The NFL Draft has reached a significant milestone with the arrival of the 2024 NFL Combine. The skill position players test on Saturday, March 2nd. Footballguys staff comes together to answer a series of questions to prime you for the action ahead.
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What player are you most excited to see perform at the NFL Combine?
WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Christian Williams: With many top prospects sitting out the testing and drills at the NFL Combine, the list of players to choose from is minimal. Still, Rome Odunze (WR - Washington) has an opportunity to solidify himself as a top-ten pick. He's a height, weight, and speed guy with some fantastic film who is viewed favorably by league personnel. With his main competition sitting out (Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers), Odunze has a tremendous opportunity ahead of him.
Ben Cummins: I'm most excited to see Rome Odunze. He has it all: Great hands, a size of about 215 pounds, physicality, deep ball tracking, smooth route running, etc. His only knock is his lack of elite speed and athleticism, which could change quickly at the Combine. Odunze won a 200-meter dash state title in high school, so expect him to put up exciting numbers while Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers sit out.
WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
Chad Parsons: Xavier Worthy (Texas wide receiver) should fly with his 4.3x projection for the 40-yard dash. Worthy already has the highest production score of a loaded wide receiver class, and with the later Round 1 and into Round 2 a highly contested zone for the position, Worthy has considerable 'riser' potential after the NFL Combine to be viewed as more likely in Round 1 in April than in February.
Hutchinson Brown: Xavier Worthy is a player full of electricity on the football field; watching him run the 40-yard dash will be exciting. I have watched almost all of the projected day one and two wide receivers on film, and he looks arguably the fastest wide receiver to me. His combination of long speed and agility can be deadly for opposing defenses. I've heard rumors and tales that he could beat a 4.3, which is incredibly fast. He already has a lot of excitement from many people in the NFL community; a 4.3 40-yard dash or even under that would be insane to see!
The Running Backs
Sam Wagman: I'm excited to see the running backs run their drills this weekend. We have yet to see any of these backs separate themselves as the RB1, and strong 40-yard dashes and excelling in the agility drills could propel one (or more) of them into that mid-Round 2 conversation.
RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Jason Wood: The running back class is jumbled entering the Combine, with as many as eight different backs possibly in line to be the first taken. Allen is a behemoth who can claim the RB1 spot with a Combine that matches the athleticism we've seen on film.
WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
Kyle Bellefeuil: There are plenty of wide receivers I'm excited about, but I'm particularly intrigued to watch Roman Wilson. Wilson should run a blazing 40-yard dash while showing off his quick feet in the other on-field drills. Wilson already created some serious buzz at the Senior Bowl and has a chance to turn more heads in Indianapolis.
RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
Zareh Kantzabedian: Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright has been climbing up Dynasty ranks with each passing day. Wright's primary athletic traits are agility and burst. His athleticism will be showcased for a much larger audience, cementing his standing as a top-three prospect in this rookie running back class and increasing his value in rookie drafts.
RB Jawhar Jordan, Louisville
Gary Davenport: In a weak(er) running back class, any running back that stands out should pique the interest of fantasy managers, and Jawhar Jordan of Louisville has the chance to do just that. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder isn't going to run many people over, but he has something that can't be coached. And something that gets Indy buzzing more than anything—speed. Jordan could challenge to run the fastest 40-yard dash at the event, and if he does, more teams will be going back to watch the tape of a guy who averaged north of six yards a carry in 2023.
WR Malik Washington, Virginia
Jeff Bell: Washington closed his five-year career as the nation's leader with 110 receptions. He flashes the ability to win at all three levels, displaying creativity after the catch and comfort playing the ball vertically. In his first four seasons with Northwestern, the passing offense averaged a rank of 103, giving an easy out on previous production. If his testing backs up the tape he put out in 2023, he can be a significant riser. He may be written off as merely an experienced one-year wonder if it does not.
