2019 NFL Combine Preview: Defense

Posted on February 27, 2019 Updated on February 28, 2019

Three Things to Know

1- The Defensive Backs are the Most Important Position of the Weekend: In the preview of the Offensive side of the ball (https://draftstock.net/2019/02/27/nfl-combine-preview-offense/), I wrote about the Offensive Linemen and how you can learn the most about the players in that position group this weekend because of the on field drills. The same holds true for the defensive backs. Watching the players flip their hips out of their backpedal, change directions quickly, and drive off their back foot to break on the football can provide teams with the most amount of information on any position group this weekend. We say it all the time; the Combine is meant to affirm what you see on film. This position group can do that the most accurately during the weekend in Indianapolis.

2- Ed Oliver is #Back, but He’s Not the Only Guy Who Will Have a Big Weekend: The Draft Buzz has cooled significantly on Ed Oliver, but expect that to change this weekend. Oliver is going to dominate every facet of the athletic testing and on field workouts. If you don’t believe me, go watch his workouts on YouTube and just read what guys are saying about him. Mike Mayock, the new GM of the Oakland Raiders, casually mentioned that Oliver could run a “4.5 something,” like it was normal for 270 pound human beings not named Zion Williamson to move like that. Oliver is appointment television this weekend.

Having said that, Ed Oliver isn’t the only player who will be on display this weekend. Look for Brian Burns to wow scouts with elite athleticism for someone of his size, as well as Nick Bosa to surprise with his athleticism. I feel like we forgot how good Nick Bosa is because it’s been so long since he’s played, and we’ve almost assuredly forgotten the fact that he is the better athlete between the two Bosa’s. The top end of the Edge Rushers will wow this weekend, and Bosa along with Burns will headline that group.

3- Instead of Watching the Off Ball Linebackers, Give Yourself a Mental Break: Once you get past Devin White, Mack Wilson and Devin Bush, this linebacker class is extremely underwhelming. Even if certain players test well, and there’s a few that I’m assuming will, there are no other three down linebackers outside of those three. This position group is a classic case of not overreacting to the combine. If someone like Germaine Pratt or Vosean Joseph tests well, don’t ignore the lack of consistency on tape.

Having said that, this group easily has the most to prove on the defensive side of the ball, which leads us into our next topic…

Players With the Most to Prove

1- Off Ball Linebackers: It’s very common for position groups that lack depth to be overdrafted on draft day because they are at a premium. The group that will follow this rule the most closely come April will be the Linebackers. So if you’re a player in this position group and you establish yourself as the best of the second wave behind White, Wilson and Bush, you could find yourself in the first 75 picks with ease.

2- Clelin Ferrell, Montez Sweat and Anthony Nelson: These three are deemed “less fluid,” in their ability to dip and bend, but more technical than the other pure edge rushers. This makes the Combine a very important weekend for these three. They don’t need to have gaudy numbers like Burns, Josh Allen, and Jachai Polite, because that’s unrealistic. What they need to do is show good hip and ankle flexibility in the 4 Bag drill, as well as a precise area of impact when punching the bags. In short, the on field drills are very important for these three.

3- The Bigger Cornerbacks in the Draft Class: The NFL Combine is meant to expose weakness, but one of the things that it can also do is put skill sets on display. For the bigger, longer cornerbacks like Joejuan Williams, Amani Oruwariye, Justin Layne and others, this could be a week that catapults them up draft board. Teams love cornerbacks with elite size that can move and flip their hips. The combine puts defensive backs through the proverbial ringer with a very good set of drills that are comparable to a necessary NFL skillset. So if a bigger, longer cornerback can dominate this weekend, they can wind up being selected very high.

4- Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: The safety class isn’t particularly appetizing, but CGJ is deemed to be one of the best cover corners in the draft, and some have him as Safety #1 this year. Personally, I think the Combine will trap people into thinking he has elite upside as a rangy free safety because I think he’s going to crush it. He flips his hips naturally out of the backpedal and he does show some elite athleticism. So when he crushes the drills and the athletic testing this weekend, expect to see him very high on Mock Draft boards.

5- Jaylon Ferguson: Ferguson has phenomenal production at Louisiana Tech, but he is not a fluid athlete by any stretch of the imagination. However, you know who thinks Ferguson is an athlete? Mock Draft Analysts among the big networks. That makes me think that scouts and GM’s may feel the same way. So if Ferguson tests well, maybe he winds up in the Top 50.

If he doesn’t test well, his tape will get largely thrown out and he will fall quickly down draft boards.

Sleepers of the Combine

1- Khalen Saunders: This is the easiest analysis of the weekend. Khalen Saunders is an unreal athlete for his size (just under 6’1, 320 pounds). He stands up… let me repeat that for the folks in the back… HE STANDS UP at 320 pounds and can rush off the edge (you’ll see that quickness in the drills). He also uses push-pull and elite strength to bully players along the interior (you’ll see that lower body strength in the broad jump and vertical jump). This dude is going to wow in Indianapolis.

2- Justin Layne: There’s a ton of buzz around Layne prior to the Combine. He has elite size and shows some NFL level traits on tape. If he runs well at the Combine, you will see Layne as an early Day Two selection come April.

3- Kendall Sheffield: Every year there’s always a “Combine Hero.” This is someone who gets drafted higher than expected because they show ridiculous athleticism in March. This year, expect that guy to be Kendall Sheffield. By all accounts, many expect him to be the fastest player at this year’s combine, and he should perform well in the other athletic tests also. The former Ohio State cornerback will be the big winner of the weekend.