QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Stock Report:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Weigh-In Recap:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
RB | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Previews:
Day 1: OL and RB | Day 2: QB, WR and TE | Day 3: DL and LB | Day 4: DB
2016 NFL Rumor Mill:
Rumor Mill by Pat Yasinskas | Rumor Mill by Tony Pauline
This is the 2016 NFL Combine Stock Report for the defensive linemen. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida 
Jonathan Bullard was the No. 2 testing athlete for defensive linemen at the 2016 NFL Combine (I’ll get to No. 1 later). Bullard posted a 1.66 10-yard split in his 40 (4.93), which was exceptional. He also notched a 32-inch vertical, a 9-8 broad jump and a 7.31 broad jump, all of which are great for a 285-pounder. Bullard backed up that superb athleticism by flashing it in the drills. Don’t mistake him for Chris Jones, who flashed something else in the 40.
Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA Kenny Clark was already seen as a first-round prospect, but he may have helped himself move up in the opening frame. Clark was especially solid in the drills, showing off strength, balance and quickness. He also tested extremely well, ranking as one of the more athletic defensive tackles at the Combine.
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Part of the reason some teams have slotted Shaq Lawson as a second-round prospect is because he was seen as a tweener. That may no longer be the case, as Lawson thrived in the linebacker drills at the Combine. He displayed some intriguing coverage skills, which should bode well for his chances of playing in the 3-4. Lawson also posted some solid testing numbers, running a 4.70 40 and clocking in at 7.16 in the 3-cone. He also leapt 10 feet in the broad jump.
Yannick Ngakoue, DE/OLB, Maryland Yannick Ngakoue didn’t post numbers that blew anyone away, though they weren’t bad either. He ran a 4.75 40, leapt a 34.5-inch vertical and clocked in a 7.35 3-cone. However, he looked extremely smooth in the linebacker drills, confirming that he can play in the 3-4 at the next level.
Dadi Nicolas, DE/OLB, Virginia Tech 
Dadi Nicolas made some noise by leaping a 41-inch vertical, but he struggled after that. His 40 wasn’t all that great (4.74) for someone who only weighs 235 pounds. However, the real story was in the drills, where Nicolas looked stiff and awkward. Nicolas is a poor scheme fit for most teams as a tweener, so he looks like a late-round pick at best.
Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss There was nothing wrong with Robert Nkemdiche’s 40 (4.87), or his vertical (35), or his field performance (he looked solid). Nkemdiche was awful in front of the media, and by all accounts, he was even worse in team interviews. Nkemdiche inexplicably threw Laremy Tunsil under the bus, which was absolutely horrible. It would not surprise me at all if he ended up dropping out of the first round.
Shawn Oakman, DT, Baylor Shawn Oakman’s thing was always “he’s a great athlete, but doesn’t know how to play football quite yet.” Well, maybe he’s not such a great athlete, despite how he looks. Oakman proved to be a very pedestrian tester, running a poor 4.96 40 and a very meh 7.53 3-cone. His broad jump was fine (10-3), but his vertical of 32 inches was mediocre. Oakman was projected to go in the first round at this time a year ago by many pundits, but as one team told us at the time, Oakman is nothing more than a sixth-round prospect.
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State We’ve heard rumblings that teams didn’t view Emmanuel Ogbah as a player who could be chosen in the top half of the first round. Perhaps those teams have changed their mind in the wake of his Combine performance. He was one of the most explosive players at his position in Indianapolis. He notched a 4.63 40, which included a 1.59 10-yard split; a 35.5-inch vertical; a 10-1 broad jump; and a 7.26 in the 3-cone. His arm length (35 1/2 inches) was also very impressive. More importantly, Ogbah thrived in the drills. He needed to erase cause for concern about his consistency, and you could say it’s mission accomplished.
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville Sheldon Rankins was expected to thrive at the Combine, and he certainly lived up to expectations. His 40 time didn’t knock anyone’s socks off (5.03), but his vertical (34.5) and 3-cone time (7.44) were both exceptional for a 300-pounder. Rankins was also very smooth in the drills, allowing him to confirm his top-20 status in this class.
A’Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama There were two projected first-round defensive linemen who tested poorly at the Combine. The first was A’Shawn Robinson, who notched a sluggish 5.20 in the 40. He also managed just a 26-inch vertical and a 7.80 3-cone. He wasn’t special in the drills or anything to help offset his poor numbers, so he could drop a bit as a result.
Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky I met with an NFL agent back in October (not Noah Spence’s) who tried to convince me that based on what he heard, I absolutely had to slot Spence as a top-10 pick in my mock draft. I have a difficult time believing Spence will be chosen that high in the wake of his Indianapolis performance. Spence ran a poor 4.80 40 and didn’t appear to be anything special in the drills. On top of that, Charlie Campbell reported that Spence interviewed very poorly at the Combine. That, at least, was not surprising.
Charles Tapper, DE, Oklahoma Charles Tapper began his Sunday workout with a bang, clocking in at 4.59 in his 40, including a 1.59 10-yard split. After shining in the field drills, Tapper was able to leap a 34-inch vertical, which is a solid number for a player of his size (6-2 5/8, 271).
Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State Adolphus Washington, the other projected first-round defensive tackle who struggled, surprised with his lack of athleticism. Washington managed just a 5.17 40, which was just awful for a 301-pounder. His 3-cone of 8.06 was also embarrassingly slow. Throw in an off-the-field issue – albeit a minor one – and Washington might just be destined for Round 2.
Connor Wujciak, DT, Boston College Remember how I said that Jonathan Bullard was the No. 2 tester for defensive linemen at the Combine? Connor Wujciak ranked in the top spot. He ran a 4.91, which is great for a prospect who weighed in at 6-2 1/2, 291. He also posted a 34.5-inch vertical and an exceptional 7.32 3-cone. Wujciak wasn’t a slouch in the drills either.
Back to the 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Combine Page.
2016 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Stock Report:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Weigh-In Recap:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
RB | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2016 NFL Combine Previews:
Day 1: OL and RB | Day 2: QB, WR and TE | Day 3: DL and LB | Day 4: DB
2016 NFL Rumor Mill:
Rumor Mill by Pat Yasinskas | Rumor Mill by Tony Pauline
NFL Picks - Dec. 15
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