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2018 NFL Combine: 10 Players to Watch

By Peter Bukowski

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 27: Josh Allen #17 of the North team runs with the ball during the Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 27: Josh Allen #17 of the North team runs with the ball during the Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

Why he’s on this list 

Don’t tell me big-body receivers without great speed or separation ability in college can’t win in the NFL. Alshon Jeffery just helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl and got seriously paid in the process.

That being said, a player like Courtland Sutton has to show more than baseline athletic traits in order to be considered a first-round pick (something I think he is).

What he needs to do

Anything over 4.6 in the 40 could be killer. Jeffery saved his draft stock with a sub-4.5 time as his pro day. Brandon Marshall ran 4.52. There’s just not a long list of receivers in the NFL who have excelled over that mark.

The straight line speed will be particularly important because Sutton likely won’t test well on the agility side. He has to show good-to-great straight line athleticism, with speed and jumps, to prove he can be a big, jump ball receiver with big play ability in the NFL.

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