NFL Combine: Biggest risers and fallers for 2020 NFL Draft

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NFL Combine (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Biggest Risers

Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU – If anyone says they saw Jefferson running in the 4.4s at the NFL Combine, they’re lying to you. Speed was the biggest concern for the long LSU wideout but he quelled those worries with ease in the 40. With that along with his route-running and hands on tape, he’s an easy first-round pick at this point.

Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois – Chinn’s combination of size, speed and strength was evident at Southern Illinois but he proved it wasn’t just small-school competition that made it look that way. In a safety class starving for more bodies in the second tier, Chinn inserted himself clearly into that conversation.

Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa – Most people believed that Wirfs was going to test really well for an offensive lineman of his size. Having said that, it was still impressive to see and, with no other tackle prospect — aside from Mekhi Becton — standing out a great deal, Wirfs put his name in the OT1 conversation.

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Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State – This linebacker class is highly athletic and Gay added his name to that conversation as well. With the second-best 40 time behind only Simmons and some terrific jumps, the Mississippi State product most definitely has scouts and GMs running to the film.

A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College – At 247 pounds, what Dillon did in Indianapolis was highly impressive. He proved to be more than just a bruiser with nice top-end speed and explosiveness. While he’s still not a top-tier back in a loaded class, he should have teams buzzing.

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor – Mims’ tape at Baylor showed a player who has a great catch radius and body for contested-catch situations. However, he showed much more than that at the NFL Combine as one of the most explosive athletes at the position. He could legitimately be a first-round pick but should surely be off the board in the top 50 selections.

C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida – There was never any question about Henderson’s ability as a coverage player but rather how elite of an athlete he was. He showed he’s one of the best in the class and, while the tackling concerns remain about the Florida standout, he most likely cemented his spot in Round 1.

Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma – For anyone who’s been paying attention, Hurts has greatly improved as a passer from when he first took the stage at Alabama. But that was on full display as he aced most of the drills and, as expected, was the best athlete among the quarterbacks. For me, he’s an easy Day 2 pick to develop.

James Smith-Williams, EDGE, NC State – You could make the argument that few people really raised their stock in the way that Smith-Williams did this past week. Relatively unproductive in college, he tested phenomenally and showed that he might’ve just been under-utilized at NC State.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan – Misused in a bad Michigan offense, Peoples-Jones was gaining buzz heading into Indianapolis and that hype is only growing exponentially now. He was unbelievably explosive, particularly with a 44.5-inch vertical, and measured in well. He’s mid-Day 2 lock after his showing at the NFL Combine.

Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska – People will talk about Neville Gallimore but we already know he’s a fringe first-round pick. Khalil Davis, however, is a defensive tackle that few people are talking about but tested as the same type of elite athlete at over 300 pounds. His stock is on the rise and he’ll likely be taken earlier than people expect because of his testing profile.

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