Combine Preview of the Stars by Evan Silva

[Mooche]

LSU CB Patrick Peterson

The Thorpe Award winner as college football's top defensive back, Peterson is aiming for a 4.2 forty time while draft analysts debate whether his best NFL position is corner or safety. Peterson was timed at 4.37 last spring, also putting on record a 39-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump.

Georgia WR A.J. Green

I sent Green to Cleveland with the sixth pick in my latest mock draft, but he's emerging as a sleeper to go No. 1 overall with momentum building for a Steve Smith trade. In addition to his forty time and vertical, keep an eye on Green's hand size and arm length at the weigh-in.

Auburn DT Nick Fairley

Like Ndamukong Suh last year, Fairley heads to Indy favored to be drafted first. Suh enjoyed a terrific Combine, but "fell" to No. 2. Fairley isn't as clean a prospect as Suh was, so he may need even better workouts to avoid being passed by Green, Da'Quan Bowers, or Cam Newton.

Alabama WR Julio Jones

Jones is currently seen as a surefire top-14 pick who may begin receiving consideration at No. 10 from Washington. But what if the Panthers trade Smith and use the top pick on Green? With only two wideouts certain to be drafted in the top 20, Jones could benefit greatly from such a scenario.

UCLA LB Akeem Ayers

In 28 college starts, Ayers racked up 29.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and six interceptions despite playing out of position at strong-side linebacker in UCLA's 4-3 defense. He's seen as a 3-4 rush linebacker prospect for the pros, and could be among the Combine's leaders in the 10-yard split.

Per Roto.



Some of the stuff this guy says is kind of meh. Peterson will be a stud corner in the NFL, and yeah, I guess an NFL team has played with the idea of moving him but why would you wanna chance that upside?

Ayers won't be a 3-4 rush OLB. The guy is strictly a 4-3 OLB and he'll play well in a Lions type of system.

Let the AJ Green momentum begin..

 

[TTN2810]

Cam Newton is doing a full combine workout, and with strong interviews, I think he's gonna go number 1 TBH.

 

[Mooche]

That's kind of the other rush that could sweep up the Combine.

Fairley, Green or Newton for the first overall pick.