The quarterbacks, tight ends, and receivers kicked off the 2022 NFL Combine and definitely did not disappoint. We had an amazingly fast group of receivers, a big and athletic group of tight ends, and the quarterbacks showcased their arms on deep balls to end the evening, which wrapped up just before 10 p.m. ET.
Below you can find some notable takeaways from the night. We’ll be back with live coverage on Friday starting at 4 p.m. ET.
Receivers fly
The receivers ran the 40 yard dash in fast forward. From Tyquan Thornton’s official 4.28 to Velus Jones’ 4.31 to nine — yes, nine — other wideouts running under 4.40, it’s probably the fastest receiver group in combine history. North Dakota State’s Christian Watson ran 4.36 with a 38.5-inch vertical and 11-foot, four-inch broad jump, while Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce dazzled at 6-3 and 211 pounds with a 4.33 time in the 40 to go along with a 40.5-inch vertical and 10-foot,-9-inch broad jump. Speed and explosiveness, this receiver class has both in spades.
Big tight end group impresses
This is a large tight end class. And no, not just large compared to normal humans. Large compared to recent tight end classes. There were six tight ends at least 6-6 and only three were under 6-4.
Virginia’s 6-7 tight end Jelani Woods flew to a 4.61 time in the 40, while Maryland’s Chigoziem Okonkwo — more compact at 6-2 4/8″ and 238 pounds — led the group at 4.52.
Quarterbacks demonstrate their arm strength
I don’t take much from quarterback prospects throwing against air at the combine, but the conclusion of the evening was fun. Liberty’s Malik Willis, Nevada’s Carson Strong, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, and Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett all let it rip down the field and dropped a few throws into the bucket 60-plus yards down the field. The fans in attendance liked it. I did, too.
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Thanks so much for following along on Day 1 — Night 1? — of the 2022 NFL Combine on-field workouts. We’ll be back right here, same time tomorrow!
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Feels like this jump-ball drill would have more on-field application if it was a back-shoulder toss down the sideline
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And that will do it for the first night of the NFL Combine. It is going to be difficult to top what we saw from Indianapolis today.
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Brown’s EJ Perry wildly off with these jump balls in the end zone.
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Kenny Pickett was throwing some great balls. He threw it to the outside shoulder where only his guy would’ve been able to make the play and it was floated perfectly.
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I think Carson Strong or Malik Willis have a 75-yarder in them
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Let’s see a 75-plus yard completion here to wrap things up for tonight
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That was a fun show from the QBs throwing it deep. Hopefully they continue to hype it up like that in the future. Had never really been the case in the past.
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That lost long ball from Willis was right around 70 yards in the air.
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Malik Willis’ deep throws are glorious
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Maybe it’s just because I love his arm talent, but it does feel like the ball is coming out of Malik Willis’ hands at a different speed than the other QBs in this group
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Carson Strong is one of the tallest quarterbacks in attendance and his attempts have been low all night.
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Did you see Garrett Wilson running the gauntlet? He was unnecessarily leaping with every grab. So strange.
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Brock Purdy played at Iowa State for two decades. It felt like that long of a career anyway.
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Malik Willis and Jalen Hurts might be comparable by size, but Willis’ traits are more impressive
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Christian Watson. So smooth. He’s that type of “glider” on film too.
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These receivers were jogging, and the QBs lofted these passes higher than Russell Wilson
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I swear I’m normally the opposite of a Debbie Downer, but I don’t think Watson’s film is of first-round caliber. But he’s a first-round athlete. No question.
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Josh is right on Watson. There was *some* first-round buzz for the NDSU WR before the combine. Him landing late in the first round is now on the table.
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Christian Watson
6’4″
208 pounds
32 1/2 arm
10 1/8 hands
11-foot-4-inch broad jump
4.28u second 40-yard dash
He wins the day.
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Christian Watson is 6’4, 208 and ran a sub 4.3 second 40-yard dash. That is absurd.
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Tyquan Thornton! Wow. If his 4.21 second 40-yard dash stands, it will be the fastest in Combine history.
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My comparison for Khail Shakir — stylistically — was Cooper Kupp. Just ran sub 4.40. Good for him. Awesome route runner, deceptive after the catch…. just like Super Bowl MVP.
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We had 9 WRs picked in the first two rounds in 2019 — that other super-fast WR class — I think we see more in April before Round 3 starts.
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I was told 4.44-4.50 for Wan’Dale before the Combine so I imagine his camp is happy. Really tough player that was used in a gadget role at Nebraska. He transferred to Kentucky and was able to showcase a more diverse skillset at all three levels.
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After disappointing jumps, Josh’s guy Wan’Dale Robinson runs 4.38. Fantastic time for him. And he looks that fast on film, to be honest.
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George Pickens at 4.43. Damn good time for him. He does have the body type to run fast, and he did. First-round talent on my board.
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Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce was moving with a 4.33 unofficial.
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