4 bold predictions for the 2024 NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is officially underway in Indianapolis. All of the important decision-makers in the NFL will spend the week together, trying to work out potential trades while also scouting the 2024 NFL Draft class.

This is also a week of big changes to draft big boards as draft prospects can see their stocks soar or crater, depending on how they perform in drills and interviews.

Last year, we saw quarterback Anthony Richardson completely dominate the Combine. His NFL draft stock took off, and he was selected 4th overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

Conversely, wide receiver Jordan Addison tested rather poorly and had to watch three wide receivers get drafted before him.

What kind of surprises can we expect at this year’s NFL Combine? Let’s make some bold predictions.

Note: making these bold predictions doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree with them, but rather that these are results and narratives that I could see arising after the Combine is wrapped up.

Bo Nix enters the QB3 debate.

Neither Caleb Williams nor Jayden Daniels will partake in drills this week, for good reason (at least for Caleb). Williams has been the presumptive first-overall pick since his freshman year and stands to gain nothing from throwing the ball around Lucas Oil Stadium.

I think Daniels could be making a mistake by not participating, but as the reigning Heisman winner, I could see how he and his camp might believe he has nothing to prove.

These opt-outs will be critical for the other quarterbacks who are trying to break into the first-round quarterback conversation. Drake Maye and Daniels have been the presumptive second and third quarterbacks, in either order, but I could see Daniels slipping down big boards due to his opting out, especially if another quarterback turns heads in a big way, and I believe Nix is that quarterback.

Nix has good size and mobility and can unleash jaw-dropping throws with the best of them. I think his testing will come in much better than expected and that we’ll begin to hear his name tossed around as a potential Top 10 pick.

Jer’Zhan Newton will have the most talked-about defensive performance.

Since the end of the college football season, Newton has fallen drastically down big boards for no apparent reason. Once generally seen in the Top 10 of mock drafts, Newton these days is more often looked at as a fringe first-round prospect.

That could change in a hurry this week.

An incredible and gifted athlete, I think Newton’s performance at the 2024 NFL Combine could produce monstrous results in the same way as Anthony Richardson in 2023. He’s shown rare agility and speed for a big man, and he possesses incredible strength.

Scouts may still hem and haw over his technical skills on the field, but that’s not what the Combine is about. The Combine is for showcasing raw athleticism and ability, and Newton will deliver in spades and dominate the conversation for defenders.

Xavier Worthy will record the fastest 40-time for a wide receiver.

The 40-yard dash is routinely one of the most watched events of the NFL Combine. It’s quick, exciting, and gives prospects a chance to show out.

In 2023, the wide receiver class was somewhat disappointed with their 40-times, but I expect this year’s class to be faster and led by Texas’ Xavier Worthy.

In Week 12 of the 2023 CFB season, Worthy was clocked at 22.7 mph during a punt return touchdown against Iowa State. This was the fastest speed of any player at any position this year.

Another Xavier, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, may contend for the fastest time, but I expect Worthy to lead the wide receiver class with a 40-time well below 4.4 seconds.

Biggest faller will be Laiatu Latu

Looking strictly at the physical traits and stats, Latu should be the clear top defensive end in this year’s draft class. Unfortunately, his medical history is terrifying to an NFL general manager.

In 2021, Latu suffered a scary neck injury at Washington that was bad enough for him to medically retire. He eventually returned to football after transferring to UCLA and terrorized quarterbacks for the next two years, but NFL GMs cannot ignore an injury that nearly ended his career.

While Latu has the skills and athleticism to be a Top 10 pick, maybe even Top 5, I fear his medical history will cause him to drop to the late teens or even twenties. General managers will get cold feet looking at the details of that neck injury, and when they see what I expect to be dominant performances from Jared Verse and Dallas Turner, they’ll drop Latu further and further down their big boards.