Combine warriors that end up with great careers? (1 Viewer)

[meyerj31]

I've heard plenty about combine warriors that went busto, but I don't often hear about guys that had solid, if below average draftable college careers (like Poe) and end up blowing up the combine .... then going on to great NFL careers.

Does anyone have some examples of 3rd/4th/5th round talent that performed really well at the combine, were drafted higher, and went on to great careers?

 

[menobrown]

Harder to come up than I thought. Maybe it's because it seems it's becoming more rare for a workout warrior to last until the third round. Of course Al Davis picked about 25-30% of these guys so with his decision making no longer in play maybe they start to drop.

One guy I came up with who has just started to have a great NFL career is Jimmy Graham.

ETA-I misread the original question and thought it meant to only include players who were picked in the 3rd-5th round range, not players who might have moved up. I'd say it's a little difficult to answer for sure because a lot of times draftniks and fans think they know where a player is rated but really have no idea. I'm editing this post after the Chris Johnson posts. Just because he was not on our radar prior to the combine does not mean he was not on the NFL radar.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Chris Johnson was an unknown and alot of people thought Tennessee reached with that pick. Very Solid NFL player.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

BSS beat me to it by a mouse click, apparently.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

If memory serves me correct, Deion Sanders was able to cement his place in the draft due to his combine. He had dropped becasue of character questions, but in the combine he was fast (handtimed 4.16-4.20 I think), quick hips, ball hawk...DB stuff.

Dwight Freeney is another one.

 

[rzrback77]

Vernon Davis

 

[QuizGuy66]

Good topic - always nice to see the counterweight to these "rules of thumb"

-QG

 

[Steed]

If memory serves me correct, Deion Sanders was able to cement his place in the draft due to his combine. He had dropped becasue of character questions, but in the combine he was fast (handtimed 4.16-4.20 I think), quick hips, ball hawk...DB stuff.Dwight Freeney is another one.

Legend has it Deion ran his 40, continued through the tunnel and into a limo.

 

[menobrown]

Good topic - always nice to see the counterweight to these "rules of thumb"-QG

Yes good food for thought. I'd like to compare a historical list of players who were elite college performers but whose draft stock plummeted after the combine versus average college performers whose draft stock rose after the combine. I wonder which group has the highest success rate?

 

[meyerj31]

Good topic - always nice to see the counterweight to these "rules of thumb"-QG

Yes good food for thought. I'd like to compare a historical list of players who were elite college performers but whose draft stock plummeted after the combine versus average college performers whose draft stock rose after the combine. I wonder which group has the highest success rate?

Now we're getting somewhere...

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Good topic - always nice to see the counterweight to these "rules of thumb"-QG

Yes good food for thought. I'd like to compare a historical list of players who were elite college performers but whose draft stock plummeted after the combine versus average college performers whose draft stock rose after the combine. I wonder which group has the highest success rate?

IIRC LeSean McCoy had a terrible workout at the combine,thus lisding, but he is a monster

 

[meyerj31]

Good topic - always nice to see the counterweight to these "rules of thumb"-QG

Yes good food for thought. I'd like to compare a historical list of players who were elite college performers but whose draft stock plummeted after the combine versus average college performers whose draft stock rose after the combine. I wonder which group has the highest success rate?

IIRC LeSean McCoy had a terrible workout at the combine,thus lisding, but he is a monster

That's right. McCoy had a bad broad jump so they said he lacked explosiveness (lol). He dropped to the second round. I think he proved that one wrong.

 

[Max Power]

Brian Urlacher is the first name I thought of. Never even knew who he was until pre-draft

 

[cvnpoka]

jason pierre paul

 

[sspunisher]

wasn't it JPP who did all those backflips and also jumped out of the pool onto the deck?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Brian Urlacher is the first name I thought of. Never even knew who he was until pre-draft

And some thought he may end up at safety still.

 

[bostonfred]

That's right. McCoy had a bad broad jump so they said he lacked explosiveness (lol). He dropped to the second round. I think he proved that one wrong.

I jumped a bad broad or two in my day, and trust me, you never live it down.

 

[Grimace59]

wasn't it JPP who did all those backflips and also jumped out of the pool onto the deck?

That was the DTackle Jarron Gilbert, 09 3rd round pick from the bears. He had the video of hims self jumping out of 3 feet ow water on to the deck. Guy ended up being a bum.

 

[johnadams]

Vernon Davis

First guy I thought of.I suppose DHB would count, though with an asterisk as it was OAK after all.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Willie Gault. For the 40 time.

James Harrison. For the bench press.

 

[mr roboto]

I would think TE would have a disproportionate amount given how freakish combos of size and speed are really crucial. Tall, fast, good hands. Don't need to be a precise route runner compared to WR's. A lot less mental compared to QB's. Less technique required compared to linemen.

I know they have to block and read coverages a bit but there are less 'soft' skills required and a greater need for crazy measurables.

 

[plastik]

Before the draft season I remember seeing projections for Demaryius Thomas to go in the 3rd. The jury is still out on him, but he looks like he might be a successful speed/size WR who was thought to be 'over drafted.'

 

[Vrana]

wasn't it JPP who did all those backflips and also jumped out of the pool onto the deck?

That was the DTackle Jarron Gilbert, 09 3rd round pick from the bears. He had the video of hims self jumping out of 3 feet ow water on to the deck. Guy ended up being a bum.

JPP did the back handsprings though. He can do them in pads as well. He was only at USF one season (JUCO transfer) but he was an absolute monster that year. He had a great combine as well, but I'm not sure he applies because he was a beast his junior year. I'm pretty sure he was projected to be a low first rounder before his great combine and workouts and moved up to mid first round (15th or 16th overall I think).

 

[Bankerguy]

DeMarcus Ware

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Vernon Davis

First guy I thought of.

Vernon Davis was pretty highly thought off before he ran a 4.3 at his combine though. He wasn't projected as a third rounder or anything like that.Certainly the combine improved his stock, but it's not like he was some "kinda okay" guy who got a major bump by a crazy workout in Indy. At least I certainly don't recall it going down like that. Davis was being talked about as an NFL prospect when he was a Sophomore. His great combine "cemented his first round status" more than it "created his first round status."

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Before the draft season I remember seeing projections for Demaryius Thomas to go in the 3rd. The jury is still out on him, but he looks like he might be a successful speed/size WR who was thought to be 'over drafted.'

Thomas didn't do anything at the combine because he was hurt. I think a lot of people saw him as a special talent while he was still at Tech.Honestly I don't think many of the names posted fit the mold of what the OP was looking for. JPP was known to be a physical freak but very raw. Urlacher was a great safety at New Mexico. There was never any doubt about Primetime going in the first and Freeney was a monster at Syracuse.

 

[Whitney26]

There have been a lot. If I'm on the same page as you are, here are some guys that impressed either at the combine or their pro day.

Mike Wallace

Marques Colston

Brandon Marshall

Pierre Garcon

Greg Jennings

Mike Thomas

Victor Cruz

Cruz wasn't drafted at all. I don't recall where they were all taken in the draft. I just know they've all out-performed where they did go.

There have been some defensive guys as well. Off the top of my head:

Connor Barwin

Brian Robison

Cameron Wake

Rob Ninkovich

Mike Devito

Barry Cofield

Sione Pouha

Matt Roth

Justin Houston

Like Cruz a couple of these weren't drafted either. It's early but Houston is going to be a star. He had an unbelievable combine. I think he went in the 3rd.

 

[MAC_32]

The common trait I'm seeing is a lot of these successful workout warriors were not drafted in the top 50, just as they shouldn't be.

 

[coolnerd]

A lot of these guys being pegged as workout warriors semed to come from not the best situation. Either productive at smaller school, some school with an system they that didn't highlight their skills, or got moved around position wise. They weren't truly unknown by the scouting community, ,but the average fan didn't know much or anything about them.

 

[msommer]

I thought the term implied that they failed in the NFL (or would fail)

 

[meyerj31]

Pierre-Paul would be a great example of what I was looking for. He didn't have the greatest college career and wasn't pegged for the 1st round, but he blew up at the combine and was selected 15th overall. Two years later he's the biggest playmaker on a defense that wins the super bowl.

 

[msommer]

Pierre-Paul would be a great example of what I was looking for. He didn't have the greatest college career and wasn't pegged for the 1st round, but he blew up at the combine and was selected 15th overall. Two years later he's the biggest playmaker on a defense that wins the super bowl.

I remember the FBG Jene Bramel estimating it would be 3-4 years before he'd crack the line up. Even the best ones miss a few...

 

[Steed]

Well he did have osi and tuck ahead of him. Tuck being injured this year opened the door for him.

 

[LawFitz]

DeMarcus Ware

I remember when the talking heads were questioning the Cowboys for taking him one spot ahead of Merriroid.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

wasn't it JPP who did all those backflips and also jumped out of the pool onto the deck?

That was the DTackle Jarron Gilbert, 09 3rd round pick from the bears. He had the video of hims self jumping out of 3 feet ow water on to the deck. Guy ended up being a bum.

Adam Archuleta was the first guy i believe to record doing this and bring it into the spotlight. Archuleta i believe also released a workout tape on how to nail the combine and be overdrafted. Adam i don't know if he can be labeled a bust b/c he had some 'productive' seasons with the rams but he surely didn't live up to his workout hype. he more or less was really exposed like Roy Williams when the nfl needed to go more towards SS that could cover as well.edit to add, would the Broncos have soley drafted Tebow so high on his college prowess if he combine numbers weren't so impressive?

 

[Hoot&HoLLer]

Nowhere Man workout wonder h-back from Pitt Dorin Dickerson had an amazing combine and was projecting by some to be a 2nd rounder and fell to the 7th round, picked by the Texans.

He has since made rounds with the Pats and Steelers practice squads but I think is currently not on any rosters.

Eta it looks like he is listed as wr with Pats still.

 

[QuizGuy66]

wasn't it JPP who did all those backflips and also jumped out of the pool onto the deck?

That was the DTackle Jarron Gilbert, 09 3rd round pick from the bears. He had the video of hims self jumping out of 3 feet ow water on to the deck. Guy ended up being a bum.

Heard he's like Jordan in the National Water Polo League.-QG

 

[thriftyrocker]

Eric Weddle is a guy whose stock rose. He was a great college player, and the combine cemented him as an elite athlete too. He was taken early 2nd and SD traded a lot of picks to move up to grab him there.