2014 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap: Wide Receivers

2014 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times:
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2014 NFL Combine Stock Report:
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2014 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
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2014 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
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2014 NFL Combine Weigh-In Recap:
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This is the 2014 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap for the wide receivers. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.


2014 NFL Combine: Field Drills Recap – Wide Receivers
By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell

  • As a point of reference, let’s check the numbers for some of the top wideouts from 2013. Cordarrelle Patterson had an official time of 4.42 seconds last year. Tavon Austin had a 10-yard split of 1.45 with an official time at 4.34 seconds. DeAndre Hopkins ran the 40-yard dash with an unofficial time of 4.50 and an underwhelming 10-yard split of 1.59 seconds. However, he was one of the most impressive receivers in the field drills with great route-running and hands. Those traits led to Hopkins being a first-rounder.

  • Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins (6-0, 211) was one of the stars of the Combine among the wide receivers. He looked faster and more explosive than his 4.43 40-yard dash time. Watkins was so smooth and fast in the wide receiving drills, and he clearly has first step quickness that is unmatched. Watkins made the argument to go at the top of the first round.

  • Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks (5-9, 189) is an undersized receiver who makes up for it with his quickness and route-running. He blazed a fast 40 with an official time of 4.33 and a 10-yard split of 1.51. Cooks had a drop in the gauntlet, but also displayed some nice hands. In the field work, his route-running was impressive, as he showed feet and agility. Cooks helped himself at the Combine.

  • It was mission accomplished for Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans. One of the only concerns for the big wideout was his speed to get open against NFL defensive backs. Evans’ 40 time came in at 4.53 with a 10-yard split of 1.57. Those were great times for the 6-foot-4, 231-pounder that take away a potential concern about his straight-line speed. Evans made a nice hands catch in the field work and did well in the gauntlet. He lost his footing on one route, but overall, he performed well in the field work. With Evans’ Combine performance, he solidified his stock in the top 20.



  • It was a mixed Combine performance for USC wide receiver Marqise Lee (5-11, 192). He ran slower than expected in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.52. His 10-yard split was 1.56. While that was a disappointing time, Lee did a tremendous job in the field work. He made a phenomenal, reaching hands catch on a pass off the mark. Lee ran great routes and showed superb hands. His 40 time should be taken with a grain of salt, as he had the speed to win during his collegiate career.

  • Two receivers who really helped their causes were Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews and Ole Miss’ Donte Moncrief. There are a lot of questions regarding Matthews’ speed, so his 40 time of 4.46 seconds was huge for him. Moncrief also had speed concerns, but he posted a time of 4.40. Both receivers did well in the field work with their routes and hands. Each one could have caused some teams to reevaluate them and move them up in the weeks to come.

  • One of the surprising players to stand out at receiver was Clemson wide receiver Martavius Bryant. He had an eye-opening 40 time of 4.42 seconds with a 1.53 10-yard split. Bryant (6-3, 211) had a bad dropped pass in the field drills and needs development as a receiver, but he did his part to force teams to give him more consideration.



  • LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry has been a favorite of some draft pundits. WalterFootball.com has heard some teams are giving Landry a third-round grade, and those estimations received some verification with a very slow 40 time of 4.65 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.65. That slow 40 really hurts a receiver like Landry (5-11, 204), who doesn’t have a lot of size. The Combine could serve to illustrate that Landry has been overrated.

  • Landry’s teammate, Odell Beckham, Jr., had an excellent day. Scouts have told WalterFootball.com that Beckham was grading out as a late first-round pick and that he was a better receiver last season. Beckham also performed much better at the Combine. The 5-foot-11, 198-pounder had an official 40 time of 4.43 with a 10-yard split of 1.50. Beckham performed well with good speed and hands in the gauntlet. The Combine served to confirm that he is worthy of a late first-round pick.

  • Like Mike Evans, Florida State wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (6-5, 240) took away any speed concerns with an unofficial 40 time of 4.53 – the official time is a bit slower. His 10-yard split of 1.62 seconds was solid. Benjamin needs some development in his route-running and hands, but he has an intriguing set of tools to develop.

  • This is such a deep receiver class. Here is a list of players who also did well at the Combine on Sunday: Paul Richardson, Jared Abbrederis, Jalen Saunders, Bruce Ellington, Jeff Janis, Damian Copeland, Brandon Coleman and Davante Adams.





    Back to the 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Combine Page.



    2014 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2014 NFL Combine Stock Report:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2014 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2014 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
    RB | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    2014 NFL Combine Weigh-In Recap:
    QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

    NFL Combine Rumors by Tony Pauline








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