2018 NFL Scouting Combine: DL & LB Recap

Photo: AP

• Continuing to push doubters out of his way, Shaquem Griffin ran an all-time linebacker best time of 4.38 on Sunday. He matched his brother’s, Shaquill, mark from last year’s combine. At 227 pounds, Griffin looked clean in on-field drills with easy enough movement skills to elude around the cones and secure the catch. Griffin is making teams discuss him being selected before the fifth round with his impressive draft season.
• Harold Landry, Boston College, has locked up a first round selection. Landry finished with an official 40-yard dash time of 4.64 while pocketing a 36-inch vertical jump and an impressive 3.88 3-cone time. Landry’s length and pursuit off the edge continue to be intriguing, but figuring out what position he plays at the next level is of concern.
• Bradley Chubb, potential top three pick, impressed with the majority of his times and measurements this afternoon. His day started off with a 4.66 40-yard dash time. He continued to showcase his athleticism when completing a 36-inch vertical jump. Compared to his contemporaries, Chubb did not post an eye-popping 3-cone time in a positive way. The NC State defender posted a time of 7.37, which stood behind Sam Hubbard, Harold Landry, Arden Key and Marcus Davenport.
• Playing primarily as a stand up edge rusher in a 4-3 scheme at Oklahoma, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo worked out with the linebackers on Sunday afternoon. The Sooner defender did not test well in his first 40 finishing with a time of 4.89. He cleaned it up to run an official 4.77 in his second attempt.
• Arden Key (knee) and Sam Hubbard did not run the 40-yard dash. Both will run at their pro days. Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith and Washington defensive lineman Vita Vea had their days cut short after tweaking their hamstrings in the 40-yard dash. Smith posted a 4.58 in his first run and Vea posted an official 5.10.
• Taven Bryan of Florida finished with a 4.98 in the 40-yard dash but had an impressive initial 10-yard split of 1.68. His 35-inch vertical jump placed sixth among all defensive linemen. The rest of his impressive numbers included a 119-inch broad jump, a 7.12 3-cone and 4.48 short shuttle.
• Billed as one of the top recruits in his class, Josh Sweat may have fallen short of expectations at Florida State. His athleticism was never of question, or at least shouldn’t have been, but his consistency in decision making and anticipation draw some concerns. Sweat impressed with big numbers on Sunday starting with his 4.53 40-yard dash time (1.55 10-yard split). His vertical was equally as impressive with a 39.5-inch mark.