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Chris Meaney
The NFL Combine was back for 2022 after a one-year reprieve, and while Hand Size Twitter was not missed, there’s definitely something special about getting official measurements and athletic profiles on top prospects.
It should go without saying, of course, that for most prospects, the Combine is not a make-or-break event. Yes, some players will shoot up draft boards and others will fall, but the Combine is just one piece of the puzzle.
With that said, let’s run through some top risers after the Combine.
2022 NFL Combine Risers
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
Watson, from North Dakota State, had a big-time combine. Despite his size (6’4” and 208 pounds), he ripped off a 4.36 40-yard dash, sixth-fastest in the class and ahead of WRs who are at least 4 inches and at least 20 pounds lighter. He also had the sixth-best vertical in the class and best broad jump. Size, speed and leaping ability should have Watson flying up draft boards as we speak.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State
His most impressive workout was the 40-yard dash, when he ripped off a 4.38, tied for 13th-fastest among RBs over the last 10 years. His vertical and broad jump were both average (41st and 46th percentiles, respectively, over the last decade), but the speed alone should solidify Walker as a Day 2 pick.
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Hall staked his claim as the RB1 of the draft class with a fast 4.39 40-yard dash, tying Jonathan Taylor’s impressive speed from just a few years ago. Hall also did the vertical jump and broad jump, finishing in the 73rd and 56th percentiles in the last decade, respectively.
Pierre Strong, RB, South Dakota State
Strong may have had the best RB performance of the Combine. He posted a lightning fast 4.37 40-time, best among RBs in the class. That’s the best Combine indicator of whether an RB will get drafted in the first three rounds. He also ran drills to catch passes, something he’ll likely be asked to do in the NFL with his speed. Strong is a player to watch because he’s not guaranteed to be a top-100 guy (e.g. drafted in the first three rounds), but notching the top speed in the draft may help him do just that. If he sneaks in as a Day 2 pick (top three rounds), his fantasy outlook improves tremendously, and he’ll be able to thank this strong Combine performance as a result.
Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
The best name in the class, Moore was not incredible across the board by any means, but he was one of the better performers in key events and looked comparatively better than other WRs in the class as a result. He posted a 4.41 40-time (tied for ninth-fastest in the class). He finished top 10 in all major workouts except for vertical, but he is only 5’10”, so that was never expected to be his best.
