NFL Combine Rewind
03/06/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
The Top Storylines & Standouts From the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, and 32 franchises now have a better measuring tool for their selections in next month’s NFL Draft. Field drills may not always be reflected in results at the next level, but a number of players just shot up the draft board. Here are some of the top storylines and moments from combine weekend.
Quarterbacks: Anthony Richardson Stole the Show
Of all the impressive performances, Florida QB Anthony Richardson gained the most buzz over the weekend. His 6-foot-4, 244-pound frame makes him a side-by-side comparison to Cam Newton, and he broke the quarterback combine records for vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) while clocking the third-fastest 40-yard dash by a quarterback ever (4.44 seconds). Meanwhile, Kentucky QB Will Levis put his massive arm on display and Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud may have jumped Alabama QB Bryce Young (didn’t throw) as the premier quarterback of the class. But Richardson earned the award for biggest rise in draft stock at the quarterback position.
DT Calijah Klancey’s 40-Yard Dash
Pittsburgh DT Calijah Klancey ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash time — the fastest 40 time by a defensive tackle since 2003. He topped Aaron Donald’s mark of 4.68 seconds in 2014.
Edge Rushers See Stocks Rise
A number of top pass-rushers and edge players may have made the biggest leaps with their combine numbers. Adetomiwa Adebawore (Northwestern), Jack Campbell (Iowa), Nolan Smith (Georgia), and Byron Young (Tennessee) put up strong results as a group.
1st-Round Receivers: Who’s Up & Who’s Down?
Three of the top receivers in the 2023 class are projected to be first-round picks, but only two helped themselves this weekend. Zay Flowers (Boston College), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) put together measurements that should land them in the top of Round 1. Undersized Jordan Addison (USC) didn’t help his draft stock with forgettable speed and small hands.
The NFL Draft is a spring circus of conjecture, smoke screens, and mock drafts. The combine could make or break a player’s landing spot and rookie paycheck, but we won’t know until April 27.
Additional Storylines
FOX Sports: Anthony Richardson Breaks Multiple QB Records at NFL Combine
CBS Sports: Anthony Richardson’s 10 Best Landing Spots
ESPN+: NFL Combine: Top Prospect Workouts, Risers, Fastest 40s & More
Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images