On the second day of field drills at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, the defensive backs demonstrated their athletic abilities for the first time at Lucas Oil Stadium. A handful of prospects increased their value through strong performances, while others had disappointing performances that could catapult them down the league as a whole.
Here are some of the winners and losers from Friday's on-field practices in Indianapolis, starting with a look at the measurements of prospects in CBS Sports' consensus Top 32 rankings.
Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) | 4.33 seconds | — | 38 inches | 10 foot |
Terrion Arnold (Alabama) | 4.51 | — | 37 | 10-foot-9 |
Nate Wiggins (Clemson) | 4.28 | — | 36 | 10-foot-7 |
Kool Aid McKinstry (Alabama) | N/A | — | N/A | N/A |
Ennis Rakestraw (Missouri) | 4.51 | — | — | 10 foot |
Review of the top rated DBs
Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell: A-
The only criticism for Mitchell was the 10-foot broad jump. A little below average. The rest of his day was spectacular. Running 4.33 seconds at just over six feet and 195 pounds is sensational. The 38-inch vertical double checks the explosiveness box. One of the most obvious ballhawks in his class, Mitchell has proven that he is also one of the most athletic.
Alabama CB Terrion Arnold: B+
Arnold's 4.51-second 40-yard dash was a bit surprising – he looks faster on film – and that's why his grade is a touch lower. Standing just under 6 feet tall and weighing 190 pounds, the rest of his training felt like first-round caliber.
Clemson CB Nate Wiggins: A-
At 6-1 and 173 pounds (!), Wiggins has one of the most unique – but increasingly trendy – frames we've seen among top cornerback prospects in years, but he did what you're supposed to do at that size by who sparked the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.28 seconds. He suffered a hip injury in the process, but that's clearly the former Clemson star's first-round speed.
Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry: N/A
Double bummer for McKinstry, who was unable to show off seemingly high-level athletic ability at the combine, but began his week learning he had a nagging Jones fracture in his foot. Hopefully his recovery goes smoothly and he is ready for training camp.
Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw: C+
Rakestraw was supposed to be Missouri's much taller cornerback – the other was Kris Abrams-Draine – and that was supposed to be the separator. He was the same height as his teammate and only four pounds heavier. He ran a good but less than amazing 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, and the 10-foot broad jump is ranked in the 35th percentile at the position since 1999.
Other winners
Rutgers CB Max Melton
Max's brother Bo had a big workout two years ago and was drafted in the seventh round by the Seahawks in 2022. At a perfectly respectable height of 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 187 pounds, Max ran 4.39 seconds at 40 seconds, with a height difference of 40.5 inches and a width measurement of 11 feet 4.
Penn State CB Daequan Hardy
Hardy, a slot corner by trade, ran the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.38 seconds while standing nearly 5-foot-9 and weighing 179 pounds. He nearly scraped the roof of Lucas Oil Stadium with a 42.5-inch vertical and topped it off with a 10-foot-6 wide. Stock up!
Texas Tech S Tyler Owens
Despite being hamstrung in the 40-yard dash – a damn shame given his jump performance – the Red Raiders safety nearly set the combine record in the broad jump at 12-foot-2, hitting 41 -Inches vertical at nearly 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds. HELLO.
Texas Tech S Dadrian Taylor-Demerson
Man, these Texas Tech explode like they came from the Red Raiders' rifle. Taylor-Demerson ran the safety group's fastest 40-yard dash (4.41 seconds) and cleared 38 inches of vertical. Big test for the Texas Tech safety pair.
Other losers
Miami S Kamren Kinchens
Best safety in class for me, she ran 4.65 seconds and had a long jump of 9'2. Disappointing time and measurements. His 35-inch vertical saved his training. However, one must not forget: Kinchens has a stockier build that is not suitable for intensive training sessions. He was 1.75 meters tall and weighed 90 kilograms. While he can of course still be a top-notch safety in the NFL, this workout all but officially rules out his first-round selection.
Penn State CB Kalen King
The 37-inch vertical height and 10-foot-2 width are good numbers for King to stand on during the rest of the pre-draft process. He doesn’t have to do that at Nittany Lions Pro Day. However, the 4.61-second 40 was a flop, especially since King weighed 191 pounds. He also had shorter arms than expected, measuring less than 31 inches.
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place April 25-27 in Detroit. Visit CBSSports.com for more draft coverage, including weekly updated draft order, mock drafts and a regularly available look at eligible prospects.
For live reactions from the celebrations, check out Friday's live blog.