The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine continued on Friday with the offensive line working out on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.
Here are three Chargers takeaways from the workouts.
‘The Freak’ wows
This year’s offensive line class is thought to be one of the deeper position groups, with Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs sitting at the top. While they all performed well today, the former Hawkeye stole the show.
Wirfs, who was listed as No. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List, absolutely tore it up. He put together one of the best all-around performances certainly by an offensive lineman in recent memory. Wirfs ran a blazing 4.85 40-yard dash and 1.69 10-yard split at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.
Prior to running that eye-popping 40, Wirfs jumped out of the gym with an insane 36.5-inch vertical, which is an NFL Combine record for an offensive lineman. Wirfs then tied a Combine record for broad jump by an offensive lineman with a 10-foot-1 leap.
Should the Chargers look to address the offensive line in the first-round, Wirfs possesses starting-level talent at right tackle. He’s also played left tackle and he even provides the ability to kick inside to guard, but his strength and size are ideal for the right side in Year 1.
Big man can move
Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs raised some eyebrows with his blazing 40 time on Thursday night, but what might be more impressive is someone running it faster than most at his positional group at 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds.
Mekhi Becton, the former Louisville product, put up an official 5.10 clocking in the 40-yard dash. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Becton is the heaviest player to run a sub-5.2 40-yard dash at the combine since 2006.
Becton did not participate in the position drills with the rest of the offensive linemen after tweaking his hamstring during the 40. But even though he was unable to participate in the on-field drills, the athleticism for his size has NFL teams buzzing.
Like Wirfs, if the Chargers wanted to take Becton it would have to come in the first-round. Becton projects as a starter at both right or left tackle, whose combination of power, play strength and athleticism would be a major boost up front for Los Angeles.
Plenty of intriguing options to be found on Day 2
Like I mentioned earlier, this year’s offensive line class is thought to be one of the deeper position groups. If the Chargers want to take their quarterback of the future in Round 1, there will be a handful of potential starters in the second and third-round.
Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland earned the spotlight as the one player to watch at each position group, and he didn’t disappoint. Cleveland ran a 4.93 40, while also posting the best 3-cone (7.26) and shuttle (4.46) of any offensive lineman in attendance. On the field, he showed smooth movement skills and solid flexion.
USC’s Austin Jackson has been getting some buzz as a top-20 selection, but he should be in strong consideration if he’s available at No. 37. Jackson ran a 5.07 40, 1.73 10-yard split and jumped a 115-inch broad jump. The 6-foot-4 and 322 pound tackle, who was smooth in the on-field drills, is suited for the right tackle position while he develops his skillset.
I thought UConn’s Matt Peart had some of the best footwork out of all the offensive linemen in the agility drills this evening. Peart ran the 40-yard dash in 5.01. He has the length and athleticism to start out on the right side while developing his anchor before making the switch to the left tackle position.
Auburn’s Jack Driscoll hasn’t gotten a lot of attention as he’s been overshadowed by his former teammate Prince Tega Wanogho, but today’s showing put him back in the light. Driscoll ran the second fastest 40 (5.02). He showed adequate footwork in the agility drills, as well. Driscoll projects best at right tackle, but he offers some inside versatility.
