The NFL Combine has come to an end, meaning the 2013 NFL draft is that much closer. On the fourth and final day, the defensive backs were put on display for scouts and coaches to see. Vertical leaps, 40-yard dash times and abilities demonstrated during coverage drills likely garnered the most attention from those in attendance.
Here are my thoughts from the last day in Indianapolis:
- Alabama’s Dee Milliner is a stud. The cornerback’s play on the field during the Crimson Tide’s National Championship run proved it, and his performance at the Combine solidified it. He placed second in the 40-yard dash (4.37 seconds) and was equally as impressive in the other tests that he participated in. Milliner did look stiff during field drills. His hips were too tight and he looked flat-footed while backpedaling. These are not new problems for him but are things that could be improved on through good coaching. Speculation places Milliner’s selection in the draft as high as No. 5 to the Detroit Lions, who are in desperate need of help at the position. If a team wishes to take Milliner, they’ll likely have to trade up to — or past — Detroit. But as draft expert Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com points out, that would make him the first corner taken in the top four since the Oakland Raiders took future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson at No. 4 in 1998.
- Milliner may be the top dog, but elite corners Desmond Trufant (Washington) and Xavier Rhodes (Florida State) are nothing to scoff at. Already well-regarded prospects with loads of promise, both had stellar days in Indianapolis. Trufant boasted some spectacular speed (4.38-seconds in the 40-yard dash and 3.85 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle) and Rhodes showed some serious hops (40.5-inch vertical jump). Both then fared well in field drills.
- LSU-reject Tyrann Mathieu proved himself today. Question marks may still surround his character, but his performance at the Combine backs up what he did in such little time in college. Mathieu was a top-scorer in the 40-yard dash and, though he wasn’t perfect in field drills, he displayed the same ball skills that made people fall in love with him when he was dominating opposing SEC offenses. To be honest, I was expecting him to disappoint but Mathieu impressed me. Still don’t see him as any better than a late-second round prospect at best. Size and skill set appear to limit him from being an every-down corner in the NFL.
- At the safety position, top prospect Kenny Vaccaro out of Texas did not disappoint. He underperformed in the 40-yard dash at 4.63 seconds but stood out in field drills with fluid movement and good ball skills. Vaccaro’s play on the field is all the proof needed that he should be the first safety off the board in April’s draft. He’ll have an opportunity to answer any concerns teams may have regarding his speed at his Pro Day next month at the University of Texas.
- Syracuse’s Shamarko Thomas made some waves at the Combine. Some good, some not so much — at least for him. The safety tallied the best mark among those at his position with a 4.42-second, 40-yard dash and then sent all of social media into a frenzy when he face-planted just after crossing the finish line. Despite the embarrassing moment, Thomas is still an intriguing player; projected to go in the later rounds of the draft but rising up the boards. He looks like a strong safety at the pro level and could benefit from playing in a Cover 2-heavy scheme.
- North Carolina State’s David Amerson is a player I’ve been watching for a long time because of his unparalleled ball skills. He had a tough final season with the Wolfpack, causing concern about his ability at the NFL level. The 6-foot-2 cornerback elevated himself with a tremendous day. He showed good speed, natural movement and fluidity in pass coverage. Among the group of defensive backs that participated, Amerson was one of my favorites. I’ve mocked him to the New York Giants in one of my previous mock drafts but believe he would be a solid fit for just about any team willing to spend a second-round pick on him.
- Amerson’s college teammate, Earl Wolff, also had an impressive day at the Combine. He was a top scorer in all four of the tests he participated in — the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard shuttle. The former Wolfpack safety has a lot to prove outside of sheer athleticism, though. Projecting as a late-round option, his performance showed promise. If placed in the right scheme with the right coaches, Wolff could really develop into something special.
Louis Musto is a contributor for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.