HIGHLIGHTS

— Byron Jones records best broad jump since 2003 (12’3″)
— UConn’s Jones also posts a 44.5 inch vertical, but won’t run
— Jalen Collins runs an official 4.48
— Trae Waynes runs an official 4.31

We’re live blogging throughout the combine. Keep refreshing this page for the latest Seahawks news, data and notes on the DB workouts as they take place today (beginning 6AM PST).

Seattle hasn’t drafted a cornerback with sub-32 inch arms. Here’s a list of all the DB’s today with +32-inch arms:

Adrian Amos
Alex Carter
Jalen Collins
Kurtis Drummond
Durrell Eskridge
Gerod Holliman
Byron Jones
Cody Prewitt
Jordan Richards
James Sample
Tye Smith
Jaquiski Tartt
Julian Wilson

Mike Mayock begins the NFL Network broadcast by stating it’s a poor safety class. He name-checks Richard Sherman and says the entire league is looking for length and speed. The secret’s been out for a while.

Mayock says the key will be hitting in the middle rounds. It’s like he’s speaking directly to us.

Time for the first set of forty’s. The first two prospects are on the length list.

To compare, Richard Sherman at the 2011 combine was 6-3 and 195lbs. He has 32 inch arms. He ran a 4.56.

The guys in bold have +32 inch arms:

Adrian Amos — 4.56
Alex Carter — 4.52
Donald Celiscar — 4.62
Justin Coleman — 4.53
Jalen Collins — 4.48
Landon Collins — 4.54
Justin Cox — 4.37
Ronald Darby — 4.37
Quandre Diggs — 4.57
Lorenzo Doss — 4.50
Kurtis Drummond — 4.65
Durrell Eskridge — 4.57
Charles Gaines — 4.45
Clayton Gaethers — 4.55
Jacoby Glenn — 4.58
Senquez Golson — 4.46
Doran Grant — 4.44
Ladarius Gunter — 4.69
Chris Hackett — 4.83
Troy Hill — 4.56
Gerod Holliman — DNP
Kyshoen Jarrett — 4.58
Anthony Jefferson — 4.72

Alex Carter is a guy I’m focusing on here. He looked really smooth and fluid and ran a 4.52 first up. He’s in fantastic shape, has good length (6-0, 196lbs, 32 1/8 inch arms). Another Stanford corner.

Jalen Collins ran a 4.48 with his first attempt. That’ll do.

Pete Carroll and John Schneider watched Kurtis Drummond closely, one of the players with 32 inch arms. He is a safty though.

Durrell Eskridge ran in the Richard Sherman range. He’s also 6-3 and 208lbs with 32 3/8 inch arms. I believe he also had a 1.52 ten yard split, they’re not showing them in the broadcast for some reason.

NFl Network crew talking about the Super Bowl play. Ouch.

Jalen Collins having fun today:

Mayock: “I’ve seen more 4.7’s and 4.8’s this morning then I think we’ve seen in the last five years.”

Time for the second runs:

Adrian Amos — 4.49
Alex Carter — 4.54
Donald Celiscar — 4.63
Justin Coleman — 4.50
Jalen Collins — 4.43
Landon Collins — 4.53
Justin Cox — 4.40
Ronald Darby — 4.32
Quandre Diggs — 4.56
Lorenzo Doss — 4.56
Kurtis Drummond — 4.70
Durrell Eskridge — 4.56
Charles Gaines — 4.45
Clayton Gaethers — 4.52
Jacoby Glenn — 4.67
Senquez Golson — 4.46
Doran Grant — 4.46
Ladarius Gunter — 4.65
Chris Hackett — 4.81
Troy Hill — 4.55
Gerod Holliman — DNP
Kyshoen Jarrett — 4.58
Anthony Jefferson — 4.76

Jalen Collins’ second attempt is a 4.43. I’m convinced he’s going to go in the top-20.

Daniel Jeremiah says ‘defensive back’ is the hardest group to evaluate these days and find good players. Just to make you that little bit more concerned.

Mayock: “I’m struggling finding safety’s”. He again points out it’s the slowest group he’s seen in a long time.

Syracuse’s Durrell Eskridge just ran a 4.56 on his second attempt., identical to Richard Sherman’s 2011 time. He’s 13lbs heavier than Sherman but has longer arms and they’re both 6-3. There’s a candidate for Seattle. Mayock says he’s best friends with Devonta Freeman (running back in Atlanta).

Onto the drills. This combine has lurched between explosive and mediocre. A rotten group of TE’s followed by the impressive receivers. The average looking running backs before the brilliant defensive linemen. Then the frankly miserable linebackers and this.

If you’re in the second group of DB’s — you’ve got a real opportunity to stand out.

Here’s some running back news:

From @mortreport: Dr. James Andrews: Todd Gurley “probably six weeks ahead with his recovery” – http://t.co/nktESJvg52

— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) February 23, 2015

Jalen Collins’ backpedal is pretty good in the first drill. Not spectacular. Landon Collins is moving well at 228lbs. The average time for this first group of DB’s in the forty yard dash was a 4.55. Kurtis Drummond moves like a safety but could be of interest to Seattle. Durrell Eskridge has a thick lower body. He’s not as lean as a Sherman. That impacts his movement and his backpedal is a little stiff. Senquez Golson is slow to break after his backpedal. Doran Grant is a lot smoother. It’s astonishing that Chris Hackett ran a 4.8 at 195lbs. He looks small and heavy legged.

Jalen Collins did this pretty well. https://t.co/MHI4LMxvcq

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 23, 2015

This is also troubling:

“Schneider has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave Seattle to become Packers’ GM” I did not know that. http://t.co/Tawg5cbWJ2

— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) February 23, 2015

Jalen Collins moved his hips nicely and showed good ball skills downfield. He transitions well enough to be a starting corner in the league — size, length, backpedal, recovery speed. He’s only going to get better with the right coaching. Jacoby Glenn appeared really tight running downfield and did a poor job tracking the football. Chris Hackett looked even worse. Alex Carter struggles to open up and looked stiff. I’m not sure what happened on his deep throw, it’s like the ball slipped out of the quarterbacks hands and went to the wrong end of the field. Adrian Amos also looked a bit stiff.

Penn State coaches loved Adrian Amos. Adequate speed but also good feel for the game.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 23, 2015

Wow — UConn’s Byron Jones (who was a doubt to participate as he recovers from a torn labrum) just recorded a 12’3″ in the broad jump. It’s the best jump by any player at any position since 2003. And yes, he has 32 inch arms.

Jones just added a 44.5 inch vertical jump. In a bad class of cornerbacks, he might be flying up the boards here. The tape wins the day, but you can’t teach that kind of explosion. He’s 6-1, 199lbs and has 32 inch arms — and he has the best broad jump for 12 years and a 44.5 inch vertical (among the best ever). That’s incredible.

It’s not unfair to say he’s already one of the most explosive players in combine history. And he’s not 100%.

Oregon’s Troy Hill showing good footwork and ball tracking skills. Sub-32 inch arms though.

Pete Carroll on the phone during the first group of DB drills:

Pretty sure Byron Jones is Spiderman. Will try to confirm. https://t.co/V6iW7nKkEW

— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) February 23, 2015

Here’s some Byron Jones tape:

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According to Ian Rapoport, Byron Jones won’t run a forty yard dash because he isn’t 100%. This is unfortunate. After what he showed in the jumps, you want to see him run.

Troy Hill continues to impress during drills. Moves well laterally. Anthony Jefferson ends the latest drill with a wonderful diving catch.

The DB’s are running the gauntlet for the first time this year. It’s a mess. They all struggled. None of them have any technique catching the ball as you’d expect. It’s just a bunch of football’s pinging around. None of them can catch over the middle. It’s a total waste of time. What a way to end a disappointing workout for most of these DB’s.

Onto the second group. They start with the forty. The guys with 32 inch arms are in bold again (Seattle’s apparent cut off):

Kevin Johnson — 4.52
Byron Jones — DNP
Craig Mager — 4.44
Dean Marlowe — 4.58
Bobby McCain — 4.54
Tevin McDonald — 4.65
Steven Nelson — 4.49
Garry Peters — 4.67
Marcus Peters — 4.57
Cody Prewitt — 4.61
Damarious Randall — 4.47
Jordan Richards — 4.67
Quinten Rollins — 4.67
Eric Rowe — 4.45
James Sample — 4.62
Josh Shaw — 4.44
D’Joun Smith — 4.46
Tye Smith — 4.60
Damian Swann — 4.55
Jaquiski Tartt — 4.54
Trae Waynes — 4.35
Kevin White — 4.64
Jermain Whitehead — 4.65
P.J. Williams — 4.62
Julian Wilson — 4.59

Tartt, Prewitt and Richards have +32 inch arms but play safety. Eric Rowe ran a nice time but he has 31 1/2 inch arms. Josh Shaw ran a nice time but has 30 3/4 inch arms.

Trae Waynes just put himself at the top of the cornerback rankings with a 4.35. He and Collins can expect to go early because the depth at the position isn’t there. Waynes is physical and fast — he’s quite grabby and will need to watch that at the next level. He’s a good player.

Second attempts:

Kevin Johnson — 4.56
Byron Jones — DNP
Craig Mager — 4.57
Dean Marlowe — 4.59
Bobby McCain — 4.52
Tevin McDonald — 4.64
Steven Nelson — 4.52
Garry Peters — 4.62
Marcus Peters — 4.54
Cody Prewitt — 4.70
Damarious Randall — 4.47
Jordan Richards — 4.66
Quinten Rollins — 4.58
Eric Rowe — 4.48
James Sample — 4.56
Josh Shaw — 4.44
D’Joun Smith — 4.48
Tye Smith — 4.70
Damian Swann — 4.51
Jaquiski Tartt — 4.60
Trae Waynes — 4.32
Kevin White — DNP
Jermain Whitehead — 4.59
P.J. Williams — 4.57
Julian Wilson — 4.58

Marcus Peters runs a 4.57 and a 4.54. It’s not bad but it’s not great, even for a press corner. Waynes betters his first attempt with a 4.32. Kevin White didn’t run his second forty due to a hamstring injury.

Onto the drills.

Prewitt’s backpedal looking smooth for his size. Randall a big looking DB and a bit stiffer in transition.

Steve Nelson is one of my favorite corner prospects in this class — he stays low in his backpedal, shows great balance and transition and explodes. He doesn’t have the length Seattle looks for but he’s very competitive on the field and a playmaker. He’s looking good in the early drills.

Marcus Peters not doing anything that screams first round cornerback so far. Average change of direction. Bit stiff in the backpedal. Quinten Rollins just nearly fell over during his latest transition. Eric Rowe showing good hip movement and change of direction. This is a good day for Rowe so far. Damian Swann a little bit stiff.

Trae Waynes stays really low in his backpedal — love that. Can snap his hips better and explode but we know he was the speed after a 4.32 today.

This group overall performing better than the first collection.

Daniel Jeremiah says he thinks Waynes will go in the top ten after today’s performance. I’m going to post a mock draft tomorrow.

The NFL Network isn’t showing drills for the second group and hasn’t been for the last ten minutes.

Here are the top-10 official forty times for the DB’s. Trae Waynes has been given an incredible 4.31:

Jalen Collins ran an official 4.48.

Kurtis Drummond managed an impressive 39.5 inch vertical. He’s one to monitor. Eric Rowe had a 39 inch vertical and a 10’5″ broad jump. Impressive day for Rowe.

Josh Shaw’s back story is very weird, but he runs an official 4.44, records a 37.5 inch vertical and jumps a 10’10” in the broad. You can see all the data from today by clicking here.

The NFL Network continue to keep their camera’s away from the drills so I’m going to end the final combine live blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage over the last few days. I’ll have a new post on the blog later today so stay tuned.

HIGHLIGHTS

— Bud Dupree with an 11’7″ broad and 42 inch vertical
— Vic Beasley runs an official 4.53
— Eli Harold and Dante Fowler Jr run 4.60
— Danny Shelton rumbles to a 5.66
— Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Randy Gregory both impress
— Shane Ray & Eddie Goldman don’t workout
— Linebackers fail to impress during drills

We’re live blogging throughout the combine. Keep refreshing this page for the latest Seahawks news, data and notes on the DE/LB workouts as they take place today (beginning 6AM PST).

The player I’m most looking forward to seeing workout today is Virginia pass rusher Eli Harold. Check out this video on NFL.com. Aside from his taste in music — what’s not to like? He says this about Bruce Irvin: “He’s a physical specimen, he’s fast he’s quick — he’s like a cat, like a cheetah. That’s who I model my game after.” And then there’s this quote: “My style of play is — speed, I’m quick. I’m tough.” And this one: “I bring a lot of high energy, an unstoppable motor, I go hard all the time, I do whatever I’m asked — you’re going to get a gem.”

If he performs well enough today he could get into the top-15 mix. Atlanta needs a LEO and Harold is the ideal LEO from this class. He’s scheduled to workout with the linebackers — so is Bud Dupree.

Shane Ray and Eddie Goldman have chosen not to workout due to injury. Someone needs to let Mike Mayock and Daniel Jeremiah know.

The defensive linemen are dressed in bright green and look like comedy superhero villains.

Forty yard dash times with the ten yard split in brackets (first attempt):

Henry Anderson — 4.97 (1.75)
Arik Armstead — 5.10 (1.76)
Tavaris Barnes — 4.84 (1.70)
Vic Beasley — 4.66 (1.72)
Angelo Blackson — 5.06 (1.77)
Malcom Brown — 5.05 (1.75)
Anthony Chickillo — 4.77 (1.59)
Frank Clark — 4.79 (1.70)
Xavier Cooper — 4.88 (1.70)
Corey Crawford — 5.02 (1.79)
Carl Davis — 5.19 (1.87)
Tyeler Davison — 5.29 (1.91)
Ryan Delaire — 4.97 (1.73)
B.J. Dubose — 4.98 (1.66)
Mario Edwards Jr — 4.84 (1.76)
Kyle Emanuel — 4.77 (1.70)
Trey Flowers — 4.94 (1.84)
Dante Fowler Jr — 4.61 (1.59)
Markus Golden — 4.90 (1.72)
Randy Gregory — 4.64 (1.62)
Eli Harold — 4.61 (1.68)
Zack Hodges — 4.74 (1.63)
Danielle Hunter — 4.57 (1.58)
Martin Ifedi — 5.01 (1.73)

This is pretty interesting. Bruce Irvin and Cliff Avril in the top five forty yard dash times in the last 12 years. Speed matters at the LEO.

A quick reminder — both Avril and Irvin had 1.50 ten yard splits.

This is a must read by the way. After the forty times we’ll break some of it down:

Personnel men from 5 teams examine top 55 players in relation to #Packers‘ 30th selection … http://t.co/wmm6c00Mgj

— Bob McGinn (@BobMcGinn) February 22, 2015

Second attempts:

Henry Anderson — 4.93 (1.63)
Arik Armstead — 5.14 (1.76)
Tavaris Barnes — 4.75 (1.63)
Vic Beasley — 4.53 (1.59)
Angelo Blackson — 5.03 (1.79)
Malcom Brown — 5.07 (1.77)
Anthony Chickillo — 4.87 (1.70)
Frank Clark — 4.88 (1.76)
Xavier Cooper — 4.87 (1.68)
Corey Crawford — 5.04 (1.78)
Carl Davis — 5.07 (1.73)
Tyeler Davison — 5.19 (1.82)
Ryan Delaire — 5.02 (1.69)
B.J. Dubose — 5.08 (1.78)
Mario Edwards Jr — 4.79 (1.72)
Kyle Emanuel — 4.79 (1.69)
Trey Flowers — 4.93 (1.74)
Dante Fowler Jr — 4.65 (1.63)
Markus Golden — 4.81 (1.65)
Randy Gregory — 4.57 (1.60)
Eli Harold — 4.53 (1.56)
Zack Hodges — 4.68 (1.61)
Danielle Hunter — 4.58 (1.61)
Martin Ifedi — 4.88 (1.69)

Danielle Hunter with a typically explosive run. I tend to agree with this, however:

Hunter shows NONE of that athleticism on tape. Has no idea how to play football.

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 22, 2015

Vic Beasley ran an excellent 4.53 with a 1.59 split. Remember, he benched 35 reps yesterday.

We have our first Pete Carroll and John Schneider shot of the day. Again, not as animated as they were with the receivers yesterday.

There’s a difference between the first and second forty/split times. Anthony Chickillo ran .11 slower in the forty and split. B.J. Dubose picked up an ugly hamstring injury on his second run.

Eli Harold ran a 4.53 with a 1.56 ten yard split on his second run. That’s the type of time I was expecting — the type of time that can get him into the top-15. He is a perfect LEO prospect for a team like Atlanta.

Avril and Irvin ran in the low 4.5’s and had explosive ten yard splits. It’s hard to match them, as noted earlier — they were top-five in the last twelve years. But he’s just a shade behind. It’s just what Harold needed today.

The drills are underway. Randy Gregory very fluid changing direction. Sharp cuts, really athletic frame. Eli Harold follows him and looks equally polished. The hip movement is exceptional with both players — almost DB-esque. They’re having a good day so far — Dante Fowler Jr too. All three could go in the top eight.

Next it’s the bag drills.

Mike Mayock says Xavier has to get stronger for the next level. Corey Crawford showing good movement running between the bags. Carl Davis also performs well here for a big guy. Malcom Brown had good footwork, wasn’t too upright. Trey Flowers shows quicks and balance and gets a roar of approval from the coaches.

Markus Golden is struggling a bit so far. Randy Gregory just blew up the first bag drill. Did it in record time, explosive. He isn’t polished as a pass rusher but he’s leaping off the screen here. Eli Harold let his eyes drop at the end but was also quick.

Eli Harold also looks comfortable moving in space. https://t.co/d2MB92NXNh

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 22, 2015

Onto the club and rip. One coach screams “fight the bag” at Mario Edwards Jr. Trey Flowers gets another round of applause for his effort — so does Dante Fowler Jr.

Nobody bosses the bags like Aaron Donald last year from this group.

They’re bringing out the football on a stick for the punch drill. Corey Crawford and Malcom Brown the first pair to do the drill properly (it’s about staying low and punching, not speed). Xavier Cooper goes way too fast and barely touches the final bag. Trey Flowers lost balance on his attempt. Looking at his forty times from earlier, it’s hard to see him playing the edge at the next level in a 4-3.

Randy Gregory is again the best so far. Slowed it down and focused on technique. Eli Harold also doing a good job. Markus Golden is improving and looking nimble. He didn’t have a great forty or split but he’ll forge a role at the next level for someone (probably AFC North). They finish off with some running in space drills.

No surprises here — the edge rushers look smooth, the interior guys look like defensive tackles. Vic Beasley, Randy Gregory, Dante Fowler Jr and Eli Harold shine.

Some of the first DL group are now going to go through linebacker drills for the 3-4 teams. None of the group looked particularly comfortable dropping, opening their hips and playing the ball. Harold looked the best. Even Gregory looked raw here, as did Fowler Jr. Trey Flowers performed surprisingly well.

Neither the NFL Network or the online feed are showing the drills now. We’ll get ready for the second group of defensive linemen to run the forty yard dash.

The first group of defensive linemen are now going through the jumping segments of the day.

Vic Beasley continued his fantastic day — posting a 41 inch vertical. Mario Edwards Jr managed a 10′ on the broad. In comparison, Leonard Williams only jumped an 8’10”.

The second group of defensive linemen are running the forty. Here’s a reminder how the first group performed (unofficial):

Grady Jarrett — 5.23 (1.84)
Derrick Lott — 5.08 (1.81)
Joey Mbu — 5.42 (1.81)
Ellis McCarthy — 5.23 (1.82)
Rakeem Nunez-Rochez — 5.06 (1.74)
Owamagbe Odighizuwa — 4.64 (1.63)
Nate Orchard — 4.84 (1.67)
Leon Orr — 5.19 (1.85)
David Parry — 5.41 (1.76)
Jordan Phillips — 5.20 (1.84)
Darius Philon — 5.03 (1.82)
Bobby Richardson — 5.20 (1.85)
Ryan Russell — 4.77 (1.64)
Danny Shelton — 5.66 (1.88)
Deon Simon — 5.14 (1.78)
Preston Smith — 4.78 (1.64)
Za’Darius Smith — 4.85 (1.76)
J.T. Surratt — 5.22 (1.89)
Lynden Trail — 4.96 (1.77)
Louis Trinca-Pasat — 5.00 (1.75)
Zack Wagenmann — 4.85 (1.67)
Leterrius Walton — 5.29 (1.79)
Leonard Williams — 5.01 (1.74)
Gabe Wright — 5.09 (1.80)

Owamagbe Odighizuwa looked incredible. Fluid running style. Very relaxed — like a sprinter. Ripped muscle tone. An unofficial 4.64 with a 1.63 split is very good at his size (pushing 270lbs).

Florida’s Leon Orr is challenging the coach ahead of his forty yard dash. He’s trying to argue he wants to start on the first line, adding an extra six inches to his run. It’s bizarre. He’s not taking the coaching at all. It’s a very awkward situation.

Nate Orchard doesn’t look like a quick twitch speed guy on tape — a 4.84 and 1.67 split confirms that. The first round buzz during the Senior Bowl was premature.

A 5.20 for Jordan Phillips isn’t bad at all — but it’s not in the realm of Dontari Poe. The back injuries might scare some teams off. In comparison, Danny Shelton ran a 5.66. Rich Eisen jokes he might be able to out-run him: “I’m coming for you Danny Shelton.”

Leonard Williams ran a very solid time. I still think he can tone up and be even more effective.

Second attempts:

Grady Jarrett — 5.09 (1.69)
Derrick Lott — 5.02 (1.77)
Joey Mbu — 5.57 (1.85)
Ellis McCarthy — 5.30 (1.87)
Rakeem Nunez-Rochez — 5.12 (1.72)
Owamagbe Odighizuwa — 4.66 (1.62)
Nate Orchard — 4.87 (1.68)
Leon Orr — 5.23 (1.87)
David Parry — DNP
Jordan Phillips — 5.29 (1.86)
Darius Philon — 5.05 (1.82)
Bobby Richardson — 5.17 (1.78)
Ryan Russell — 4.84 (1.66)
Danny Shelton — 5.66 (1.91)
Deon Simon — 5.21 (1.83)
Preston Smith — 4.78 (1.63)
Za’Darius Smith — 4.87 (1.77)
J.T. Surratt — 5.26 (1.86)
Lynden Trail — 5.09 (1.86)
Louis Trinca-Pasat — 4.99 (1.77)
Zack Wagenmann — 4.84 (1.67)
Leterrius Walton — 5.27 (1.79)
Leonard Williams — 5.00 (1.72)
Gabe Wright — 5.08 (1.79)

Vic Beasley added a 10’10” in the broad jump to his 41 inch vertical. Very impressive.

Jason Cole says the 49ers are going to draft a receiver at #15. After this weekend, they’ll be lucky if one of the top three lasts until #15.

Tony Pauline says in the piece below that UConn’s Byron Jones, one of the few cornerback prospects with 32 inch arms, is a “game time decision” to workout tomorrow. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum two months ago. Seattle has never drafted a corner with sub-32 inch arms.

Combine Sunday: KC Chiefs all over Justin Hardy. Ryan Delaire/Towson ran despite knee surgery three weeks ago http://t.co/g1I3w6lG73

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) February 22, 2015

A quick comparison for you — Haloti Ngata ran a 5.13 with a 1.73 split in 2006. Danny Shelton ran a 5.66 at 1.91. It’s not a fair comparison. Ngata is/was much more athletic. It’s a lazy comparison based on size and the desire to backup a positive opinion on Shelton with a success-story comparison.

I wouldn’t want my team to draft Shelton because he’ll likely never reach expectations. Casual fan is listening to NFLN and thinking Ngata.

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 22, 2015

The drills are underway with the change of direction assessment to start. Preston Smith moves nicely for his size. It’s difficult to project his stock — late second? Leterrius Walton showed some good footworka and quickness. Leonard Williams aced this drill.

Onto the bag drill next. Danny Shelton showed good footwork for his size but he kept his eyes down and cheated a little. The second group of defensive linemen is much less impressive compared to the first group.

Davis Tull didn’t run but he’s jumped an 11′ broad. Joey Mbu recorded a 22.5 inch vertical. Mbu has long arms and not much else unfortunately. Shelton had a 30.5 inch vertical.

In the club/rip drill, Williams dominated the bags. He didn’t jump well earlier with a 29.5 inch vert and an 8’10” broad. Preston Smith clubbed the bags nicely and showed some zip. Shelton ran around the bags with real intensity and acceleration.

Owa Odighizuwa managed a 39 inch vertical. Incredible. He’s helping himself big time today. He’s a positive medical report (previous hip problems) from being a genuine first round talent. He still needs to learn how to rush the edge. He presses the interior really nicely with power but often looks lost trying to bend the edge and beat a tackle.

In the stack drill, Shelton got a nice punch in and didn’t rush. Leterrius Walton was told to “bend the knees” — as was Williams. Shane Ray isn’t working out — but he’s holding the bags on this drill getting involved.

The official forty yard dash times are coming in for the defensive linemen. Leonard Williams’ is 4.97. Eli Harold and Dante Fowler both get official 4.60’s. Vic Beasley’s official forty is a 4.53. Danielle Hunter’s is 4.57. Owa Odighizuwa managed a 4.62.

Here’s the top-10:

Here’s the vertical jump data for the key prospects:

Arik Armstead — 34 inches
Vic Beasley — 41 inches
Malcom Brown — 39.5 inches
Carl Davis — 33 inches
Mario Edwards Jr — 32.5 inches
Trey Flowers — 36.5 inches
Dante Fowler Jr — 32.5 inches
Randy Gregory — 36.5 inches
Eli Harold — 35 inches
Danielle Hunter — DNP
Owa Odighizuwa — 39 inches
Nate Orchard — 31.5 inches
Jordan Phillips — 30 inches
Danny Shelton — 30.5 inches
Preston Smith — 34 inches
Leonard Williams — 29.5 inches

Of all the players to help themselves today — Odighizuwa, Beasley and Harold stood out. Odighizuwa also had a 10’7″ broad jump. Harold’s was 10’3″.

Davis Tull is getting a lot of love from Charles Davis on the NFL Network. Tull recorded a 42.5 inch vert and an 11′ on the broad jump. He’s 6-2 3/8 and 246lbs. Impressive. One to watch. Charles Davis predicted a high 4.5 or low 4.6. He didn’t run the forty due to a hamstring injury.

Some of the linemen are now running linebacker drills — including Preston Smith bizarrely. In a few moments we’ll be ready for the linebackers to run the forty yard dash — including Bud Dupree.

Even in space Odighizuwa doesn’t look uncomfortable. In terms of a physical specimen — he’s as good as anyone in this D-line class.

Mayock says NFL evaluators buzzing about Beasley’s #NFLCombine performance. Has put on quite a show.

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) February 22, 2015

The defensive linemen are done for the day. I’ll have a review post up later. Now we wait for the linebackers to begin the forty yard dash.

Bud Dupree had a broad jump of 11’7″ and a vertical of 42 inches. To compare, Chris Conley yesterday had an 11’6″ and a vert of 45 inches. The difference is, Conley is 213lbs and Dupree is 269lbs. There’s still time for Dupree to be the star of the day.

Bendarick McKinney had a 40.5 inch vertical, second only to Dupree.

"He jumped out of the building." — @nflnetwork's Rich Eisen on Bud Dupree's 42-inch vertical jump.

— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) February 22, 2015

Bud Dupree's Broad Jump is the 3rd Best ALL POSITIONS since 2006

— Mike Loyko (@NEPD_Loyko) February 22, 2015

I believe Christine Michael is #1, incidentally.

Here’s the linebackers running the forty yard dash:

Kwon Alexander — 4.59 (1.59)
Stephone Anthony — 4.59 (1.57)
Aaron Davis — 4.99 (1.77)
Paul Dawson — 4.95 (1.69)
Xzavier Dickson — 4.77 (1.71)
Bud Dupree — 4.57 (1.60)
Alani Fua — 4.75 (1.67)
Geneo Grissom — 4.85 (1.66)
Obum Gwacham — 4.77 (1.68)
Bryce Hager — 4.65 (1.64)
Ben Heeney — 4.62 (1.63)
Amario Herrera — 4.86 (1.73)
Jordan Hicks — 4.65 (1.53)
Mike Hull — 4.71 (1.60)
Taiwan Jones — 4.84 (1.56)
Eric Kendricks — 4.66 (1.64)
Lorenzo Mauldin — 4.90 (1.71)
Benardick McKinney — 4.78 (1.74)
Denzel Perryman — 4.81 (1.69)
Hayes Pullard — 4.81 (1.68)
Edmond Robinson — 4.70 (1.69)
Jake Ryan — 4.71 (1.64)
Martrell Spaight — 4.90 (1.72)
J.R. Tavai — 4.94 (1.71)
Shaq Thompson — 4.72 (1.78)
Max Valles — 4.99 (1.77)
Tony Washington — 5.02 (1.75)
Damien Wilson — 4.80 (1.66)
Ramik Wilson — 4.81 (1.70)

Hau’oli Kikaha did not run the forty yard dash.

Here’s Rob Ryan, confused by a Microsoft Surface:

After jabbing his finger at the screen, he shrugged and turned away. This was definitely the lasting image of the combine for me. A genuine rival to ‘Andy Reid eating a sandwich’ from 2013:

Mike Mayock, clearly tired from the long broadcasting stints, is now signing funk music (badly). Rich Eisen found it very amusing:

According to the NFL Network, Bud Dupree won’t participate in drills. We’ll see if he runs his second forty. Apparently he intends to do drills at the Kentucky pro-day instead. Not sure about that decision.

Washington’s Shaq Thompson ran a mediocre 4.72 with an even worse 1.78 split.

Here’s the second attempt:

Kwon Alexander — 4.63 (1.63)
Stephone Anthony — 4.69 (1.66)
Aaron Davis — 4.99 (1.75)
Paul Dawson — 4.96 (1.73)
Xzavier Dickson — 4.91 (1.77)
Bud Dupree — 4.73 (1.71)
Alani Fua — 4.80 (1.70)
Geneo Grissom — 4.93 (1.68)
Obum Gwacham — 4.75 (1.67)
Bryce Hager — 4.57 (1.56)
Ben Heeney — 4.68 (1.68)
Amario Herrera — 4.95 (1.76)
Jordan Hicks — 4.71 (1.63)
Mike Hull — 4.79 (1.73)
Taiwan Jones — 5.01 (1.79)
Eric Kendricks — DNP
Lorenzo Mauldin — 4.88 (1.69)
Benardick McKinney — 4.69 (1.64)
Denzel Perryman — 4.81 (1.68)
Hayes Pullard — 4.80 (1.64)
Edmond Robinson — 4.63 (1.61)
Jake Ryan — 4.68 (1.62)
Martrell Spaight — 4.91 (1.72)
J.R. Tavai — 4.97 (1.74)
Shaq Thompson — 4.69 (1.72)
Max Valles — 4.87 (1.66)
Tony Washington — 5.03 (1.75)
Damien Wilson — 4.90 (1.71)
Ramik Wilson — 4.81 (1.67)

Bud Dupree ran a 4.73 the second time around after a 4.57 to start. That’s a pretty big difference. I wonder that the explanation is there? He’s inconsistent on tape and at the combine.

Danny Shelton found a camera in Michael Bennet-finds-a-bicyle style:

That concludes the forty yard dash for today. The linebackers are heading out for drills.

This is a really poor group of linebackers — and I can’t imagine the Seahawks drafting any of this group. They have a group of backers under contract, Kevin Pierre-Louis and Brock Coyle will return. They’ll likely shop in the UDFA market again.

Only four guys ran in the high 4.5’s. You really want to see that explosive speed — early 4.5’s.

In the change of direction drill, Ben Heeney is warned not to guess the drill as he stumbles a couple of times. Obum Owacham gets praise for his drill and looked as smooth as anyone.

Bud Dupree isn’t working out (apparently due to a groin injury, even though he ran a forty). Eric Kendricks is clearly the next best linebacker out there.

Hau’Oli Kikaha didn’t run the forty but is doing drills. He looked really stiff trying to change direction in space. Shaq Thompson showed a nice backpedal and transition. He ran a disappointing pair of forty’s but looked good in space.

This is pretty funny:

Paul Dawson always felt a bit overrated to me. He ran in the 4.9’s and doesn’t look free and easy in the drills.

Mayock calls Davis Tull his “best value” player of the day based on his athletic performance. He did everything but run the forty. Mayock says he’s a SAM linebacker.

Even the better runners in this linebacker class don’t look fluid in space. It’s a stiff looking group with a distinct lack of explosion in space. Penn State’s Mike Hull looking as good as anyone. Most are struggling to get low and stay balanced. Hayes Pullard was standing up far too tall.

Kikaha really tight and struggling to get around. Tony Pauline graded him as an UDFA recently. He might be right, despite all of the production.

Mayock says of this linebacker group: “They all have hands like feet.” He goes on to add he’s disappointed with the groups performance in field drills. It’s even worse than the tight ends on Friday. Just mediocrity across the board — no spark, nobody shining or standing out. The coaches are clearly frustrated, barking at the group and telling them basic things like “keep your eyes up”.

One of the few players that has done even OK is Stephone Anthony of Clemson. I don’t understand why Max Valles decided to turn pro. Anthony will make a nice inside guy for someone — he’s moving pretty well for a big guy. He’s 243lbs and ran a 4.57.

One of the coaches just stopped the final drill, told the players the performance wasn’t good enough and started again. It’s a really flat group — nobody is encouraging anyone. There’s no applause.

Shaq Thompson’s official forty yard dash time is a 4.64. He did a good job in the penultimate drill and drew some praise from the coaches. Nice transition, hip movement, catch and finish.

Denzel Perryman is a curious case. He’s thick cut and struggles to change direction. He’s a thumper inside. Is he an every down backer? Is he big enough for the 3-4?

The final drill is the rip. Lorenzo Mauldin showed some nice power here. Perryman cheated a little bit and just ran by it.

Here are the official linebacker forty times:

Top 40 LB times. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/ANVZ9idjL6

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 22, 2015

The NFL Network has completed its coverage so we’ll call it a day too for the live blog. Stand by for a new post debating Seattle and the defensive line class in a few moments.

HIGHLIGHTS

— Kevin White runs an official 4.35
— Jaelen Strong runs a 4.46, jumps a 42-inch vertical
— Amari Cooper & Devante Parker also run in the low 4.4’s
— Nelson Agholor runs an impressive 4.41 but dislocates finger
— Tre McBride runs a 4.41, Devin Smith a 4.42
— Jalen Collins’ arms longer than Seattle’s cut-off of 32 inches
— Waynes, Peters, Rowe have sub-32 inch arms
— Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota thrive during throwing drills
— Running backs fail to impress
— Melvin Gordon runs unofficial times of 4.52 and 4.53
— Shane Ray won’t workout at the combine due to injury

We’re live blogging throughout the combine. Keep refreshing this page for the latest Seahawks news, data from the cornerback measurement session and notes on the QB/RB/WR workouts as they take place today (beginning 6AM PST).

Before we get started, a further thought on the offensive linemen from yesterday. I’ve been thinking this morning — what constitutes a ‘Seahawks’ type of offensive lineman? Given their penchant for difference making athleticism and unique physical qualities, that’s not necessarily what they’ve gone with on the O-line. There’s nothing particularly ‘SPARQ-y’ about James Carpenter (first round pick), Justin Britt (second round pick) or John Moffitt (third round pick). It’s in the later rounds where they’ve looked to target physical upside (J.R. Sweezy, Garrett Scott).

Tom Cable clearly has a lot of sway in the decision making here. He knows what he wants — and essentially, we don’t. He’ll take the length and brutish size of Carpenter (plus the masses of tape showing an excellent run blocker at Alabama). He’ll take the workmanlike nature of Moffitt or the wrestling background and honesty of Britt. He has his guys and they don’t always fit a ‘type’.

If the Seahawks are considering drafting an offensive lineman early, I’m not sure we can assume what type of prospect it would be. It could be the size of an Ereck Flowers, the rare athleticism of Jake Fisher or the versatility of Cameron Erving. It might be the toughest pick to work out if, for example, the Seahawks let Carpenter walk in free agency and fill other needs (WR/TE/DL/CB). A case can be made for the #31 pick providing a bit of a sweet spot on the offensive line.

The first group of quarterbacks run the forty without any headlines. Brett Hundley managed a 4.63. Now it’s time for the receivers.

Nelson Agholor — 4.44
Mario Alford — 4.43
Kenny Bell — 4.42
Sammie Coates — 4.45
Chris Conley — 4.41
Amari Cooper — 4.43
Jamison Crowder — 4.56
Stefon Diggs — 4.46
Phillip Dorsett — 4.35
Devin Funchess — 4.70
Antwan Goodley — 4.46
Dorial Green-Beckham — 4.50
Rashad Greene — 4.47
Justin Hardy — 4.56

Mike Mayock calls Nelson Agholor a second round pick, praising his punt return qualities. His first run is a nice 4.44. Agholor and Amari Cooper ran faster than Sammie Coates in the initial run through. Here’s a note — Cooper and Coates have the same weight, height and speed (based on the unofficial times). I noted earlier in the week I didn’t expect Dorsett to run sub-4.3 — he manages an unofficial 4.35 in the first run.

Devin Funchess ran with a long stride. He’s incredibly long in the frame. He’s a build-up speed runner and it showed with his forty. A 4.70 would’ve looked good with the TE’s yesterday, but here it doesn’t look so great with all this speed on display. Dorial Green-Beckham had a nice 4.50 to start and appeared to be carrying the extra weight well. Mike Evans ran an official 4.53 last year.

The NFL Newtwork is showing a comparison between Agholor and Jeremy Maclin. Very similar physical traits. Worth noting — Maclin glides as a runner. We don’t see that from Agholor. There are very few receivers in the league with Maclin’s suddenness.

Second attempts:

Nelson Agholor — 4.47
Mario Alford — 4.45
Kenny Bell — 4.40
Sammie Coates — 4.43
Chris Conley — 4.35
Amari Cooper — 4.42
Jamison Crowder — 4.58
Stefon Diggs — 4.50
Phillip Dorsett — 4.33
Devin Funchess — 4.70
Antwan Goodley — 4.46
Dorial Green-Beckham — 4.49
Rashad Greene — 4.54
Justin Hardy — 4.62

Sammie Coates is in incredible shape. Not that you didn’t know that already. Fantastic athlete. Really inconsistent and suspect hands though. Amari Cooper ran a fantastic time. He’s the most natural receiver to enter the league since A.J. Green and could go just as early (top five).

Devin Funchess is in incredible shape and has great length too. But two 4.70’s just highlights why he should’ve worked out yesterday. Why not look great at the position you’re most likely to play (tight end) instead of looking like a big, slow receiver? Not helping matter, Dorial Green-Beckham is the same size as Funchess and ran a 4.50 and a 4.49.

We’re now waiting for the drills to begin. Rich Eisen and Mike Mayock are discussing Jameis Winston. Apparently Steve Mariucci told Eisen Winston is the most impressive prospect he’s met with. For the last few years, Mariucci has down a whiteboard session with one quarterback prospect. Last year it was Blake Bortles.

The first drill is a toe-tap exercise. The quarterback is having an issue putting the ball in the right place. Really messy drill so far. The ball is being thrown short or too high. Amari Cooper catches his throw but it warned to be faster by the coaches (he jogged the drill). Phillip Dorsett made a nice two-handed catch. Devin Funchess and Dorial Green-Beckham also caught the ball well here.

The quarterbacks continue to struggle and it’s hurting the receivers on the deeper routes. They’re slowing up to track the ball in the over-the-shoulder downfield throws. It’s messy. It’s making this session pretty much a write-off. How can you judge these receivers? Just for comparison, the second group of receivers get Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota throwing at them.

It’s more of the same in the gauntlet. Errant throws, balls flying into the receivers face. Devin Funchess dropped a pass straight into his hands. Dorial Green-Beckham had a really nice gauntlet and so did Justin Hardy.

Nelson Agholor had an exceptional gauntlet. EXCEPTIONAL. Caught two really difficult passes away from his body. Great instinct and feel, soft hands, cupping the ball. Agholor is having a great day as expect. Sammie Coates had a clean run but let one ball into his frame. Amari Cooper looked polished but double-caught his last ball. DGB let four balls into his frame and didn’t pluck. Devin Funchess also let some throws into his body but also had a nice high-pointed grab.

The funny thing about DGB is he doesn’t look long. He’s tall, but not long for the height. He only has 32 and a half inch arms at 6-5. Funchess should’ve worked out yesterday. He’s not a fluid, sudden athlete. He’s stiff. His best skills are boxing out defenders, throwing a head-fake to get open and winning contested passes. You can’t show that off here. Instead he looked like a big, slow receiver. He would’ve shone in a bad tight end group yesterday — and it’s almost certain he ends up working as a move-TE/ or slot/seam receiver at the next level.

Agholor for me has been the most impressive player so far catching the ball and running in the 4.4’s will aid his stock. There’s a lot of similar receivers in this group — 6-1/6-2, over 200lbs, running in the 4.4’s. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Seattle dropped back into the second round and targeted a guy like Agholor. He’s a reliable, competitive receiver with kick return skills. And he can do this:

Agholor had the best ten yard split among receivers too at 1.53. That’s sudden.

The quarterback group, which is incredibly mediocre, are now going through passing drills. We sit and wait for the next group of receivers to run the forty.

One of the QB’s just threw deep to Sammie Coates who dropped the football. Mike Mayock highlights it — when he has to adjust and track the football, he struggles. Coates the athlete is top-notch. But Coates the receiver just isn’t all that great.

You see this from Coates also. Deep tracking. https://t.co/MVo4mHxavH

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 21, 2015

This is what you'll see on many of Coates successful catches. Isn't a plucker, but a trapper. pic.twitter.com/LsRkuHoMsW

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 21, 2015

The second group of receivers are going through the jumps. Jaelen Strong posted a 42-inch vertical, which is not a surprise at all. He has basketball bloodlines and consistently won in jump-ball situations in college. He’s only 6-2 with 32 and a half inch arms, but that’s some vertical jump there. His forty will be interesting to see today.

Jaelen Strong’s 42” vertical is third best of the last 10 years at the Combine for wideouts.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) February 21, 2015

Nelson Agholor dislocated a finger during the drills.

Yesterday Tony Pauline reported Philadelphia had interest in Byron Maxwell (and might be willing to pay him $10m APY). Today, Pauline links James Carpenter to the Jets:

Combine Saturday: Eric Eiland/DE/Houston headed to the supplemental draft? Jets in the running for James Carpenter http://t.co/KVKIsN12TK

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) February 21, 2015

Pauline’s report also says Julius Thomas is “done” in Denver. He could be a target for the Seahawks. He also has quotes from former Cleveland offensive coordinator regarding Joel Bitonio: “Shanahan called (Bitonio) ‘great’ and the ‘best rookie lineman I ever coached’.”

The cornerback measurements are coming in. Marcus Peters is 6-0, 192lbs with 31.5 inch arms. Trae Waynes is 6-0, 186lbs with 31 inch arms. P.J. Williams is 6-0, 194lbs with 31 inch arms. Eric Rowe is 6-1, 205lbs with 31.5 inch arms. Jalen Collins is 6-1, 203lbs with 32 and 1/8 inch arms. Out of all the cornerbacks in this class — Collins is the most intriguing to me. Incredible potential and should be a top-20 pick.

The 32-inch arms are key for the Seahawks. You can probably rule out an early pick at the position unless Collins falls. We highlighted Alex Carter at Stanford as an option — he has 32 and 1/8 inch arms. We’re still waiting on Damian Swann’s numbers. You might be able to rule out Peters, Waynes, Rowe, Williams and a few others.

Jaelen Strong also had a 10-3 in the broad jump to go with a 42-inch vertical. That’s explosive. He’s a good forty away from being a very, very intriguing player. He couldn’t separate in college but he’s showing a ton of athletic potential here. Mike Mayock says he has a Larry Fitzgerald body type.

Devante Parker had a 10-5 in the broad.

The next group of quarterbacks are preparing to run the forty yard dash.

Sean Mannion — 5.16 & 5.14
Marcus Mariota — 4.52 & 4.56
Nick Marshall — 4.60 & 4.54
Blake Sims — 4.59 & 4.58
Jameis Winston — 4.97 & 4.99

Chris Conley who worked with the first group of receivers just recorded an 11-7 broad jump and a 45-inch vertical. That is incredible. We need to go back and look at this guy. He suffered in Georgia playing for two quarterbacks who couldn’t throw deep. He ran a 4.35 earlier (unofficial). He did drop a few passes during drills.

Time for the second group of wide outs.

Tony Lippett — 4.67
Tyler Lockett — 4.40
Vince Mayle — 4.73
Tre McBride — 4.41
Ty Montgomery — 4.58
J.J. Nelson — 4.29
Devante Parker — 4.45
Devin Smith — 4.47
Jaelen Strong — 4.51
Darren Waller — 4.46
Kevin White — 4.35

That’s a really poor first attempt for Tony Lippett and Vince Mayle. Ouch.

Tre McBride has a superb 4.41 and looked really, really smooth. He’s one of my favorite players in the draft — we wrote about him here. That is a fantastic time to go with his natural competitive spirit, ability to make chunk plays, catching technique and special teams value. I’d consider him in the late second or early third round, if not higher.

Pete Carroll and John Schneider are spotted making a lot of notes in their booth during the forty runs for this second group of receivers. No surprise there.

Devin Smith with a surprisingly slow 4.47 the first time around. A 4.51 will help Jaelen Strong — he’s had a fantastic day so far. Darren Waller is also having a tremendous day with a 4.46.

Since 1999, only three 6'2"+ players have posted a better vertical than Jaelen Strong's 42". That's including all positions. 17 years.

— Zach Whitman (@zjwhitman) February 21, 2015

Kevin White just ran a 4.35. That could be enough to usurp even Amari Cooper. If that stands officially he could easily be a top-10 pick. Outstanding. So far White and Jaelen Strong are significantly boosting their stock. Having pondered whether Strong could be an option for the Seahawks at #31, he could easily be gone now. If Cooper, White and Parker boost their stock into the top-15, you know Kansas City at #18 will take a receiver.

Here are the second runs:

Tony Lippett — 4.62
Tyler Lockett — 4.40
Vince Mayle — 4.67
Tre McBride — 4.41
Ty Montgomery — 4.55
J.J. Nelson — 4.36
Devante Parker — 4.50
Devin Smith — 4.42
Jaelen Strong — 4.44
Darren Waller — 4.54
Kevin White — 4.36

Tre McBride pumped up after his second run, saying to himself, “Let’s go”. Mayock enjoys that. McBride very exciting prospect. Jaelen Strong runs an even better forty time the second time around with a 4.44. Why couldn’t he separate in college? Everything he’s done today was explosive — forty, vertical, broad. That’s a question we need to ask going back into the tape. On this athletic display he could easily go in the first round.

Kevin White validates his first time with a 4.36. There’s a headline for you. He is going to go in the top-12 with a time like that. Oakland, the Jets, St. Louis, Minnesota and Cleveland have a need at the position.

Onto the drills…

Kevin White is putting on a clinic. He’s tracking the ball on the downfield routes, he tapped his toes nicely on the initial drill. The tape is great, he’s having a fantastic combine. He’s gritty. His catchphrase became the slogan for WVU’s season in 2014 (“Too easy”). He is going to go very early.

4.35 #Tooeasy

— Dana Holgorsen (@Holgorsendana) February 21, 2015

Kevin White has to go get this one. Does a great job. https://t.co/tjLO0sjauU

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 21, 2015

Tre McBride was given a difficult gauntlet but did well to catch one ball thrown behind. Devante Parker sauntered through his gauntlet. He caught the ball well but never got out of third gear. Jaelen Strong and Devin Smith also aced the gauntlet. Darren Waller looked uncomfortable and dropped a couple. He looks fantastic for his size though. Remember, earlier he ran in the 4.4’s. Kevin White looked great. Tyler Lockett looking smooth in the gauntlet — no drops.

One thing is clear watching the receivers today — this is an incredibly athletic group. Much faster than we anticipated. You’ve got all types too — bigger, slot, sudden, jump ball specialists. You can either go early on one of the studs or wait a little while for a Tre McBride. Or double down. Great class — and another good year at a position Seattle still has a need.

Parker’s second gauntlet was even slower. He trundled along drawing criticism from Mike Mayock. He’s playing it too safe.

Daniel Jeremiah compares Kevin White to Julio Jones. Suddenly it doesn’t seem unrealistic. So who fancies trading up ala Atlanta?

The quarterback drills are underway but Tyler Lockett just made a stunning leaping catch on a deep pass. Jameis Winston is hitting the mark on the majority of his throws. There’s a real vibe this week that he’s going to be the #1 pick. Bryce Petty is throwing the ball well. He seems to be in pole position to be the #3 quarterback after Winston and Mariota.

Winston is now throwing down the left sideline and it’s a beautiful sight. Effortless. He looks the part here and aced his media interview last night. Mariota isn’t far behind in the same drill. Winston is almost leading the group drill-to-drill, he’s encouraging the rest of the guys along while the rest remain pretty silent. Greg Knapp (former Seahawks OC who’s leading the drill) is asking him all the questions before each drill.

Jameis Winston's natural accuracy is rare. Unique trait. Makes it look so easy!

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) February 21, 2015

On the last throw on a short-and-out-drill, Winston barks out to the receiver, “Let’s save the best for last” before throwing a dime. He’s showing alpha-male traits here, leadership and confidence. Both of the top two quarterback prospects are performing very well. This should be a lesson for future prospects debating whether they should throw at the combine.

Jaelen Strong dropped a few during the drills.

Good year to be a team in need of a WR.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 21, 2015

That’s the end of the throwing drills. Next up today — the running backs.

Mike Mayock, who just had some nice praise for LSU cornerback Jalen Collins, called Melvin Gordon “special”. Get ready for a huge performance here.

By the way — we’re still waiting for most of the broad/vertical jump numbers for the receivers, or a full list of measurements for the DB’s. It’s taking a while to get this information out this year.

Running back forty yard dash (first attempt)

Ameer Adbullah: 4.61
Jay Ajayi: 4.62
Buck Allen: 4.55
Cameron Artis-Payne: 4.54
Malcolm Brown: 4.67
David Cobb: 4.81
Mike Davis: 4.61
Michael Dyer 4.58
Melvin Gordon: 4.52
Duke Johnson: 4.55
Matt Jones: 4.62
Jeremy Langford: 4.43
Josh Robinson: 4.71
T.J. Yeldon: 4.65

Apparently Jay Ajayi was born in England. That should provide a nice boost to his stock. David Cobb pulled up with a quad injury during his forty yard dash.

Some of the official forty times are coming in. Marcus Mariota had a 4.52, Phillip Dorsett managed a 4.33.

As good as 2014's group of WR's were in the NFL, 2015 has even more freaks: Big, fast, strong, unique & the Hawks could use a couple of 'em

— Brock Huard (@BrockESPN) February 21, 2015

Pete Carroll and John Schneider are not actively writing down notes and times during the running back forty’s. They were very active during the receiver drills.

I think on this occasion, you can read a ton into that. Expect Marshawn Lynch to re-sign. Expect the Seahawks to go receiver with at least one of their early picks.

Not much to get excited about so far with the running backs. Even Melvin Gordon ran in the 4.5’s. He also had a 35-inch vertical earlier. I thought he’d do better than that to be honest. As the receivers rise, the running backs are heading the other way. We’ve seen all the running backs run once and it’s been pretty underwhelming. Todd Gurley’s stock is rising and he’s stood watching the drills.

Second attempts:

Ameer Adbullah: 4.62
Jay Ajayi: 4.57
Buck Allen: 4.53
Cameron Artis-Payne: 4.53
Malcolm Brown: 4.62
David Cobb: DNP
Mike Davis: 4.63
Michael Dyer: 4.63
Melvin Gordon: 4.53
Duke Johnson: 4.60
Matt Jones: 4.61
Jeremy Langford: 4.43
Josh Robinson: 4.77
T.J. Yeldon: 4.61

This comparison raised a laugh from Mike Mayock:

The NFL Network created a system to churn out these comparisons based on physical attributes. Yesterday’s examples weren’t too bad, today’s have been all over the place. Clearly Lynch and Gordon are very different backs. He completed two runs at 4.52 and 4.53. That’s a fair bit slower than Jamaal Charles — the player Gordon is usually compared to. This isn’t the big day we expected and it could impact his stock.

Of all the players standing out in this running back class, Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford has been the most impressive so far. Great size and ran two 4.43’s.

Rand Getlin is reporting the Seahawks have offered Marshawn Lynch $20m over two years:

Sources: #Seahawks offer to Marshawn Lynch would pay between $11M and $12M in first year. http://t.co/AqwIPRdq2n pic.twitter.com/IpzjFhHb7I

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) February 21, 2015

It’s essentially a three-year deal according to Getlin, with up-front pay in the first two years. It would allow the Seahawks to assess the situation after the 2016 season — and delay the need to go big on a running back replacement. They are trying to maintain the status quo and keep one of only two true starts on offense in place. They need to add receiving weapons to help Russell Wilson, not take away their only top-tier skill position player.

Instead of making the pipe-dream move for Ndamukong Suh, they might use any spare cap money to go after Julius Thomas while also adding a receiver early in the draft. That would bolster the offense significantly. They’d still need to focus on replacing James Carpenter if he moves on, plus Byron Maxwell. Defensive line depth could also be considered.

The running backs are going through drills. Duke Johnson gets a few cheers from the coaches for his cut and run — as did Florida’s Matt Jones. Josh Robinson ran two slow times and looks a bit sluggish during drills. T.J. Yeldon looks big and it shows — he’s not quite as sharp in these drills as he looked during the early days at Alabama. His footwork was plodding and he struggled to change direction off the cut. He could do with dropping a few pounds.

Sammie Coates had a 10-11 broad jump and a 41-inch vertical. Special, but we knew that already. If only he had hands.

Dee Hart had some nice change of direction skills in the slalom, drawing applause. He finished with a nice spin-move flourish too. Impressive run. Melvin Gordon didn’t look quite as fluid as I expected. The group overall again looked average. Duke Johnson ran the slalom nicely.

More of the official forty times are coming in for the receivers:

Phillip Dorsett — 4.33
Tyler Lockett — 4.40
Tre McBride — 4.41
Devin Smith — 4.42
Nelson Agholor — 4.42
Amari Cooper — 4.42

Compare those times to this group of running backs. They just look slow. The entire group.

McBride’s 4.41 is impressive. We talked about him earlier today, but it validates what you see on tape. He high points the ball, makes circus catches, always competes and plays big. He’s an exciting prospect. Nelson Agholor’s 4.42 is also impressive.

Vertical jumps:

Jaelen Strong — 42″
Sammie Coates — 41″
Devin Smith — 39″
Devin Funchess — 38.5″
Tre McBride — 38″
Darren Waller — 37″
Kevin White — 36.5″
DeVante Parker — 36.5″
Dorial Green-Beckham — 33.5″
Amari Cooper — 33″

DGB might have Mike Evans size and speed, but he has considerably shorter arms (smaller wingspan) and his vertical jump is 3.5 inches shorter. In terms of a catch radius, Evans is far superior.

Tre McBride had a 38-inch vertical to go with his 4.41. He’s 6-2 and 205lbs with room to get up to 210lbs.

Some breaking injury news:

Shane Ray isn't working out at the combine because of a foot injury but will at his pro day.

— Dan Kadar (@MockingTheDraft) February 21, 2015

So no Shane Ray tomorrow.

The running backs are now going through catching drills. Melvin Gordon impressed in the corner route, flew down the sideline and made a safe catch. Matt Jones dropped his pass. Jeremy Langford continues to show as much promise as anyone from this group. Josh Robinson is a fantastic catcher (huge hands) and he made a couple of good catches in the throwing drills.

The forty times were average for this group, but the vertical jumps were better. Ameer Abdullah managed a 42-inch vert, Jay Ajayi had a 39-inch vert. Melvin Gordon only managed a 35-inch vert in comparison. I’m not convinced the Seahawks will draft a running back if they re-sign Lynch to a new deal. Why would they with Robert Turbin and Christine Michael under contract? What have we seen here to think they’d draft a RB?

It’s clear what the priorities are — WR, DL, OL and TE if they don’t fill that need in free agency (I think they will).

Things are winding down now (Rich Eisen and Mike Mayock have finished for the day already). I’ll have a review piece on the blog later today discussing the receivers and the options Seattle has at #31.

HIGHLIGHTS

— Jake Fisher has an outstanding day, could be a first round pick
— Maxx Williams runs an official 4.78, excels in pass-catching drills
— Missouri’s Mitch Morse performs well across the board
— OT’s Flowers, Peat lose ground to Humphries, Clemmings & Collins
— Tony Pauline suggests Byron Maxwell could earn $10m APY
— Eagles reportedly leading the chase for Maxwell’s signature
— Pete Carroll says negotiations with Marshawn Lynch continue “in earnest”
— Eddie Goldman won’t work out tomorrow
— Eli Harold is 6-3 with 33 inch arms
— Jameis Winston shines during his press conference

For the next four days I’ll be live blogging during the combine. Keep refreshing this page for the latest Seahawks news, data from the defensive linemen measurement session and notes on the OL/TE workouts at they take place today (beginning 6AM PST).

Join in the debate using the comments section.

To start the day — the DE measurements are coming in:

Shane Ray — 6-2 5/8, 245lbs
Dante Fowler Jr — 6-2 5/8, 261lbs
Vic Beasley — 6-3, 246lbs
Randy Gregory — 6-4 7/8, 235lbs

That’s big news for Beasley. He’s bigger than many expected. There was some talk he’d be in the 230-240lbs range. Gregory basically is an outside backer at 235lbs.

Mike Mayock says there are six potential first round offensive linemen. He touts Ali Marpet from Hobart College as one to watch.

The O-linemen are running the forty. The NFL Network is providing an immediate time with a 10 yard split (in brackets).

The average times last year were 5.21 (1.82). The splits are really the thing to look for here. Anything under 1.80 is exceptional.

T.J. Clemmings — 5.24 (1.84)
La’el Collins — 5.13 (1.86)
Rob Crisp — 5.27 (1.91)
Jamil Douglas — 5.20 (1.75)
Cameron Erving — 5.16 (1.86)
B.J. Finney — 5.26 (1.84) — former H/S wrestler
Jake Fisher — 5.05 (1.75)
Ereck Flowers — 5.32 (1.90)

Jake Fisher looks the part of an athletic tackle or guard. I’d prefer him inside. Looks in excellent shape, nice length (33 3/4 inch arms) and ran a 5.05 with a superb 1.75 split in his first attempt.

Here are some of the key times on the second runs:

T.J. Clemmings — 5.15 (1.80)
La’el Collins — 5.16 (1.81)
Rob Crisp — 5.34 (1.97)
Jamil Douglas — 5.25 (1.81)
Cameron Erving — 5.20 (1.84)
B.J. Finney — 5.34 (1.88)
Jake Fisher — 5.01 (1.78)
Ereck Flowers — 5.29 (1.78)

Ereck Flowers managed a 1.78 split on his second run at 6-6, 329lbs. Remember, these are not official times. But if that holds, it’s big for Flowers.

Tight end Tyler Kroft won’t be running a forty today:

Tyler Kroft/TE/Rutgers strained his ankle during combine medicals as doctors twisted the joint too much. No 40 till pro-day.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) February 20, 2015

The O-liners are now going through movement drills (the wave drill). This is all about changing direction quickly, how quickly you can react and the coaches want to see if you have any stiffness in footwork and lateral mobility.

T.J. Clemmings looked very fluid and loose — very impressive. He looks the part of a high first round prospect he just needs time and coaching. Mike Mayock is signing his praises on the NFL Network, while noting his poor Senior Bowl display.

Rob Crisp looked a bit stiff but carries his weight well. It’s a really nice start for Cameron Erving who moves well for his size.

Jake Fisher’s lateral movement is good as you’d expect. Wonderful side step. Just looks like a really fluid athlete. Ereck Flowers also showed a nice slide. He’s not on Fisher’s level but he’s carrying an extra 30lbs, it’s hard not to be impressed with the start to his day.

They’re onto the pull drills — taking a stance and then off the snap tracking the direction they have to go (signal by the coaches) and the idea is you stay low and move fluidly, keeping your eyes up without a false step. Clemmings again looks sensational. Like the former D-end he is.

Cameron Erving has a football to snap for his version of this drill as a center.

The second stage of this drill has the players blocking a fake strong safety at the second level. Clemmings again is the star. It’s effortless. Jake Fisher almost just sprints the drill. This was the first time Ereck Flowers looked a bit sluggish.

The live feed has compared La’el Collins to Logan Mankins. I prefer the Joel Bitonio/Mankins comparison a year ago, but the two players do have a lot of physical comparisons (length, size, speed).

Mayock’s top OT in the class is Clemmings and it’s easy to see why teams might agree with him on this evidence so far. You can coach technique — and he only recently converted from defense. You can’t teach this combination of size, length and speed.

The bags are out and now they’re asking two linemen to work together. One runs a down block with the aim of driving the guy with the bag 6-7 yards downfield. The other blocks inside. This is where the technical flaws of Clemmings shows up. His hand use was poor, took a poor angle and struggled to drive the bag-man downfield. It was really awkward. La’el Collins looked good here. Shaun O’Hara compares Collins to Bitonio.

Fisher had good leverage on this drill, gaining pad level with his hands and driving forward.

Now it’s the kick slide. Clemmings is reminded, “Don’t wait for him” by a coach, as he slows to monitor the rusher. They want to see him finish this drill and flash how quick he can be. He’s showing by far the smoothest footwork here. Jake Fisher is a close second.

Clemmings and La’el Collins in their second go-around actually tried to block the guys getting their hands up — this is a footwork drill and they had to be reminded of that. Collins looked really smooth with excellent size/definition. He’s carrying minimal bad weight.

Here’s Ereck Flowers’ two attempts at the kick slide:

E.Flowers in that kickstep drill. https://t.co/oV987xwaQq

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 20, 2015

Flowers at LT this time. Something is off. Looks stiff. https://t.co/TyBA6yiB1M

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 20, 2015

As you can see — not great. He looked surprisingly sluggish on both tries (left and right side).

Pete Carroll and John Schneider are watching closely:

Mike Mayock says Ereck Flowers should be a right tackle at the next level, but can play on the left. He’s starting to struggle here.

Now it’s the mirror drill. Another big tick for Clemmings here. Wow. Just so athletic. Cameron Erving did an accomplished job with his footwork and staying square. Jamil Douglas also did well, ditto jake Fisher.

Ereck Flowers looked tired and all over the place on this drill. His arms flailed around, he struggled to stay square, he was blowing a lot. Flowers started well and gradually got worse. It’s hard to say we saw a first round performance from him today.

Miami's OT Ereck Flowers looks like he'd get exposed quickly on edge. I'd move him inside as ROG and he could contribute from day 1 there.

— Brian Billick (@CoachBillick) February 20, 2015

That’s the end for group one. The two standouts were Clemmings and Collins with an honorable mention for Jake Fisher. Charles Davis compares Collins to Josh Sitton of Green Bay.

Here’s the Collins/Mankins comp:

A quick further note on Ereck Flowers — James Carpenter didn’t have a great combine but he had tackle experience and projected well inside. Today’s performance wasn’t indicative of a NFL left tackle, but there’s no reason why he can’t be highly drafted as a guard. Daniel Jeremiah just compared him to Cordy Glenn.

Group two is just about ready to get going. For more on Tyler Kroft — this is bizarre:

Wow, per @TonyPauline Rutgers TE Tyler Kroft had his ankle injured during Combine medicals. Dr.'s pulled and twisted http://t.co/jR9HDNhuzs

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 20, 2015

A quick reminder, the average times last year were 5.21 (1.82). The ten yard split is in brackets.

Key Group 2 forty times

Chaz Green: 5.16 (1.75)
Rob Havenstein: 5.48 (1.86)
D.J. Humphries: 5.13 (1.81)
Tre Jackson: 5.54 (1.92)
Ali Marpet: 5.10 (1.81)
Andrus Peat: 5.20 (1.82)
Terry Poole: 5.10 (1.79)
Jeremiah Poutasi: 5.33 (1.86)
Ty Sambrailo: 5.37 (1.84)
Brandon Scherff: 5.07 (1.78)
Donovan Smith: 5.37 (1.86)
Laken Tomlinson: 5.39 (1.89)
Daryl Williams: 5.41 (1.86)

Andrus Peat is an odd shape. He was a big lower body and a flabby upper body. He didn’t look in great shape.

A Seahawks scout timing group two is spotted yawning on the live feed. Long days for these guys.

Daryl Williams sported gold track shoes to run his forty, before pulling off a 5.41. Talk about a deceptive image.

Tony Pauline reported during the Senior Bowl that Seattle had interest in TY Sambrailo and Terry Poole. Sambrailo is almost certainly destined to move inside to guard with a 5.37. Poole is intriguing with an above average forty and a sub-1.80 ten yard split.

Onto the second runs:

Chaz Green: 5.25 (1.83)
Rob Havenstein: 5.48 (1.86)
D.J. Humphries: 5.16 (1.82)
Tre Jackson: 5.56 (1.94)
Ali Marpet: 5.00 (1.74)
Andrus Peat: 5.26 (1.85)
Terry Poole: 5.17 (1.79)
Jeremiah Poutasi: 5.38 (1.87)
Ty Sambrailo: 5.38 (1.81)
Brandon Scherff: 5.07 (1.79)
Donovan Smith: 5.28 (1.84)
Laken Tomlinson: 5.33 (1.86)
Daryl Williams: 5.29 (1.75)

The NFL Network is comparing D.J. Humphries to Bryan Bulaga. Ali Marpet ran the quickest forty and ten yard split of the day (unofficially) with a 5.01 and a 1.74. Mayock says he projects to center at the next level.

The cameras panned onto Bill Belichick (wearing a hoodie sporting his own name) polishing off a chicken wing. There was no meat left on the bone. He ate every last bit. So far we haven’t seen the usual ‘Andy Reid devouring a big sandwich’ clip.

Brandon Scherff has the build of a guard — but moved really well. Very fluid athlete with a sub-1.80 split. Daryl Williams had a major improvement in his second run (he ran in a straight line for a start). He posted a sub-1.80 split at 6-5 and 327lbs. That’s special if it holds up officially.

No offensive linemen ran a sub-5.00 forty yard dash. There were five last year including Joel Bitonio and Taylor Lewan.

Tony Pauline is reporting Byron Maxwell could be set to earn $10m APY in free agency. He wont be returning to Seattle.

Yesterday I mentioned how hot the free agent cornerback market will be. Early numbers i'm hearing are $10 mill/annually for Byron Maxwell

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) February 20, 2015

Time for the drills.

Andrus Peat moved really well in the lateral drills. Effortless. Terry Poole also showed well and received praise from the coaches. They called for Ty Sambrailo to open up more and show more fluidity in his hips. “Stay down low” was the shout. Brandon Scherff clung to his hamstring after his first drill — hopefully it’s just a twinge.

Tyrus Thompson looks a lot like James Carpenter in body type. He took an age to stand up for the first drill but once he got moving he covered some ground. Donovan Smith also performed well, showing good change of direction and foot speed. This was a good start for group 2.

Neither the NFL Network or the online feed is showing the second drill. Brandon Scherff has changed and is done for the day with a tweaked hamstring.

D.J. Humphries did a nice job firing off the snap in the second pulling drill. Ali Marpet continues his athletic performance, sprinting in a similar fashion to Jake Fisher. Possible Seahawks target Terry Poole looks really crisp getting out of his stance and exploding to the second level. This is a nice, mobile group.

The tight ends will run later but they’re starting to go through the jumps. Jesse James posted 10-1 broad jump (impressive). Some more of the DL measurements are coming out too:

Eddie Goldman — 6-4, 336lbs, 33 1/8 arms, 10 1/8 hands
Arik Armstead — 6-7, 292lbs with, 33-inch arms, 10 1/2 hands
Eli Harold — 6-3, 247lbs, 33-inch arms, 9 3/8 hands
Dante Fowler — 6-2 1/2, 261lbs, 33 3/4 arms, 9 1/2 hands
Danielle Hunter — 6-5, 252lbs, 34 1/4 arms, 10 1/2 hands

The offensive linemen are onto the bag drills as we’re skimming through some of these measurements. Nobody stood out, but nobody had any glaring issues here.

There’s also some breaking news on Todd Gurley:

Via @MikeSilver, Todd Gurley refused to allow doctors to examine knee at combine. –> http://t.co/8AXCbStdFE pic.twitter.com/AoEUzW19JF

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) February 20, 2015

D.J. Humphries cut off his kick-slide. Missouri’s Mitch Morse looked good in this drill and received praise from the coaches. Robert Myers went the other way — putting in a poor effort. Andrus Peat’s was a little clumsy. Terry Poole was good here. Ty Sambrailo moves a lot better than his 40 would suggest. Tyrus Thompson just got hammered by the coaches. One shouted, “Don’t you listen?”

The full list of measurements is slowly coming out for the defensive linemen. You can see them here.

Vic Beasley is tall (6-3) but only has 32 and 1/2 inch arms. Eli Harold has decent length at 6-3 and 33 inch arms. Markus Smith had 34 inch arms last year.

Xavier Cooper is tall (6-3) but shockingly short arms (31 1/2 inches). That might put him out of contention in Seattle.

Leonard Williams is 6-5, 302lbs, has 34 5/8 inch arms and 10 5/8 inch hands.

Back to the OL drills — D.J. Humphries has really nice hips, opens up in the change of direction drill and looked incredibly smooth. Mitch Morse again looked good. He has short arms but incredibly mobile. I like Terry Poole’s overall workout. Moves well. Looks like a guard convert. Ty Sambrailo looked really tight in the hips. Daryl Williams also struggled somewhat.

Mike Mayock is praising the injured Brandon Scherff, comparing him to Maurkice Pouncey. At the same time, Daniel Jeremiah is Tweeting this:

Arrow down. RT @MoveTheSticks: I'm not all the way on board with the Scherff hype. He gets beat a lot in pass pro. Maryland game was rough.

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) February 20, 2015

They’re onto the mirror drills. Humphries again moves well and might be seeing a nice boost for his stock having got above 300lbs. Mitch Morse looks really, really smooth. Love the way he’s worked here. One to go back and watch on tape next week.

Mike Mayock on Andrus Peat: “He looks like a young, big (Barack) Obama.”

Shaun O’Hara watching Ty Sambrailo work out says he could use a redshirt year. Andrus Peat is tough to diagnose. He’s huge in the lower body and moves surprisingly well. But when he got tired, his technique disappeared and he looked awkward. He doesn’t have a traditional left tackle body despite having ideal length and weight. He’s going to be a really tough one to work out. He could go anywhere from #10-25.

That’s the end of the second group’s drills. The winner’s for me were Mitch Morse, Ali Marpet and D.J. Humphries. Both Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis say they expect Humphries to be the first offensive tackle taken this year.

Now we wait for the TE’s to run the forty and perform drills. And it’s time for me to eat…

Florida State DT Eddie Goldman says he will not do the drills at the combine.

There’s also this:

Present word has the Philadelphia Eagles as front runners for cornerback Byron Maxwell.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) February 20, 2015

The official forty times are the offensive linemen. Here are the best times:

Ali Marpet (4.98)
Jake Fisher (5.01)
Laurence Gibson (5.04)
Brandon Scherff (5.05)
Terry Poole (5.09)
La’el Collins (5.12)
D.J. Humphries (5.12)
T.J. Clemmings (5.14)
Mitch Morse (5.14)
Cameron Erving (5.15)

Tight end forty yard dash times:

Blake Bell: 4.80 & 4.82
Nick Boyle: 5.04
Jesse James: 4.86 & 4.83
Nick O’Leary: 4.93 & 4.94
Wes Saxton: 4.56 & 4.66
Jean Sirfin: 4.84 & 4.84
Clive Walford: 4.79 & 4.81
Maxx Williams: 4.90 & 4.77

Nobody expected Williams to run a great forty, but I don’t think anybody expected a 4.90. His second time of 4.77 is more realistic for his skill set. It’s about what you’d expect.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Seahawks are reportedly very interested in Julius Thomas. The few TE’s who actually ran here (many didn’t) showed very little explosion. There’s just not that much to get excited about with this group. People who fantasize about later round picks will convince themselves there’s a find here. In reality, this is yet another poor class of TE’s.

If the Seahawks want a dynamic pass-catching tight end, they are probably going to have to look at Thomas and Jordan Cameron. Thomas is a fantastic open-field runner who can make big YAC in the open field. He can take a pass over the seam for a chunk play. He’s an exceptional athlete and receiver, not just a dynamic red zone target (24 touchdowns in two seasons).

Mayock compares Maxx Williams to Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph.

The drills are about to begin. There’s really only two things I focus on here — hands and catching technique. Do they cup the football? Do they double catch? Is it smooth?

Nick Boyle double catches on the sideline and spills the ball, getting the attention of the coaches who say he should’ve caught it. The coach leading the drill says, “You need to move your feet like a typewriter but you guys probably don’t know what one is.”

Jean Sifrin looks lean, almost more like a big receiver. Clive Walford and Maxx Williams do a great job on the first drill (route to the sideline, catch in bounds) — the coaches let them know it too with some big praise.

The TE’s are now running downfield. Maxx Williams is putting on a clinic. No wasted steps, tracking the ball downfield, catching over his shoulder, cupping the ball (perfect technique) and catching it at the highest point. NO body catches so far. Just a really, really nice workout.

He isn’t a mismatch in terms of size/speed (or a great blocker) but he’s going to be a very reliable target for someone at the next level. There’s a bit of Dallas Clark on show here. He is very clearly the best tight end in this years draft, assuming Devin Funchess continues on this quest to prove he’s a receiver for financial purposes (he lacks the short area quick’s or long speed, he’s better working the slot or TE).

The one thing Funchess does that Williams won’t? Box off defenders. And that’s one of the things Seattle desperately needs on offense.

Official forty times for the TE’s:

M. Pruitt — 4.58
W. Saxton — 4.65
M. Williams — 4.78
C. Walford — 4.79
B. Bell — 4.80
J. James — 4.83
J. Sifrin — 4.84
N. O’Leary — 4.93

4.78 seems about right for Maxx Williams.

Now it’s time for the gauntlet. Blake Bell showed nice catching technique and didn’t drop a ball. The coaches yelled, “Classic” at him. Nick Boyle had a tough run, dropping a couple of balls. Cam Clear dropped two passes. Jesse James dropped one pass, let the ball into his body and he weaved around the route.

Ben Koyack looked smooth apart from one bad drop. Nick O’Leary was slow but showed fantastic hands — and he didn’t wear gloves. MyCole Pruitt jogged through his rep and dropped a couple. Wes Saxton labored through his. Jean Sifrin double caught one and missed another, but also high pointed a high throw.

Clive Walford dropped one but like Sifrin high pointed a really tough catch. Maxx Williams caught every ball away from his body and looked excellent. Again. He probably has the best hands in the draft (WR and TE).

In the second run it was more of the same. O’Leary was incredible again — natural catcher, no gloves, ran in a straight line, didn’t miss a step. No double catching. Excellent rep. Jean Sifrin dropped two passes on his second go-around. Walford’s second attempt was much better — no drops. Maxx Williams had another clean run with zero drops. Again, brilliant hands. Doesn’t let the ball into his body. All natural movements and technique.

Ball just sticks to Maxx Williams' hands. https://t.co/1iWsDtRb8N

— Joe G (@JoeGoodberry) February 20, 2015

Mayock: “This whole thing (the workouts) confirms to me that this is a below-average group of tight ends in this draft class.”

Clive Walford jumped 10-feet in the broad jump. Still waiting on the other numbers. Jesse James had a 10-1.

You can’t help but feel Devin Funchess missed a trick not working out with these TE’s. Instead of looking like a physical freak among an average class, he’ll look like a big target among a bunch of really athletic receivers tomorrow.

It’s been a tough day for Nick Boyle. He had a nice Senior Bowl game but has struggled a bit here. Jesse James is lean — almost skinny — but runs nicely and can get to the second level. I don’t think he’s a big mismatch who can box people off, but give him a year to add size and maybe he’s a nice project for someone.

Every single tight end just struggled on a deep drill to the right hand side — except Maxx Williams. Whether they couldn’t locate the ball, catch it, get deep enough. Williams ran a fantastic route and caught it in stride without breaking sweat. Wonderful.

If you want to compare TE’s:

Luke Willson at 251 lbs and 6053, 4.51 forty, 1.53 10 yard split (jeez), 38 vert, 10-2 broad, 23 bench

— DAVIS HSU (@DavisHsuSeattle) February 20, 2015

That ends the drills for today. The most impressive performers? Mitch Morse from Missouri, D.J. Humphries from Florida, T.J. Clemmings from Pittsburgh, Jake Fisher from Oregon, La’el Collins from LSU, Maxx Williams from Minnesota, Terry Poole from San Diego State and Ali Marpet from Hobart.

I’ll keep the blog open for another hour or so. We’re still waiting for news on the vertical/broad jumps and the full list of DL measurements. There’s also this:

Coach @PeteCarroll is scheduled to meet with the media at 12 p.m. PT from the #NFLCombine.

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 20, 2015

According to Mike Loyko, Jake Fisher posted the third best short shuttle (4.33) for an offensive lineman and the fourth best 3-cone (7.25) since 2006. It’s impressive. We’ll need to consider his stock moving forward. Is he getting into Kyle Long territory? Very possible. Look at the physical similarities.

Jameis Winston is holding a press conference — and you have to say, he’s owning it. Very confident. Very chatty. Cracking jokes. The off-field concerns are legit but he played the role of a franchise quarterback very well today.

Pete Carroll’s press conference is taking place at the same time, meaning it’s getting very little attention and no live feed. The only news so far is he’s still looking to fill a couple of assistant coaching spots.

He praised Bruce Irvin, leading to this Twitter response:

@Seahawks atta boy Pete!

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) February 20, 2015

Carroll says they are negotiating “in earnest” to re-sign RB Marshawn Lynch. “We’ve had big offers out there.” He praises Jim Harbaugh and says he’ll “kick butt” at Michigan (it seems the pair became BFF’s following Seattle’s victory at Century Link during the 2014 season).

Going back to Jake Fisher, I had a look at Joel Bitonio’s combine numbers for a comparison. Bitonio had a 32 inch vertical (Fisher — 32.5), a 4.97 forty (Fisher — 5.01), a 7.37 3-cone drill (Fisher — 7.25) and a 4.44 short shuttle (Fisher — 4.33). Bitonio had 22 reps on the bench, Fisher had 25 reps. They are very similar. I’ve seen plenty of Fisher and felt, like Bitonio, he might end up moving inside. Bitonio is 6-4 and 302lbs with 33 7/8 inch arms. Fisher is 6-6 and 306lbs with 33 3/4 inch arms.

I’ll go back and review his tape with this new information. You have to say he’s in with a very good shot of the top-40 after this display and could easily land in round one if teams see the comparisons to another former Duck in Kyle Long.

That’s pretty much it for today. We’ll be back to do it all again tomorrow from 6AM PST. Don’t forget if you want to see any measurements or timings from today at the combine, click here.

I’ll update the blog as we go along. Today the offensive linemen and tight ends will do the bench press. The quarterbacks, running backs and receivers will be measured and interviewed by the media.

This is the big early headline:

WR Dorial Green-Beckham came in at 237 pounds. Played at 225 at Mizzou. #NFLCombine

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 19, 2015

That’s some considerable weight gain by DGB. Is it good weight? He looked slim at Missouri and had room to add bulk. But 12lbs is quite a lot. It’ll be interesting to see how he tests on Saturday. Meanwhile Jameis Winston is just under 6-4 and 231lbs, Marcus Mariota is just under 6-4 and 222lbs.

The other thing to start with today — speculation linking Seattle with Julius Thomas, courtesy of Matt Bowen:

“The Seahawks are looking to upgrade the tight end position, and league sources say Julius Thomas could be in play once he hits the free-agent market. Thomas would give quarterback Russell Wilson a true matchup weapon to target inside the numbers and in the red zone. Think of “50-50″ balls that Thomas can go up and get at the point of attack.”

“League sources” doesn’t mean a deal will happen. Reports recently suggested Thomas turned down a multi-year contract with the Broncos worth $8m a year. That was in 2014. Since then, he’s had another injury plagued season (but still scored 12 touchdowns in 13 starts). His stock might not be quite as high today, but it won’t be far off.

Would the Seahawks pay $8m a year? They would if they genuinely see Thomas as the kind of dynamic threat they’re missing on offense. They paid Zach Miller a lot more than $8m in 2013. Seattle needs a mismatch at the second level and a red zone option. Thomas provides both — when he’s healthy.

Whether it’s at receiver or tight end, they need an impact player on offense. The draft might not produce that immediate production. And the veteran receiver options are dwindling with Larry Fitzgerald signing a new contract in Arizona — and the Buccs stating at the combine they’ll keep hold of Vincent Jackson.

Seattle can afford Thomas. If they want him, they can get him. And while they’ll likely face competition from teams like Oakland — he’ll know he has a chance to win a Championship with the Seahawks.

And if you weren’t aware, Seattle reportedly tried to trade Percy Harvin for Thomas during the 2014 season.

Adding a unique edge to the story, Thomas’ father Greg played football at University of the Pacific in 1983. Coaching him at the time? Pete Carroll, who was the offensive (!!!) coordinator. Greg Thomas suffered a career-ending leg injury during his time at Pacific. After a quick scan on Thomas Senior’s Twitter account, you’ll find these:

@bobhighfill After DEN vs SEA game earlier this season. Pete; "Greg, I just don't remember you being this tall" . pic.twitter.com/JHzENWMAiG

— Greg Thomas (@lethylg60) January 29, 2015

But before you get too carried away (if you want to see Thomas in Seattle), there’s also this:

@JustinTuck @52Mack_ pic.twitter.com/XZD9nqriM6

— Greg Thomas (@lethylg60) December 22, 2014

The running back measurements are coming in:

Todd Gurley — 6-0 and 5/8, 222lbs
Melvin Gordon — 6-0 and 5/8, 215lbs
Jay Ajayi — 5-11 and 6/-8, 221lbs
T.J. Yeldon — 6-1 and 2/8, 226lbs
Tevin Coleman — 5-10, 206lbs

John Schneider is up at the podium for his press conference:

VIDEO GM John Schneider's full 16-minute press conference from today at the #NFLCombine: [http://t.co/aaJNyL5fIT] pic.twitter.com/8pAoPxPrIS

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 19, 2015

He says “not really” in response to a question on whether he’d be shocked if Marshawn Lynch retired. There’s still no clarity on whether he’ll return. Schneider complimented the group of running backs in the draft.

Schneider won't disclose if deadline is set for Marshawn Lynch but says he'd like to know decision (on return or retirement) soon.

— Acme Packing Company (@acmepackingco) February 19, 2015

Schneider also admitted Seattle could get 11 draft picks after all. He claims he previously said 10 because he didn’t want to be disappointed if the Seahawks missed out on an extra compensatory pick.

It’s been revealed receiver Breshad Perriman won’t workout at the combine due to injury:

WR Breshad Perriman (injury) will not work out at the #NFLCombine. Instead he will work out at UCF's pro day 3/25 (via @Gil_Brandt).

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) February 19, 2015

The receiver measurements are coming in. Some early details:

— Devin Funchess has a 82 and 5/8 inch wingspan.

— Amari Cooper and Justin Hardy have ten inch hands. Todd Gurley also has ten inch hands.

Dorial Green-Beckham has been speaking to the media too. For a full set of quotes click here.

Big media gathering for WR Dorial Green-Beckham. "I made mistakes. I'm not thinking about the past." pic.twitter.com/dax1WRsZbl

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) February 19, 2015

Green-Beckham is 6-5 and 237lbs with 32 and a half inch arms and nine inch hands. That’s big but he doesn’t necessarily have the length or hand size you’d expect. Devin Funchess is 6-4 and 232lbs, with 33 and a half inch arms and nine and 3/4 inch hands.

Jaelen Strong is only 6-2 — something I suspected watching tape. He didn’t look 6-3. Here are the measurements for some of the receivers:

Dorial Green Beckham — 6-5, 237lbs, 32 1/2 inch arms, 9 inch hands
Devin Funchess — 6-4, 232lbs, 33 and a half inch arms, 9 and 3/4 inch hands
Jaelen Strong — 6-2, 217lbs, 32 and a half inch arms, 9 inch hands
Amari Cooper — 6-1, 211lbs, 31 and a half inch arms, 10 inch hands
Tre McBride — 6-0, 210lbs, 32 and 1/8 inch arms, 9 inch hands
Nelson Agholor — 6-0, 198lbs, 32 and 1/4 inch arms, 9 and 1/4 inch hands
Sammie Coates — 6-1, 212lbs, 33 and 3/8 inch arms, 9 and 3/8 inch hands
Phillip Dorsett — 5-10, 185lbs, 30 and 1/4 inch arms, 9 and 3/8 inch hands
Tyler Lockett — 5-10, 182lbs, 30 inch arms, 8 and 3/8 inch hands
Vince Mayle — 6-2, 224lbs, 31 and 3/4 inch arms, 9 inch hands
DeVante Parker — 6-3, 209lbs, 33 and 1/4 inch arms, 9 and 1/4 inch hands
Breshad Perriman — 6-2, 212lbs, 32 inch arms, 9 and 1/4 inch hands
Devin Smith — 6-0, 196lbs, 31 inch arms, 9 inch hands
Kevin White — 6-3, 215lbs, 32 and 5/8 inch arms, 9 and 1/4 inch hands

For a full list of today’s QB, RB and WR measurements, click here.

Todd Gurley (10 inches) and Melvin Gordon (9 and 3/4 inches) have bigger hands than most of the top-tier receivers.

Alabama quarterback Blake Sims confirmed he has met with the Seahawks. Running backs T.J. Yeldon and Josh Robinson also said they have had meetings with Seattle. Tight end Maxx Williams confirmed he met with the team yesterday. Auburn QB/CB Nick Marshall also had a meeting.

Todd Gurley says he won’t workout at the combine or the Georgia pro day on March 18th. This is the right move. Too many prospects rush back to get a workout in before the draft. Focus on recovery.

One note we missed earlier — John Schneider has all but admitted Byron Maxwell is going to be moving on:

Seahawks G.M. John Schneider: Demand for cornerback Byron Maxwell likely to be "very strong" http://t.co/BqECtpcpVi

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 19, 2015

One thing to remember on this — Seattle has significant finances pumped into its secondary. Overall there’s quite an imbalanced swing towards the finances on defense vs offense. That will change when Russell Wilson gets paid, but Bobby Wagner (and probably Bruce Irvin) stand to get significant pay increases too. Maxwell is a good player, but he’s not irreplaceable. A salary worth around $8m might be too much for Seattle and just right for other teams trying to build a defense from scratch. C’est la vie sometimes.

Meanwhile Jason La Canfora wrote a post today suggesting the Seahawks could allow Russell Wilson to play out his rookie contract, essentially saving several million against the 2015 cap:

At a time when everyone is assuming that, voila, this Wilson deal will just automatically get done this offseason, let be among the minority, if not the only one, to state that it’s possible that Wilson actually plays out his rookie contract. It’s plausible. Might even be probable.

Schneider joined La Canfora and Pete Prisco after his press conference today and was asked about this. He refused to comment on specifics, but did mention aggressive acquisition of other players as part of his answer. If there’s a guy they want in free agency — and if paying Wilson next year helps — you know they’ll do what is best for the team.

The projected franchise tag for quarterbacks in 2015 is $18.38m. That will increase in a years time, but could still be lower than $20m. The Seahawks have that option in a years time. It might be a little harsh on a player who deserves a long-term deal — but if it helps improve the roster enough to win another Championship, could it happen?

The one concern I’d have is this — the price of a franchise quarterback is only going to increase. Especially when Andrew Luck gets paid. Waiting to do a deal with Wilson only makes it more expensive as you delay the inevitable. An expensive contract today might be a bargain in three years time.

Ian Rapoport had this to add:

The possibility of #Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and a fully guaranteed contract is very real. Will be fascinating to watch this develop

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 19, 2015

And I’d recommend this piece by Davis Hsu at Field Gulls on Wilson’s contract:

The "Outside the Box" option for Russell Wilson's second contract, via @DavisHsuSeattle http://t.co/sMmLbstRDN pic.twitter.com/udk4Astk2h

— Danny Kelly (@FieldGulls) February 19, 2015

La Canfora also has this to say about the Marshawn Lynch situation: “From what I hear, this Lynch deal is getting close to being resolved.”

And just when you think things couldn’t get any more interesting today:

People ask me am I gonna play in az next year. My response is "ill be in az next year 1way or another rather … http://t.co/VposAGsBh7

— DARNELL DOCKETT (@ddockett) February 19, 2015

The quote ends: “ill be in az next year 1way or another rather its 1 game or 8. #thinkaboutit!”

It doesn’t mean Seattle but tell me it doesn’t half feel like they’d be interested. The Seahawks are crying out for a guy like Dockett working the interior pass rush and might need that veteran presence if Kevin Williams moves on. Dockett is 34 this year and tore his ACL last August, missing the entire 2014 season. There’s still a decent chance he ends up back with the Cardinals. But a year in Seattle makes sense if he’s released.

He peaked in the 2007-2010 portion of his career, collecting 25 sacks in four years. He had 4.5 sacks in 2013. His competitive edge, ability to play the run and pass and pocket-collapsing skills would still be intriguing.

The bench press reps are starting to come in for the tight ends and offensive linemen. Here’s a selection:

Maxx Williams — 17 reps
Jeff Heuerman — 26 reps
Jesse James — 26 reps
Tyler Kroft — 17 reps
Clive Walford — 20 reps

Brandon Scherff — 23 reps
La’el Collins — 21 reps
T.J. Clemmings — 22 reps
D.J. Humphries — 26 reps
Cedric Ogbuehi — 26 reps
Cameron Erving — 30 reps
Rob Haverstein — 16 reps
Rob Crisp — 26 reps
Jake Fisher — 25 reps
Ereck Flowers — 37 reps
Ty Sambrailo — 23 reps
Corey Robinson — 28 reps
Terry Poole — 25 reps
Donovan Smith — 26 reps
Tyrus Thompson — 29 reps
Darryl Williams — 27 reps

Melvin Gordon combine press conference highlights:

Check the second video — it offers an insight into his personality and competitive streak.

I’ll be conducting a daily live blog Friday-to-Monday during the combine workouts. I hope you’ll join in the debate and get involved. Today I wanted to run through some of the things I’ll be looking out for over this year. Measurements begin on Wednesday with the OL’s, TE’s and PK’s. Workouts begin on Friday. For a full schedule breakdown, click here.

— Eli Harold is a perfect LEO pass rusher. He’s long, lean and explosive. I think he could end up going in the top ten. Is there a more natural fit for Dan Quinn if he wants to emulate Seattle’s scheme in Atlanta? Cliff Avril and Bruce Irvin are good comparisons for what to look for. Avril ran a 4.51 with a 1.50 ten yard split. Irvin ran a 4.50 with a 1.55 ten yard split. They were both 6-3 — Avril had 8lbs on Irvin (253 vs 245). Harold is listed at 6-4, 250lbs.

— Will LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter win the combine? He has a ridiculously low body fat percentage (4%), he’s incredibly long and fluid. Personally I think his tape is horrendous but you can see the upside based purely on athleticism. He could go off in Indianapolis, excelling across the board in every drill.

— Who are the candidates to challenge Hunter? Eli Harold has to be in with a shout. Owamagbe Odighizuwa is built like a Greek God and could have a Ziggy Ansah type weekend. Ansah ran a 4.63 at 271lbs, had a terrific 4.26 short shuttle and a 34.5 inch vert. Odighizuwa doesn’t have Ansah’s 35-inch arms but he has enormous 11-inch hands and similar size (266lbs).

— Melvin Gordon is a workout machine. A true gym rat. Let’s see if all the work was worth it here. Jamaal Charles, the player he’s often compared to, ran a 4.38. I wouldn’t expect that kind of speed, but he’s probably a solid 4.4 runner. He has a fantastic, errr, ‘ass’, so he could challenge the 11-2 broad jumps by Lache Seastrunk, Anthony Alridge and Carl Stewart (best recorded jump in last ten years).

— Can William & Mary receiver Tre McBride prove he’s a fantastic athlete? Reports suggest he can get into the 4.4’s. I need to see it to believe it. Even if he runs in the 4.5’s — it shouldn’t be a concern. He’s shown enough suddenness, playmaking ability, ball skills, size and character to warrant serious consideration possibly as early as the late second round. He’s one of the most exciting receivers in the class and deserves more attention.

— Will Tevin Coleman work out? Tony Pauline reported in December he was carrying a foot injury. He was compared to Darren McFadden by Mike Mayock today. It’d be interesting to see if he can get anywhere near McFadden’s 4.33 forty time. UPDATE — Gil Brandt has confirmed Coleman will not participate.

— How fast is Jaelen Strong and what is his broad jump? I think he’s going to produce an excellent vertical with his basketball bloodlines. The main concern is separation skills. Can he show initial quickness in the forty and lower body explosion in the broad? He’s got a real chip on his shoulder — his Twitter timeline is a constant stream of retweeted criticisms. Let’s see if he can prove the doubters wrong.

— Just how fast are Devin Smith and Phillip Dorsett? I think Dorsett has a clear edge between the two and should provide the fastest time over the four days. Considering both players lack size, speed is going to be crucial. The quickest time by a receiver in the last ten years was the 4.27 by Marquise Goodwin in 2013, followed by Jacoby Ford (4.28) and Darrius Heyward-Bey (4.30). If I had to guess, I think Dorsett runs in the 4.3’s.

— Sammie Coates and Breshad Perriman have similar traits. They look the part and should have excellent combines. They need to. They have to convince teams to invest in upside potential because catching the ball consistently is a problem for both. If they want to generate high second round (or even first round) grades, they have to live up to expectations and test well across the board. And they need a team or two to believe they can improve with a summer on the jugs machine. Athleticism alone wasn’t enough for Cody Latimer (who had amazing hands) to get in round one. I think Coates and Perriman will struggle to crack day one, but if they’re going to — it’ll be down to their physical skills.

— Can Dorial Green-Beckham make a statement? He doesn’t just have to ace team interviews in Indianapolis. I think he needs to speak well to the media and show a ‘changed man’ vibe. I want to see him answer some difficult questions. On the field he needs to flash freak-of-nature talent at 6-6 and 225lbs. This is an opportunity to regain some momentum. The character concerns are legit and damaging for DGB. He needs to make some positive headines. Cornerback Marcus Peters faces a similar test — although I expect he’ll ace team and media interviews. He’s a smooth operator.

— How quick is Nelson Agholor? Watching him dunk a basketball, compete all over the field, return punts and play with real grit and determination makes you want to believe in the guy. A really good forty time could pump up his stock. Running a 4.52 last year hurt former teammate Marqise Lee. I’m not sure he has the potential to add too much weight and he’s skinny. That’s a concern. Guys without size need to be sudden and quick. I think he can beat Lee’s time. I like him.

— Just how special is Devin Funchess? Speaking of dunks, how about the video posted in yesterday’s piece? Expect an incredible vertical jump. I think he can produce a terrific 3-cone too, he shows good change of direction skills on the field. The main concern is he’s a build-up-speed runner and might not break the 4.7’s. If he can crack the 4.6’s — watch out. He’s working with the TE’s not the WR’s. Mike Mayock says he has better movement skills than Kelvin Benjamin. Funchess is the biggest enigma in the draft.

— Will we see any separation among the top three receivers? Hand size, forty times, vertical jumps — all could be difference makers for Amari Cooper, Kevin White and Devante Parker. For me Cooper is the cream of the crop and could surprise a few people. He’s more athletic than he gets credit for.

— Yesterday we discussed how Maxx Williams won’t be judged on speed. He has a knack of making plays, he has exceptional character and he’s just a good football player. But if he can impress here with a great work out — and if he has above average length/hand size, it won’t hurt. If Coby Fleener can manage 27 reps on the bench press I’d like to see that from Williams. He doesn’t look particularly toned in the arms. Has he got natural strength? If he is going to run in the 4.8’s like Marcedes Lewis — a 37-inch vert would be a nice trade-off.

— How does Penn State tight end Jesse James perform at 6-7 and 245lbs? We’re all looking for a freak of nature TE. At that size it’s harsh to expect a remarkable workout. You can guarantee if we do see a special workout warrior at TE this year (we didn’t in 2014) he’ll be going earlier than he probably should. Every team is looking for the next Gronk/Graham. Of all the tight ends capable of making a statement — Wes Saxton at South Alabama might be the guy. He’s lighter (6-4, 235lbs) and that could help in the quickness drills. He looks good on the field.

— Which of the OT’s separate? Every year athletic linemen really boost their stock. It’s why Eric Fisher ultimately usurped Luke Joeckel as the #1 pick in 2013. It’s why Lane Johnson propelled himself into the top-five. D.J. Humphries at Florida has reportedly added 20lbs of weight. He’s long and smooth. If he can show mobility despite the extra size he could jump into the round one mix. T.J. Clemmings should also impress physically. Teams really focus on the athletic qualities here — much more so than they used to. Greg Robinson, Taylor Lewan and Joel Bitonio were all incredible athletes with consistently good physical traits and drill performances. It’s no surprise Lewan and Bitonio impressed in year one. With the best athletes in college playing on the D-line these days, agility on the O-line has become absolutely vital.

— Will Andrus Peat and Ereck Flowers perform as well in the kick-slide drill as I expect? Can they match it with the length and strength to cement their place in round one? Can Brandon Scherff and La’ell Collins convince teams they can play tackle? How will Ty Sambrailo do in the bench press? He needs to show strength to match his foot speed. Can Jake Fisher likewise show upper body power and maybe a little extra (good) weight? How athletic is Penn State’s Donovan Smith or Corey Robinson at South Carolina?

— Is Leonard Williams as good as advertised? I think he shows real flashes of quality and his production at USC is good. But I’m not sure he’s quite the player he’s been hyped up to be in the media. If he shows up here with a supreme workout — I’ll eat my words. Speaking of USC prospects — how does running back Buck Allen perform? He doesn’t flash eye-catching size, speed or power — but he cuts on a dime. He has a shot to break round two as a top-notch cut-and-run back.

— How big is Shane Ray? He’s listed by Missouri at 6-3 and 245lbs but he looks smaller on tape. If he’s 6-1 and lacks length, how does that impact his stock? Rest assured he’ll do well in every drill as an explosive pass rusher. But teams value length and size, especially if you’re going to play D-end in the 4-3.

— I’ve seen some tape complaints on Oklahoma nose tackle Jordan Phillips. You know who had lousy college tape? Dontari Poe. Then he ran a 4.98 and went in the top-12 picks in 2012. If Phillips can run a similar time — and if he passes all the medical checks on his back — don’t be shocked if he enjoys a similar rise.

— Arik Armstead appears to be a favorite within the various front offices, much more so than in the media during the 2014 college season. He’s listed at 6-8 and 290lbs. Let’s see how big he really is and whether he can put on a show at that kind of size. You want to believe he’s another Calais Campbell. And yet Campbell didn’t have an amazing combine — running a 5.04 in 2008, posting 16 reps on the bench press (long arms — problematic here) and a 29.5-inch vertical. He had a 1.69 ten-yard split. It’ll be interesting to compare.

— We’ve been waiting 18 months to see Vic Beasley run a forty yard dash. He’s small, light and lacks length. It’s all about the speed with Beasley. Can he get anywhere near Bruce Irvin’s numbers (size and speed)? He’s going to have to run in the 4.5’s at least — you’d hope for the 4.4’s if he’s in the 230-240lbs range. He needs a great ten yard split too. Given his shorter arms you’d like to see a not-hopeless performance on the bench press too to alleviate some of the strength concerns. Irvin had 23 reps.

— I don’t see any of Carl Davis, Preston Smith, Henry Anderson or Mario Edwards Jr going in the first round. But they get hyped up a lot, so let’s see how athletic they really are. Smith is the most intriguing with excellent size and length. I’m just not sure he’s a top-athlete. Datone Jones forced his way into round one with a 4.80 forty, 112-inch broad jump and an excellent 4.32 short shuttle. That’s the benchmark for guys like Smith and Edwards Jr. Davis is bigger and has to look good compared to Malcom Brown and Eddie Goldman — two former 5-star recruits. As well as he played at the Senior Bowl, Davis’ tape is rank average.

— The defensive tackle I’m most interested in watching here? Washington State’s Xavier Cooper. I watched my first batch of games last week and he was very, very impressive. A possible second or third rounder for me, but I want to watch more before making a firm judgement.

— Hau’oli Kikaha’s medical checks will be interesting. Is he 100% healthy? And how athletic (or not) is he? He has the production, he’s a great hands fighter and he just gets to the quarterback. But he’s going to need to prove he’s more than a good college player. I’m not overly optimistic. If he he’s healthy though, teams will take interest in his production.

— Alabama safety Landon Collins was touted as a SPARQ demon a couple of years ago. Here’s your chance to prove it, Landon. In an especially weak year for safety’s he could go very early.

— LSU cornerback Jalen Collins is one of my favorite players this year. I think he could be a top-15 pick. He has the size and length. We know that already. I think on tape he shows rare athletic qualities too (eg chasing down Melvin Gordon in the open field). Monday could be his day. Get ready because Collins is a stud in the making. Jonathan Joseph ran a 4.31 at 5-11 and 188lbs in 2006. I’ll stick my neck out and say Collins pushes the 4.3’s at 6-2 and 198lbs.

— In terms of later round corners, I really like Alex Carter, Steven Nelson and Damian Swann. Out of the three, I suspect only Swann ticks the required ‘length/size’ boxes for Seattle. Which other corners stand out athletically to be the next possible Sherman/Maxwell/Browner? It’ll be a fascinating watch on Monday. This is the position, more than any other, where you can look at a sheet of measurements and eliminate three quarters of the group and focus on certain size ideals.

— Is Quinten Rollins a safety or a corner? You can ask the same question about Utah’s Eric Rowe. They need to show nimble footwork, change of direction skills, initial quickness and explosion. Still, Richard Sherman didn’t have the greatest combine so it’s never worth ruling anything out.

Let me know what you’ll be looking out for in the comments section.