What QBs are throwing this weekend, who to watch at the 40-yard dash, and more
The weekend is here, which means it’s time for quarterbacks, receivers and running backs to take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in the NFL Scouting Combine.
Here’s everything you should and won’t see this weekend in Indianapolis.
Which QBs will actually throw?
Though Bryce Young won’t be pitching Saturday, several other top quarterbacks will.
Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson will all participate in quarterback practice on Saturday. These three, along with Young, are expected to be selected in the first round of the draft. Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald has all four in the top-10, with Stroud in second place ahead of the Houston Texans.
Young, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2021, injured his throwing shoulder last season with Alabama. He has since recovered, but the decision to sit out at the combine apparently has nothing to do with the injury. Young threw for 3,328 yards and 32 touchdowns with just five interceptions last season.
While he’s not pitching, talk of Young’s height doesn’t sound like it’s going to slow down.
All four of those quarterbacks have already proven themselves. And since they’re all forecast as top 10 picks, it’s hard to imagine a particularly strong showing on Saturday impacting their draft stocks too much.
Watch out for Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson is widely regarded as the best running back in the draft. The former Texas star plans to be a full participant when running backs take the field in Indianapolis. After failing to take an RB in the first round of last year’s draft, Robinson is trying to make sure the trend doesn’t continue.
Robinson ran for a career-high 1,580 yards and had 18 rushing touchdowns for the Longhorns last season, and McDonald has him ranked 30th overall in his latest mock draft.
A good performance this weekend, coupled with a solid 40-yard dash time, can ensure Robinson goes into round one next month. And with Pro Day set for next week in Texas, Robinson has another chance to immediately substantiate his performance, good or bad.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba skips a 40-yard dash
It would have been great to see Jaxon Smith-Njigba run the 40-yard dash this weekend, especially after his hamstring injury last season.
However, fans will have to wait.
Smith-Njigba confirmed Friday that while he is “100%” healthy, he will wait to compete in the 40-yard dash.
“I’m taking things slowly to close the book on this nagging injury I have like I have,” he said via ESPN. “But I haven’t had enough reps in the 40 yet, so you’ll see me running on the pro day.”
Even after missing most of last season, Smith-Njigba is one of the top picks in the draft. He had 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021 while helping Ohio State claim a Rose Bowl victory. McDonald lets him go to the Houston Texans in his latest sham draft at number 12, knocking Smith-Njigba off the board as the first receiver. USC’s Jordan Addison and TCU’s Quentin Johnson are not far behind. Any of them could be the top recipient.
Whether Addison or Johnson can beat Tyquan Thornton’s combined record of 4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash set by a receiver last year remains to be seen.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-combine-which-qbs-are-throwing-this-weekend-who-to-watch-in-the-40-yard-dash-and-more-005410280.html?src=rss What QBs are throwing this weekend, who to watch at the 40-yard dash, and more
