NFL Combine 2020: 6 Bold predictions for NFL Draft prospects

The 2020 NFL Combine is upon us but which NFL Draft prospects will make waves? Bold predictions for the athletic testing in Indianapolis.

As the media availability and measurements at the 2020 NFL Combine are underway, we’re already seeing plenty of things about the 2020 NFL Draft prospects in attendance. From Joe Burrow talking about playing in Cincinnati to Tua Tagovailoa giving us a timetable in his recovery, we’re seeing more and more. But for fans at home, the athletic testing is the main event.

Of course, evaluating draft prospects should not come down to their 40-yard dash time, bench press reps or how high and far players can jump at the NFL Combine. Those numbers are meant to either reaffirm or put into question what NFL Draft prospects have put on film throughout their collegiate careers. Even still, watching the testing at the Combine is fantastic entertainment, which is why it’s been moved to primetime in 2020.

There are always freak athletes in the draft process but it feels as if this year’s pool of players is even more loaded than usual. And with that in mind, let’s dive into this class and make some bold predictions for the 2020 NFL Combine, specifically with the athletic testing.

6. Gallimore runs fastest 40 at 300+ pounds

Oklahoma defensive tackle Neville Gallimore has long been an unreal athlete who can tear up the weight room — in fact, he’s a safe bet to be among the leaders overall in the bench press. However, after shedding a ton of weight from 2018 to 2019, he’s as explosive as ever and could put up some freaky NFL Combine numbers at his size. When it wraps up in Indianapolis, Gallimore will have the fastest time in the 40-yard dash for any player at 300 pounds or more.

5. Taylor logs sub-4.45 second 40-yard dash

The exploits of Jonathan Taylor as the Wisconsin Badgers as a running back are widely noted at this point. He was one of the most productive rushers in college football throughout his career and displayed tremendous athleticism and versatility playing out of the backfield. He’s also an athletic freak.

Though Taylor tips the scales at nearly 220 pounds, the Wisconsin product can scoot. There are reports that he got into the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash in the 2019 offseason. While that won’t be the case, he’ll still turn heads by coming in under 4.45 seconds at that weight.

4. Reagor breaks broad jump record

We should see TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor compete for one of the best 40-yard dash times in the class. His speed routinely shows up on his film with the Horned Frogs and he’ll run well. However, his natural athleticism exceeds that as he is a former state champion in high school in the long jump. While a different test, the broad jump seems to lend itself to Reagor’s abilities and he should come close to surpassing Byron Jones‘ 12-foot-3 record mark in the event set in 2015.

3. Chaisson tops EDGE players in 3-cone, figure-8

Because of his injury history and, in the grand scheme, lack of production throughout his career with the LSU Tigers, edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson isn’t a surefire first-round pick. However, many have him projected to go in that range due to his athletic traits.

The NFL Combine is going to be critical for Chaisson to prove that he is a superior athlete with great explosiveness and bend off the edge. My belief is that he does just that, setting the best 3-cone and figure-8 (a new drill for 2020) times among EDGE prospects in this class.

2. Simmons cracks 4.4 seconds in 40-yard dash

There’s never been any question that Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons is a freak athlete. Linebackers coming in at 6-4, 230 pounds don’t typically move in the way that Simmons did throughout his college career. We’ll see that on display in Indianapolis. Not only should Simmons wow in the jumps and drills but his 40-yard dash could be a sight to behold as he went stride-for-stride with Clemson running back Travis Etienne last offseason. We’ll see that on display with an eye-popping time from the linebacker.

1. Ruggs breaks Ross’ 40-yard dash record

In this loaded wide receiver class, two Alabama products, Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, are going to be in full focus as likely first-round picks. When it comes to the NFL Combine, however, everyone’s going to be looking at Ruggs and his elite speed.

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John Ross set the Combine record in the 40-yard dash in 2017 at 4.22 seconds. At Alabama’s junior day last year, Ruggs reportedly ran a hand-timed 4.2 seconds in the 40. Now with several months of training to wow scouts with his athletic testing, my bet is he can best Ross’ time and go down in Combine history.

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