With the 2023 NFL Combine this week, we break down the players we want to see most at Indy. Most are due to athletic questions whether it be lack of or just how athletic they actually are.

Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Since he has already declared that he will not be throwing (a decent issue in our eyes), all of the focus will be on what he measures in at. While we do not think size is as big a deal as others, Young is not the athlete Kyler Murray is to compensate for his shorter stature (It is also worth noting how much stockier Murray is). We think Young already will fall slightly, his height and weight could cause it to be even further.

Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Anthony Richardson could be one of the biggest winners of the combine. If he does all of the drills and tests like a freak athlete, his stock can only go up. What we want to see most though is how cleaned up his throwing motion is. Videos have surfaced of his workouts and it looks a lot quicker, but the combine will be a good place to truly see where his progress is at.

Israel Abankinada, RB, Pitt

He is a prospect we love at the running back position. It seems like he is still flying under the radar, but that could change at the combine. He showed a good blend of high end speed and power at Pitt and we hope to see it on display for scouts.

Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas

We are unsure exactly what he will be able to do with his broken hand from the Senior Bowl, but we hope he can at least do some. His combination of power and speed and the ability to alternate when needed is unique. Sadly, we may have to wait for the Pro Day so see most of his drills

Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State

Vaugh is wicked fast on film, and very strong for his size. He is a very good running back, and we hope the strength and speed tests show he is capable of handling a NFL workload.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

We want to like JSN, we really do, but he looks painfully average athletically on film. Is that everything in a wide receiver? No, but when he is not the sharpest route runner, being an average athlete will cause problems for him at the next level. We hope he surprises us with his testing and does not prove our scouting report right.

Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

He is our tight end one because of his elite route running at the tight end position. You can teach blocking to some degree, but you cannot teach the natural feel he has as a receiver. That being said we would love it if he shows decent blocking ability on the sled as well as great athletic numbers.

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

He should be on every single person’s list of players to watch. When tight ends are on the field and doing the testing, you should tune in. This man could have one of the wildest combines in history for his size and you will want to see it.

Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

When we watch the film, Myles Murphy seems to have a burst that puts him in elite company. The best of the class, but also the best in a while. Not everyone seems to hold Murphy in as high regard as we do, so we will be watching to see how he looks athletically, and whether or not we are right about his top level burst.

Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State

Mauch was a player who jumped up draft boards after a strong Senior Bowl week. We think some players tend to jump up draft boards too much due to Combine testing because athleticism doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to be a good football player. Mauch, a former TE, should test freakishly for an offensive lineman. From an athleticism standpoint, Mauch might walk out the biggest winner from the combine. Expect him to jump up in first round mocks after the combine. 

Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

Campbell is 6’5”, 246 according to ESPN. He is an old school thumper at LB. He definitely showed improvements across the board from 2021 to 2022. We still have questions in regards to his speed and the ability for him to play 3-downs in the NFL. Going to be watching the LB 40s closely on Thursday.

Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

Everytime I hear someone talk about Simpson I feel like they are hyping his athleticism up close to like an Isaiah Simmons level. When I watched Simpson, I thought he was position flexible and showed athleticism but definitely not at Simmons level. They are two different players in my opinion. Simpson shows inconsistent speed on tape. His combine will help determine the athleticism he has or not and maybe solidify the role he’ll play at the next level. 

Kelee Ringo, CB Georgia

Everything we’ve heard suggests Ringo is going to test like a freak this week at the combine. When I turned on Ringo’s tape he looked big for a corner. He may continue the streak of freakish Georgia athletes from last year. Ringo could really raise his stock at the combine, especially if he has a Tariq Woolen type of combine. I will be watching Ringo in the positional drills more than the athletic testing though. His footwork and ability to break on routes and the ball looked bad on tape. I want to see how he looks going through the drills. 

Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame

Joseph is a safety prospect I like, but don’t love. He is yet another player I watched where I thought he flashed some speed and lacked it at other points. I currently have Joseph graded as a second round safety. His combine, particularly his 40, will help me get a better gauge on where I think he’ll actually go. If he shines at the combine, I could even see him working his way up to a late round 1 pick.