NFL Combine, winners and losers from Day 3: Isaiah Simmons is a freak, Derrick Brown falters

The defensive linemen and linebackers took the field for Day 3 of the NFL Combine and we look at the winners and losers from the testing in Indianapolis.

While the offensive players owned the show at the 2020 NFL Combine for the first two days of athletic testing at Lucas Oil Stadium, the defense took over Day 3 on Saturday. The defensive linemen and linebackers — edge rushers included in both groups — took the field to try and affirm or raise their 2020 NFL Draft stock with how they tested in the 40-yard dash, jumps and on-field drills.

Unfortunately, some of the most exciting names in this group either couldn’t or elected not to test on Saturday at the NFL Combine. The best player in the 2020 NFL Draft, Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young, was among them, as were K’Lavon Chaisson, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Javon Kinlaw and Troy Dye, among others.

Even still, some guys put on an absolute show at the NFL Combine, while others didn’t impress despite their draft stock at this point. Let’s dive into that with the winners and losers from Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Combine.

Winner: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Everyone expected Isaiah Simmons to put on a crazy show on Saturday at the NFL Combine as his athleticism and versatility at his size have been the talk of draft circles for the majority of the process. But man, he didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

Running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at 6-4, 238 pounds is just absurd, as is jumping 39 inches in the vert and 132 inches in the broad. Simmons was always going to be picked in the top half of the first round but it’s going to be impossible for him to fall out of the top 10 after his performance on Saturday.

Loser: Derrick Brown, IDL, Auburn

Saturday was one to forget for Derrick Brown at the NFL Combine. His 5.16-second 40 and 1.81 10-yard split left a lot to be desired, as did a 9-foot broad jump and 27-inch vertical, even for a big man. And to make matters worse, he posted one of the worst 3-cone times in NFL history at 8.22 seconds.

As bad as those numbers are, don’t overthink it with the Auburn product. He’s a menace on the interior when you watch the film against SEC competition and should still be a top-10 pick. Even still, the performance in Indianapolis was not what you want to see from a top-tier prospect.

Winner: James Smith-Williams, EDGE, NC State

Given that he had just eight sacks in his entire college career and one sack in 2019, not many people were talking about James Smith-Williams as we went into Indianapolis. But if there was one defensive lineman who really made a name for himself, it was the 6-4, 265-pounder from North Carolina State.

Running the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds flat after posting a 10-foot-3 broad jump and 28 reps on the bench press, Smith-Williams is a guy that you have to run back to the tape with now. Considering his stock previously, revisiting a guy who is clearly highly athletic could help him hear his name called in April.