Day 1 NFL Combine Takeaways
Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Scouting combine is in the books here are the 3 takeaways from the first day of on-field workouts.
40 times
The first night of on-field workouts was a speed thrill. In a city that celebrates speed with Indy cars , the wide receivers at the NFL scouting combine matched a record Thursday that would have NASCAR opening their eyes.
Had four teams tell us they had Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce in 4.31-4.33 range. At 6031v and 211 lbs, it’s different than some of the other fast 40 times. And he jumped 40.5 VJ and 10-9 BJ. If you didn’t see that kind of explosiveness on tape, go back and check it. It’s there. 📈 pic.twitter.com/mppwBX7Tbm
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 4, 2022
The group of pass catchers left dust, as the eight sub-4.4 clockings tied the most by the wide receivers at the combine in any year evaluated since 2006.
CHRIS OLAVE 4.26 💨💨💨
pic.twitter.com/XJYBmzHS5n— PFF (@PFF) March 4, 2022
Tyquan Thornton had the only official time under 4.3, as Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., had the second fastest official clocking at 4.31.
The NFL just released the official 40 times for Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton and Ohio State WR Chris Olave… and the unofficial times were way off.
Thornton: 4.28 (not 4.21)
Olave: 4.39 (not 4.26)— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 4, 2022
Many unofficial times had to be changed and chatter around the league was this years class of pass catchers is the fastest in NFL History OR the 40 times were off
Kenny Pickett’s Hand Size
It is hands-down the most critiqued quality attached to NFL quarterback prospects each year.
As a potential first round pick, Pickett‘s hand size has been scrutinized heavily. His hands officially measured in at 8 1/2″ at the NFL Combine. This makes Pickett’s hands the smallest of any quarterback in the NFL.
Kenny Pickett is a QB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.27 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 62 out of 831 QB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/Ff3WwjnR0K #RAS via @Mathbomb pic.twitter.com/L4E4IhueLH
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 4, 2022
“The reason I didn’t measure at the Senior Bowl was just to have those extra couple weeks, just kind of a commonsense thing, to have more time working the exercises…Whatever it measures, it measures, I’m sure that won’t be the end of it, but that will be the last measurement I’m sure I’ll take of it.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information data, average hand size for quarterbacks taken in the first round from 2008 to 2020 is 9 7/10 inches.
Christian Watsons big day
Watson won the day at the receiver position. He’s 6-4 and 210 pounds, one of the most sizable receivers in this class.
He ran 4.36 with a 38.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot, four-inch broad jump, one of the longest in combine history.
Christian Watson without a doubt is the biggest winner of the day pic.twitter.com/8KWZQwrviM
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) March 4, 2022
“He’s a special dude. You can see that just physically, how big he is, how fast he is. Great person to be around, obviously one of my closest friends. Someone that helped me get to where I am right now. I wouldn’t be here without Christian.”
I wrote about Christian Watson last summer and how the Miami Dolphins should take a chance on him.
Now, I’m not sure if Watson lasts till the end of the 2nd round, he’s highly thought off in league circles.
*** This article was originally posted at ATB Network***
Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel
