NFL Combine, Day 2 winners and losers: Jonathan Taylor, Tristan Wirfs wow in Indianapolis
Winner: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Speaking strictly from a size perspective, most human beings aren’t built like Louisville tackle Mekhi Becton, who measured in at 6-7, 364 pounds at the NFL Combine. But even more eye-popping was how he moved at that size.
Becton turned heads across Lucas Oil Stadium with a 5.1-second time in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time for a player at 350+ pounds ever — by a wide margin too. And while he had just one on-field drill before he had to sit out with a minor injury, we saw what an athletic freak Becton is with his movement skills to go with his size and length (35.625-inch arms).
Winner: A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College
It’s a bit shocking to me that more people aren’t in awe of the numbers A.J. Dillon put up at the NFL Combine at his size. The Boston College product came in at 6-0, 247 pounds, easily one of the biggest backs in the class, but still tested as one of the elite athletes of the group.
Not only did Dillon run a fantastic 4.53-second 40 for a player his size but he showcased elite explosiveness with a 41-inch vertical and 10-foot-11 broad jump. While he’s clearly not an elusive or overly quick player, his size and explosiveness being put out there in this manner will have some teams eager to take him in the middle rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Loser: Trey Adams, OT, Washington
Once upon a time, Trey Adams was one of the most sought-after offensive tackle prospects in college football. But after knee and back injuries derailed his career at Washington, the hype has died down tremendously and his testing, unfortunately, backed that up on Friday.
Even among his offensive linemen peers, Adams posted one of the slowest 40-yard dash times and the second-worst 10-yard split while jumping only 24.5 inches in the vertical and 92 inches in the broad. He’s clearly not the same athlete he once was and will likely be a Day 3 selection after his performance in Indianapolis.
Winner: Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Due to inconsistent play behind an awful Seminoles offensive line in college, Cam Akers has a ton to prove when it comes to a situation like the NFL Combine. So when the lights were on, the former 5-star recruit showed out. He posted a nice 4.47-second time in the 40 while having a 10-foot-2 broad jump and 35.5-inch vertical. Akers was also impressive in the drills, showing that he can be a valuable addition as a possible Day 2 pick.