kyle-hamilton-nfl-scouting-combine.jpg
getty images

With the NFL Scouting Combine concluded, reflection begins as thoughts are sorted from the week in Indianapolis. Some prospects were definitely winners and others might have been disappointing, but it is also important to contextualize those disappointments. Here are some of the players who could have been viewed as losers and why their stock may not actually be impacted:

Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Burks ran a 4.55 seconds 40-yard dash, which was in line with what he had run for NFL teams previously. There had been buzz that he would test quicker and his film backs that up. He jumped 33 inches vertically and 122 inches in the broad jump, in addition to running a 7.28 second 3-cone drill; those numbers were also also below average. 

The wide receiver pecking order always seemed rather clustered with Ohio State's Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, USC's Drake London, Alabama's Jameson Williams and Burks. He may have taken a step or two back in that particular group but teams should lean on what he put on tape this season. 

Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

From an athletic perspective, Green's combine was disappointing. He ran a 5.24 second 40-yard dash, in addition to locking out 20 repetitions on the bench press, 26 inch vertical jump and 102 inch broad jump. He looked better during the on-field portion of the evening but ultimately should not have lost a lot ground as one of the top interior offensive line prospects, because of his versatility to play tackle in a pinch. Late Day 1/early Day 2 is probably where he ends up being taken. 

Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Regarded as the top safety prospect and potentially the top overall prospect in the draft, Hamilton ran a 4.59 second 40-yard dash, which was tied for the worst in his group, in addition to being a quarter of a second behind the leader. Hamilton was never likely to be taken as early as his talent suggests simply because of positional value. Most teams do not value taking a safety within the top five or even top 10 picks. While Hamilton may have fallen short in straight line speed, he tested rather well in explosive traits: 38 inch vertical jump and a 131 inch broad jump. The safety had also suffered a knee injury in November and did not play for the remainder of the season. When watching his film, Hamilton shows plenty of speed to work sideline to sideline with the burst displayed in his jumps. His stock should not be greatly impacted by his combine experience, but he could slip a bit down based on others, like Georgia's Travon Walker, dominating in that setting.

Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati

Sanders ran a 4.67 second 40-yard dash, in addition to a 33 inch vertical jump and a 120 inch broad jump. On the surface, those numbers would have been concerning for a prospect who weighed in at just 228 pounds. However, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported that Sanders had been feeling ill all day and was receiving treatment from trainers. There will be a lot of importance placed on his pro day but his film is better than what his combine performance claimed. With that being said, he has been overtaken by Minnesota's Boye Mafe and maybe a few others. The Bearcat should find a soft landing spot somewhere on Day 2. 

Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

The Crimson Tide receiver was listed at 189 pounds during the season and checked in at just 179 pounds. Williams suffered a torn ACL in the national championship game against Georgia in January. Therefore, he was not in a place where he could compete at the NFL combine. If he had, fans probably would have seen another athlete run the 40-yard dash in the 4.2s. Considering his injury, Williams has not been able to work out at the same level of others and his season ended only two months ago. Despite the concerning size, he should have no problem putting that weight back on and will probably be taken earlier in the draft than people expect.