The 2024 NFL combine kicked into high gear on Thursday as the defensive line and linebackers took the field for the first day of on-field workouts.
The Washington Commanders have specific needs at edge rusher and linebacker, and each of those positions was represented well Thursday.
Which players helped themselves the most? Here are six takeaways from Thursday’s on-field workouts featuring defensive tackles, edge rushers and linebackers.
Dallas Turner is going top 10, maybe higher
Dallas Turner entered the NFL combine as the top pass rusher in the draft. Turner measured in at 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, and had a ridiculous 83″ wingspan. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds. You match those athletic traits up with Turner’s production at Alabama, and teams with a need for an edge rusher in the top 10 are happy. How high could Turner go? It looks like the Cardinals could be in play.
NFL Network shot briefly caught #Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort expressing excitement when Alabama edge Dallas Turner ripped off a 4.47 in the 40. Could see Turner being in play at 4 or an Arizona trade back. And coaches/GMs: rarely thrilled when caught expressing workout emotion.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) March 1, 2024
Medicals are everything for Payton Wilson
Thursday was a big day for N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson. Everyone has seen his tape. It’s outstanding. Wilson has all the traits teams covet for a modern NFL inside linebacker. He has size, football IQ, physicality, and production, and he can fly. Wilson had the best 40 time of the day Thursday, with a time of 4.43 seconds. Two knee injuries and a shoulder injury will likely keep Wilson out of the first round, so his medicals are everything for him. A terrific player.
A new Day 1 leader.
Payton Wilson of @PackFootball with a 4.44u. 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/lValfnTQGT— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2024
A great day for Laiatu Latu
Laiatu Latu is battling Turner to be the top edge rusher selected. Turner likely wins out because of Latu’s injury history. Latu was forced to medically retire at Washington due to a neck injury. Latu transferred to UCLA, where he was medically cleared and became a phenomenal player. At the combine, he measured in at an impressive 6-foot-5, 259 pounds, ran a 4.64 40, with a 10-yard split of 1.62 seconds. Like Wilson, Latu’s status will likely be determined by his medicals. Latu has the best tape of any edge rusher in the class.
.@laiatu_latu put on a show at the #NFLCombine! 💪
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus
📷: AP pic.twitter.com/xKbE2jhMhs— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) March 1, 2024
Chop Robinson pushed his way into the 1st round
The Penn State edge rusher doesn’t have huge college numbers, but many believe his best football is ahead of him. He measured in at 6-foot-3, 254 pounds and ran a 4.48 40. His 10-yard split of 1.54 seconds is the best ever recorded by a player over 250 pounds. Several mock drafts had Robinson going No. 36 to Washington. That’s probably not happening. The NFL craves freaky edge rushers. Robinson is one. NFL teams are going to bet on that physical upside.
1.54 10-yard split for Chop Robinson.
Fastest ever for a EDGE over 250 pounds.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) February 29, 2024
T’Vondre Sweat stands out in every way
They say this isn’t a deep class at defensive tackle. A few players stood out on Thursday among this group, including Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. He is 6-foot-4 and weighed in at 366 pounds. Sweat looks graceful for such a large human being. Teams looking for someone to plug in the middle of the defense would be smart to target Sweat. He can be a three-down player in the NFL. A terrific day for Sweat.
So fluid for T’Vondre Sweat here.
Sweat makes this look so easy at 366 pounds. pic.twitter.com/vdmKXSa18t
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) February 29, 2024
Braden Fiske may have had a better day than anyone
Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske bet on himself when he transferred from Western Michigan to Florida State in 2023. He had a terrific year for the Seminoles. On Thursday, no player on the field may have helped themselves more than the 6-foot-5, 292-pound Fiske. Depending on the type of defense he plays in, Fiske can play inside or outside in the NFL. He posted elite numbers across the board, including a 4.78 40 and a ridiculous 4.37 short shuttle time. A money-making performance for Fiske.
Braden Fiske (@FSUFootball) is the first defensive tackle to lead his position group in the 40-yard dash (4.78), vertical jump (33.5") and broad jump (9'9") since Tank Johnson in 2004.
Fiske leads all 2024 DTs with an 89 athleticism score pending shuttles and bench press. pic.twitter.com/rvO3QghTUB
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 29, 2024
