Month: March 2024 (Page 5 of 5)

Live Blog: Combine day two (Defensive backs & tight ends)

March 1, 2024 /

Welcome to the 2024 NFL combine coverage on Seahawks Draft Blog

Throughout the next few days I’ll be reacting live to everything happening in Indianapolis. I will also post a daily recap article and a daily live stream.

On top of that, Robbie Williams is attending the combine and will provide insight from his perspective inside Lucas Oil Field.

Keep refreshing this page for updates

The workouts begin today at 3pm ET (12pm PT).

Introductory notes

Today is probably my least favourite day of the combine. Every year, the NFL allows too many DB coaches onto the field. They all want to do their own individual drills, many of which are just variations of the backpedal and transition or the ‘W”. The day drags like crazy and in the past, the DB sessions have gone on way too long. With the new addition of the tight ends to this day, it could be a slog.

If you missed it earlier, I posted a video discussing the possibility of the Seahawks trading up for a quarterback. Check it out here. You can also check out my day one combine review here.

If you want to see measurement info for the DB’s and tight ends, click here.

One of my favourite players among the DB’s — cornerback TJ Tampa — has 32 1/8 inch arms. That’s good length for him at 6-1 and 189lbs. He is seriously underrated. I’ve been higher on Ryan Watts than most and he has incredible 34.5 inch arms at 6-3 and 208lbs. Blog favourite Malik Mustapha looks good at 5-10, 209lbs. I will also be keeping a close eye on Kitan Oladapo and Tyler Nubin today at safety.

There were concerns about Brock Bowers being shorter and smaller than advertised but he quelled those concerns by measuring at 6-3 and 243lbs. There’s doubt as to whether he’ll do any testing or drills today. Cade Stover is 6-4 and 247lbs. Expect him to test better than anyone expects today. I like him a lot.

Kool-Aid McKinstry is not testing today after it emerged he had a Jones fracture that need work. Cooper DeJean isn’t working out either, as he’s still recovering from an injury suffered during the season.

40 yard dash cornerbacks

Kris Abrams-Draine — 4.44 & 4.50
Terrion Arnold — 4.51 & 4.55
Mj Devonshire — 4.45 & 4.48
Marcellas Dial — 4.47 & 4.55
Willie Drew — 4.48 & 4.47
Renardo Green — 4.54 & 4.50
Myles Harden — 4.52 & 4.51
Daequan Hardy — 4.39 & 4.39
Cam Hart — 4.50 & 4.59
Khyree Jackson — 4.50 & 4.52
DJ James — 4.43 & 4.46
Isaiah Johnson — 4.64 & 4.66
Elijah Jones — 4.45 & 4.48
Jarrian Jones — 4.38 & DNR
Kalen King — 4.61 & 4.62
Dwight McGlothern — 4.47 & DNR
Max Melton — 4.39 & 4.40
Quinyon Mitchell — 4.33 & 4.38
Josh Newton — 4.52 & 4.52
Andru Phillips — 4.48 & 4.57
Deantre Prince — 4.39 & 4.42
Nehemiah Pritchett — 4.36 & 4.38
Ennis Rakestraw Jr — 4.54 & 4.51
Decamerion Richardson — 4.34 & 4.36
Mike Sainristil — 4.47 & DNR
Chau Smith-Wade — 4.54 & 4.57
Tarheeb Still — 4.52 & 4.53
Ryan Watts — 4.53 & 4.53
Nate Wiggins — 4.29 & DNR

Nate Wiggins injured his groin running the forty and had to be helped back into the locker room. He said he felt it ‘pop’ and that ‘it was on fire’. Then he came back out and said it was a hip-flexor.

Cornerback broad jumps

Max Melton: 11’4″
Andru Phillips 11’3″
Khyree Jackson: 11’1″
Elijah Jones: 10’11”
Mike Sainristil: 10’11”
Renardo Green: 10’10”
Cam Hart: 10’10”
Isaiah Johnson: 10’9″
Jarrian Jones: 10’9″
Terrion Arnold: 10’9″
Marcellas Dial: 10’9″
Decamerion Richardson: 10’8″
Nate Wiggins: 10’7″
Daequan Hardy: 10’6″
Chau Smith-Wade: 10’5″
Deantre Prince: 10’5″
Ryan Watts: 10’5″
M.J. Devonshire: 10’4″
Kalen King: 10’2″
Quinyon Mitchell: 10’0″
Myles Harden: 9’10”
Dwight McGlothern: 9’7″

Cornerback vertical jumps

Elijah Jones: 42.5
Daequan Hardy: 42.5
Max Melton: 40.5
Marcellas Dial: 40.5
Jarrian Jones: 39.5
Cam Hart: 39.5
Isaiah Johnson: 38.5
M.J. Devonshire: 38.5
Quinyon Mitchell: 38
Renardo Green: 37.5
Kalen King: 37
Terrion Arnold: 37
Khyree Jackson: 36.5
Myles Harden: 35.5
Kris Abrams-Draine: 33.5
Dwight McGlothern: 32

Cornerback on-field drills

As is typically the case, the initial backpedal drills were not great. The transition wasn’t smooth, they often weren’t running properly down the line and several jogged. Ryan Watts, a player I’ve liked since seeing him flash in games for Texas, had the final rep and for me — it was one of the better ones.

Jarvis Brownlee Jr had a good rep on his second attempt. They’ve gone to commercials so think that’s our lot for backpedals.

We’re now watching an interview with Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman, who seems to be the latest college coach making contacts by attending the NFL combine so he can get out of the hell hole that is the NIL-era version of college football.

Brownlee looks especially smooth with his transition compared to a lot of the other cornerbacks. Very loose and comfortable. Kamari Lassiter, who didn’t run a forty, looks the part with his length and lean frame. He is moving pretty well out there. Daniel Jeremiah is getting carried away talking about Max Melton based on a good forty. He’s already bumped him up to a third and then a second. The tape didn’t show that and he’s not been that smooth in transition, at least for me.

Terrion Arnold looks good when transitioning, his ‘W’ drill was nice and precise and he’s having a good session. Jarvis Brownlee Jr has stood out to me with his frame, athleticism and twitchy movements. Josh Newton continues to have a good workout after a slightly underwhelming 2023. I’ve enjoyed every one of Ryan Watts’ workouts so far. He could be a nice day three flier.

It’s been difficult to track the workouts on the NFL Network. They did an interview with Chris Ballard, now it’s an interview with the new Michigan Head Coach and the commercials keep on coming. We’ve seen very little of the drills and received almost no serious analysis of what’s actually going on.

A Seahawks scout or coach has been among the cornerbacks throughout their on-field workouts. It looks like he might be timing the drills, maybe for the whole league.

Official 40 times for cornerbacks

Nate Wiggins — 4.28
Quinyon Mitchell — 4.33
Decamerion Richardson — 4.34
Nehemiah Pritchett — 4.36
Deantre Prince — 4.38
Jarrian Jones — 4.38
Daequan Hardy — 4.38
Max Melton — 4.39
DJ James — 4.42
Elijah Jones — 4.44

Safety broad jumps

Tyler Owens: 12’2″
Jaylin Simpson: 11’1″
Jaylen Key: 10’10”
Evan Williams: 10’6″
Jaylon Carlies: 10’5″
Sione Vaki: 10’5″
Millard Bradford: 10’4″
Cole Bishop: 10’4″
Andre’ Sam: 10’3″
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson: 10’3″
Jaden Hicks: 10’2″
Dominique Hampton: 10’2″
Josh Proctor: 10’1″
Tykee Smith: 10’0″
Kitan Oladapo: 9’9″
Daijahn Anthony: 9’9″
James Williams: 9’9″
Demani Richardson: 9’8″
Patrick McMorris: 9’4″
Kamren Kinchens: 9’2″

Safety vertical jumps

Tyler Owens: 41
Evan Williams: 40.5
Jaylin Simpson: 39.5
Sione Vaki: 39.5
Dominique Hampton: 39
Cole Bishop: 39
Millard Bradford: 38.5
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson: 38
Jaden Hicks: 37.5
Daijahn Anthony: 37
Jaylen Key: 36.5
Kitan Oladapo: 36
Tykee Smith: 36
Andre’ Sam: 36
Kamren Kinchens: 35
Josh Proctor: 32.5
Jaylon Carlies: 32.5
Demani Richardson: 31
Patrick McMorris: 31
James Williams: 30

Safety 40 yard dash times

It’s worth remembering that none of Baltimore’s safeties under Mike Macdonald ran particularly fast times.

Daijahn Anthony — 4.56 & 4.58
Cole Bishop — 4.45 & 4.49
Millard Bradford — 4.47 & 4.42
Javon Bullard — 4.47 & 4.48
Calen Bullock — 4.49 & 4.54
Jaylon Carlies — 4.50 & 4.54
Dominique Hampton — 4.51 & 4.54
Jaylen Key — 4.60 & 4.64
Kam Kinchens — 4.65 & 4.68
Kitan Oladapo — 4.58 & 4.60
Tyler Owens — DNF
Josh Proctor — 4.60 & 4.56
Demani Richardson — 4.60 & 4.61
Andre’ Sam — 4.59 & 4.62
Jaylin Simpson — 4.47 & 4.45
Tylee Smith — 4.48 & 4.46
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson — 4.42 & 4.41
Sione Vaki — 4.62 & 4.62
Evan Williams — 4.61 & 4.62
James Williams — 4.65 & 4.67

Tyler Owens, who did great in the explosive tests, pulled up during his first forty run and it’s been confirmed he’s out for the day. As you can see, several other big name safeties didn’t run including Tyler Nubin and Malik Mustapha.

I asked a source at Washington to tell me more about Dominique Hampton. This was the review: “Freak of nature, smart, consistent and he’s a great dude. Quiet killer. Our defense scheme funnelled the vast majority of plays to the strong safety by design and he was good enough in that key position for us to go to a Championship.”

Sounds like someone the Seahawks could be interested in.

Safety on-field drills

The NFL Network hasn’t shown a lot of the early drills. We saw some transitions — not exactly a worthwhile exercise for safeties — then straight to commercials after an interview with Brandon Beane.

The safeties are now transitioning and then tracking the football. As a group they’ve done an excellent job high-pointing the football, tracking it in the air. It’s been impressive — although Jaden Hicks messed his rep. Kam Kinchens gets a lot of hype, including on this broadcast, but I thought he was one of the most overrated players in college football. He didn’t run fast and he didn’t look comfortable tracking the ball.

Tyler Nubin is out there working out despite not doing testing. It appears Malik Mustapha is simply out of the combine. Kitan Oladapo made a superb catch — we’ve had a lot of great catches in this session. The safeties have some hands. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson just made an outstanding catch off the turf too. Really impressive hands by multiple players.

I like the look of Dominique Hampton and Jaden Hicks in the ‘W” drill. Kitan Oladapo slipped on his plant and limped off injured during his rep. Andre Sam’ showed well stopping and starting. Tykee Smith, like some of the others, looked a bit stiff here.

Tyler Nubin didn’t do testing but a further tape review last week made me believe he’d fit Mike Macdonald’s system and Seattle’s character desires and I think he’s moved well enough on the field to believe he genuinely is the top safety. He’s not a special athlete but he’s in control, his body is well proportioned, he can cover and close. There’s a lot to like — but he’ll likely go in a range where the Seahawks currently have zero picks.

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times. There are too many defensive back drills that are too similar. We’re four hours in and we’re just seeing the same thing over and over again. All this means is a later finish, no agility testing for the tight ends and probably most of these DB’s too.

Rich Eisen, Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah are back to their old ways of talking about absolutely anything other than what’s happening on the field.

Calen Bullock looks very thin and light. Not sure you’d want him up in the box much. Dominique Hampton, on the other hand, looks the part. As does Jaden Hicks — he almost has the body type of a poor man’s Kyle Hamilton. Tyler Nubin looked incredibly comfortable running the gauntlet.

I really liked Dadrion Taylor-Demerson on tape but had no idea he was this level of athlete. He’s tested well and shown well in the drills — so it’s time for a bit of tape revision.

That’s the end of the safety drills (and the defensive players at the combine). Next up it’s tight ends.

Tight end broad jumps

Ben Sinnott: 10’6″
Theo Johnson: 10’5″
Jaheim Bell: 10’4″
Dallin Holker: 10’2″
Tip Reiman: 10’1″
Trey Knox: 10’1″
Jared Wiley: 9’10”
Tanner McLachlan: 9’9″
Brevyn Spann-Ford: 9’8″
Cade Stover: 9’8″

Tight end vertical jumps

Ben Sinnott: 40.00″
Theo Johnson: 39.50″
Jared Wiley: 37.00″
Tanner McLachlan: 35.00″
Jaheim Bell: 35.00″
Cade Stover: 34.50″
Tip Reiman: 33.50″
Dallin Holker: 32.50″
Trey Knox: 32.50″
Brevyn Spann-Ford: 31.50″

These are incredible explosive testing numbers for Ben Sinnott. Not sure anyone expected that.

A reminder — the key tests to look out for with tight ends are the short shuttle, three cone and 10-yard splits. We’ll see if anyone does agility testing, seeing as they’ve been bumped to the very end of Friday night to test.

It’s been confirmed that Brock Bowers is not working out today.

Meanwhile, this is interesting:

Tight end forty yard times

10-yard splits in brackets

Jaheim Bell — 4.61 & 4.63 (1.58)
Devin Culp — 4.47 & DNR (1.55)
Dallin Holker — 4.81 & 4.78 (1.66)
Theo Johnson — 4.65 & 4.58 (1.55)
Tanner McLachlan — 4.66 & 4.61 (1.58)
Tip Reiman — 4.64 & 4.64 (1.55)
Ja’Tavion Sanders — 4.74 & 4.69 (1.59)
Ben Sinnott — 4.68 & 4.70 (1.59)
Brevyn Spann-Ford — 4.76 & 4.79 (1.67)
Cade Stover — 4.65 & DNR (1.59)
Jared Wiley — 4.62 & 4.65 (1.62)

There are some really nice 10-yard splits here. Anything in the 1.5’s is impressive.

I’ve paused the workouts to quickly listen to Hugh Millen on KJR. Quick update, Millen was worth it. Always gold.

On these initial drills the word that springs to mind watching Ben Sinnott is ‘dynamic’. Blocking isn’t said to be a strength of Devin Culp’s and we sat that on the sleds. Theo Johnson did a better job and is well sized and athletic. Tip Reiman’s rep on the sled was textbook and managed to get the crowd cheering a sled drill, which is a first. Reiman is built like a block of granite. Great frame. Cade Stover also did an excellent job.

On the gauntlet, Reiman let the ball get into his body a bit too much but he caught everything. I though Ja’Tavion Sanders and Ben Sinnott had a similar rep. Cade Stover is very good at cupping his hands and he showed that here but he didn’t sprint through his gauntlet and was too careful, trying to catch every pass.

Tanner McLachlan moved well on the in-cut drill. His body movements are precise. Sinnott just looked powerful, quick and dynamic on his rep. I’d like to see Cade Stover unlock things in the way Sinnott is doing and just go flat out.

Jaheim Bell looks like a useful move-TE. He ran well on his wheel route and made a good, difficult grab. Theo Johnson is very leggy, he’s a long strider. I’m not sure he can be a dominant pass catcher but he can be a useful contributor. Tip Reiman dropped his pass on the wheel route. Sinnott, again, just looked superb.

The big winner among this group is undoubtedly Ben Sinnott. A complete performance so far. He’s sharp into his breaks, he maintains speed through the route, he’s tracking the ball well and showing great hands.

A.J. Barner is more of a blocker but he’s dropped virtually every pass so far. But then he made a great grab on the fade route, of course. Jaheim Bell made a spectacular one-handed grab. Devin Culp tracked and caught his well. Theo Johnson made an awkward catch and got both feet in which was impressive, given how contorted his body was. Tanner McLachlan’s rep wasn’t well run.

Cornerback short shuttles

Myles Hard — 3.98
Mike Sainristil — 4.01
Kamari Lassiter — 4.12
Ryan Watts — 4.13
Josh Newton — 4.15
Kalen King — 4.16
Cam Hart — 4.24
Chau Smith-Wade 4.32
Josh Wallace — 4.35
MJ Devonshire — 4.35

Remember — Chop Robinson ran a 4.25 at 255lbs.

Cornerback three cones

Kamari Lassiter — 6.62
Ryan Watts — 6.82
Myles Harden — 6.88
Mike Sainristil — 6.99
Josh Newton — 7.01
Chau Smith-Wade — 7.05
Cam Hart — 7.12
MJ Devonshire

Kamari Lassiter’s three-cone should give him a huge boost. That’s a number, to go with the way he did drills, that could/should secure a top-22 placing.

Safety short shuttles

Dominique Hampton — 4.14
Jaden Hicks — 4.37

Safety three cones

Dominique Hampton — 6.83
Jaden Hicks — 6.88

Dominique Hampton had a great day today.

Only two safeties did any agility testing. Big thanks, NFL.

I’m going to end the live blog today, while hoping the tight ends do any agility testing. Fingers crossed. Reaction stream starting shortly, article reviewing the day to come too.

Newer posts »

© 2025 Seahawks Draft Blog

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑