This year I will not be running a live blog throughout the combine. The workload was becoming too much, eight hours of live blogging going into the early hours of the morning followed by a full review of the day (including data analysis) and a live stream. Instead I’m going to share a few thoughts at the start of each day here, spend a bit more time on my daily review article and Robbie Williams will be joining me on a stream on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday to offer his thoughts from inside Lucas Oil Field.
For the list of combine measurements, click here.
A number of top players will not be testing or doing drills today. Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, Mykel Williams, Mike Green, Kenneth Grant and Jalon Walker will not be involved. Others, such as Jihaad Campbell, have promised a big day of testing.
Campbell really intrigues me. Regulars will know I’ve been reviewing some players over the last week or so. I’ve done 249 players on the board (plus many others who opted not to declare) so it’s important to reassess, review but not overcorrect. In recent days I’ve developed my opinions to be a little bit lower on Kelvin Banks Jr, quite a bit higher on Jaylin Noel and Jack Bech and I’ve also become really keen on Campbell’s tape having studied a few more games.
Aside from his impressive size and build, he just plays with a level of aggression that I think will appeal to the Seahawks. I told someone yesterday in an exchange that he reminds me a little bit of a linebacker version of Devon Witherspoon. When Campbell hits you he leaves a mark. He is a thunderous tackler with one of the lower missed tackle rates in college (5.9%) and he registered 65 total ‘stops’ — third most among linebackers (just ahead of UNLV’s Jackson Woodard who I also studied recently and really like).
He can drop easily in coverage, shows off a high football IQ and having originally joined Alabama as a pass rusher, he can be used to create pressure off the edge. He had eight sacks in 2024 and took 112 snaps as a defensive lineman. For what it’s worth, he also lined up four times at free safety and 27 times in the slot. He’s a great fit for Mike Macdonald because of his aggression and physicality, understanding of concepts and versatility.
If he tests well as he suggested, not only could he be a BPA candidate at #18 — he might not even get past the likes of Atlanta, Arizona and Cincinnati before Seattle’s pick. For me, he’s a much more complete, cleaner, less risky defensive playmaker than some of the pass rushers being touted to go in the teens. He has legitimate potential to be one of the best players at his position in the NFL.
Can the Seahawks justify taking him if they re-sign Ernest Jones? Absolutely yes. Tyrice Knight is not so good that you would avoid adding someone this talented. Knight would provide the kind of depth Seattle has lacked at linebacker over the years.
One final point on Campbell — he very clearly has high football and personal character. This is important to the Seahawks and has helped shape their last few drafts. I’m not going to get into it names here but that isn’t the case for some other players working out today.
I’m really keen to see how Bradyn Swinson tests. Can he produce the kind of 10-yard split that would make him a very exciting talent? How athletic is Josaiah Stewart or Donovan Ezeiruaku? Oluwafemi Oladejo had an amazing combine, how does he test here?
It’ll be interesting to see how Darius Alexander, Sai’vion Jones and Jordan Burch perform. Big things are expected of Landon Jackson. At defensive tackle, there’s hope Tyleik Williams puts on a show and I’m really keen to see how TJ Sanders, Ty Robinson, Joshua Farmer, Shemar Turner and JJ Pegues test (plus Riley Mills if healthy).
At linebacker, how good an athlete is Carson Schwesinger? I’m looking forward to seeing Demetrius Knight and Jackson Woodard too.
Use the comments section as an open-thread. I’ll be chipping in throughout the workouts.
If you missed my huge combine preview, which goes position-by-position, check it out here.
