The NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books, and much has changed as it pertains to NFL Draft rankings. With this in mind, it is time to break down the biggest changes from a wild week at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Many of the “risers” you will see listed in articles this week are merely players who did exactly what we all expected. Living up to expectations is key for top prospects, but how much are they truly “rising”? The only way they become true risers is if the prospects ranked ahead of them did not live up to their expectations. In this two-part series, we will be looking at players who truly exceeded expectations and made themselves significantly more money on their rookie deal. We will also take a look at several prospects who underperformed and saw their stock drop.

Losers

Dillon Johnson | RB | Washington
Johnson had an amazing season for the Huskies, but injuries hampered him down the stretch. Those hoping for a strong combine to resurrect his draft stock are not too happy, as his 4.68 40 and 31.5″ vertical were among the worst records at the position. The running back class is not strong at the top, but there is still decent depth. Because of his poor performance, I anticipate Johnson falling to mid to late Day 3.

Keon Coleman | WR | Florida State
After watching Coleman this past season, I was rather surprised to see so many in the draft community with concerns about his speed. As it turns out, they were right, and I was wrong. After posting a shaky 4.61 40, Coleman’s stock has gone from a mid to late first rounder to mid Day 2 selection.

Ja’Tavion Sanders | TE | Texas
Never allow combine numbers to override the tape (see also: Isaiah Likely), but Sanders’ testing numbers are still somewhat concerning, as his athleticism is the hallmark of his game. His 4.69 40 was rather unimpressive, and he looked merely average in the on-field drills. This is a weak tight end group, which may allow for Sanders to still get drafted on Day 2, but Theo Johnson has safely moved above him as TE2 in my personal rankings.

Dominick Puni | OL | Kansas
Some see Puni as a tackle at the NFL, but if you are in that category, you should be pretty disappointed with Puni’s combine performance. Puni posted a lousy 5.48 40 (1.86 split), and his mediocre 30″ vertical and 107″ broad jump did not point to elite athleticism and upside. After recording these numbers, I expect Puni to be looked at as an interior lineman for the remainder of the draft process.

Darius Robinson | DL | Missouri
I would not freak out about Robinson’s combine performance, as he looked solid in the on-field drills. However, his 4.95 40 time was certainly underwhelming, and it likely lowers his stock from Round 1 to Round 2. This should only confirm that Robinson’s ideal position in the NFL is a down lineman rather than a stand-up pass rusher. He is only an ideal fit for 3-4 schemes.

Bralen Trice | EDGE | Washington
Trice dropped an immense amount of weight, dropping to 245 pounds in effort to run a fast 40. Sadly, his 4.72 40 did not help his case, and he lacked fluidity during on-field drills as well. Trice is currently out of the first round discussion, and I would not be surprised if he falls out of the second round as well. He created more questions about his game than the amount of questions he answered.

Tommy Eichenberg | LB | Ohio State
Eichenberg did not run the 40, but his performance during the on-field drills left me unimpressed. He looked rather tight moving laterally, and he struggled to change direction as cleanly and as smoothly as some of the other linebackers in his group. After seeing strong workouts by Edefuan Ulofoshio, Trevin Wallace, Curtis Jacobs, and other mid-round linebacker prospects, Eichenberg likely saw his stock drop from late Day 2 to early Day 3.

Kalen King | CB | Penn State
King was once a common first-round projection in mock drafts, but his stock has taken a nosedive over the past couple months. He had an up-and-down season in 2023, and his combine performance was defined by a 4.61 40. His best fit in the NFL is likely as a nickel safety who can provide value on subpackages, as I do not see him as a starting cornerback at the next level. Consider him a mid Day 3 prospect.

Kamren Kinchens | S | Miami
Kinchens was not entirely awful in the on-field drills, but 4.65 is still a poor 40 time for a guy I anticipated to, at least, get into the mid to low 4.5s. Kinchens’ instincts and ball skills will still intrigue teams on Day 2, but he did not separate himself as the clear-cut number one safety in the class. Tyler Nubin and Cole Bishop are within striking distance.

James Williams | S | Miami
Williams tested out at linebacker during the Senior Bowl, but with all the hype surrounding his athleticism, many people, including myself, thought he would have the athleticism to play either safety or linebacker. When you expect someone to run in the 4.4s and they cannot even break 4.6, you are left disappointed. Not only did Williams run an atrocious 4.65, but all his testing throughout the event looked lethargic and completely unimpressive. I had a Day 2 grade on him coming into the event, but I have dropped him all the way to a mid to late Day 3 grade.

Which prospects do you think hurt their stock the most at the NFL Scouting Combine? Be sure to share your thoughts on this and all things NFL Draft in the comment section below!