-pound receiver can make his mark. Most of the coaches in attendance haven't either.
TE Tyler Kroft, Rutgers ‐ With a passing game that struggled most of the season, Kroft's talents were hidden. This is his chance to show he can be a quality pass-catching tight end.
Most to Lose
QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon ‐ Mariota doesn't need to throw at the Combine in order to be a Top 10 pick. All that can happen is teams sour on his accuracy and his stock plummets.
LB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi St. ‐ He's already considered a borderline first-round pick with size (6-5, 249) that makes NFL teams salivate. If he shows a lack of elite athleticism it will hurt his draft prospects.
S Gerald Holliman, Louisville ‐ Holliman had a strong season that has him among the top safeties in the draft. The Combine could expose his flaws.
OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M ‐ Ogbuehi tore the ACL in his knee during bowl season. If his medicals don't come back clean, it could prove costly.
Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.