Thursday marked the first day of on-field events and second day of prospect press conferences at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Defensive linemen and linebackers worked out, while defensive backs stepped up to the podiums. Here are the biggest things we learned from the day’s events.
Defensive linemen and linebackers worked out, while defensive backs met the media.
Former Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson put the league on notice. At the same time, Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper could allow Baltimore to quickly replace Patrick Queen in the first or second round.
With Day 2 scheduled for Friday, here are the top takeaways from the performance of the defensive linemen, edge rushers, and linebackers.
Edgerrin Cooper is dynamic
Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper @AggieFootball ran unofficial 40-yard dash of 4.52 seconds @edgerrincooper1 @KPRC2 @KPRC2RandyMc
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 1, 2024
Cooper may not be a first round pick, but if’s he’s on the board, the Ravens should pounce on the athletic linebacker.
4.52u for Edgerrin Cooper, the LB out of @AggieFootball 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/2BGgS10BDz— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2024
Cooper earned CBS Sports All-American honors 2023 after racking up a team-high 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks for Texas A&M.
Cooper was one of just two SEC off-ball linebackers to finish with at least eight sacks this year. He also tied for second in the conference with two forced fumbles and his two pass breakups ranked third among linebackers, and he’d take the Ravens defense to another level paired with Roquan Smith.
FSU DT is a rising prospect
Braden Fiske just was added to Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 players list and the former FSU defensive tackle could move into the first round after an elite performance on Day 1.
Fiske ran the fastest 40-yard dash of Group 1, which primarily consists of defensive tackles.
"OH YEAH!"
Braden Fiske knew his 4.78u 40 was a good one. 😂
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/sfsqrJ3NCy— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
The 6-foot-4, 292-pound Fiske also posted the highest vertical leap (33.5 inches) and longest broad jump (9-foot-9) of the defensive tackle group.
2024 Linebacker class can fly
Official 40-yard results among LBs:
4.43 Payton Wilson
4.46 Dallas Turner
4.47 Kalen DeLoach
4.51 Edgerrin Cooper
4.51 Trevin Wallace
4.55 Jordan Magee
4.56 Edefuan Ulofoshio
4.58 Curtis Jacobs
4.60 Chris Braswell
4.63 Tyrice Knight
4.63 Nathaniel Watson
4.64 Cedric Gray— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 1, 2024
We highlighted Edgerrin Cooper, but just about every inside and weakside linebacker impressed with their 40-yard dash times.
Payton Wilson running a 4.44 is BEYOND impressive📈
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 1, 2024
Dallas Turner
4.47 FOR DALLAS TURNER
pic.twitter.com/PN9aVNhVCD— PFF (@PFF) March 1, 2024
Former Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner ran an official 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 2024 combine, better than Derrick Henry and Jalen Hurts during their respective years.
Here you go:
DALLAS TURNER – SLOW MO🎥
40 1/2 inch vertical🚀 pic.twitter.com/4vsO1UdiiP
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) February 29, 2024
Elite athleticism from pass rushers
TOP 5 FASTEST Defensive Ends at the 2024 #NFLCombine
Chop Robinson (Penn State): 4.48
Mohamed Kamara (Colorado State): 4.57
Jared Verse (Florida State): 4.58
Xavier Thomas (Clemson): 4.62
Cedric Johnson (Ole Miss): 4.63 pic.twitter.com/sowCMX9Xyj— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
Along with Chop Robinson (Penn State) and Jared Verse (FSU), the pass rusher group at the combine again up the ante regarding elite speed and athleticism.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 29, 2024
Darius Robinson
Darius Robinson is a DT prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.64 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 60 out of 1620 DT from 1987 to 2024.
Spits projectedhttps://t.co/FPdCkBEoXg pic.twitter.com/Py3j0UA2jM
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 29, 2024
The Detroit Lions fan and Missouri defensive end ran a respectable 4.95 40-yard dash, while weighing close to 300 pounds.
From our Combine coverage on @NFLNetwork: #Mizzou DL Darius Robinson is still a #Lions fan, giving them the chance to do something cool. pic.twitter.com/f9mpE23Ol8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 29, 2024
Chop Robinson won the day
Chop Robinson made himself millions on Friday after blistering through the 40-yard dash.
Penn State’s 6-2 7/8, 254-pound pass rusher recorded an official 40-yard dash time of 4.48 seconds, the best among the defensive line group.
Robinson opted not to run a second 40.
Robinson also displayed his athleticims with a respectable number in the vertical jump (34 1/2 inches) and a strong number in the broad jump — 10-foot-8, which tied for the top DL number with Houston Christian edge rusher Jalyx Hunt.
Chop Robinson 💨💨💨
4.49u
pic.twitter.com/FFd7Znrbes— PFF (@PFF) February 29, 2024
Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat
Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat measured in at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 366 pounds on Thursday, making him one of the heavier prospects in recent combine history.
The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year played at 365 pounds last season for the Longhorns.
T’Vondre Sweat at 366 lbs just ran his 40 yard dash in 5.27 seconds and it was FLUID. Sweat’s adjusted 40 time at his height and weight is like an 180 pound DB running a 4.26. 🤯 @TvondreSweat pic.twitter.com/NQzcBwGtHj
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 29, 2024
Sweat didn’t match Jordan Davis’s 4.78-second 40-yard dash at 341 pounds from two years ago, but it was impressive.
Athletic defensive tackles
This is one of the more athletic defensive tackle groups in some time.
A look at the most athletic defensive tackles among 2024 combine participants according to the NGS athleticism score.
🥇 89 – Braden Fiske (@FSUFootball)
🥈 86 – Byron Murphy II (@TexasFootball)
🥉 83 – Kris Jenkins (@UMichFootball)*Pending shuttle and bench press results pic.twitter.com/4QAni3W6G6
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 29, 2024
