2020 NFL combine: Day two winners and losers

Day two of the NFL Combine is in the books, with the running backs, and offensive linemen taking the field for testing and drills. Raju Byfield takes a look at the biggest winners and losers.

Day two of the 2020 NFL Combine was for the offensive line and the running backs. It was an exciting day filled with talking points, and excited glances from NFL front offices and scouts. Some players stood out, some performed as expected, and others, unfortunately may have seen their draft stocks tumble.

The offensive linemen went first, and stole the show behind Mekhi Becton’s historic 5.10 40 yard dash at 6’7” and 364 lbs, and Tristan Wirfs’ all around incredible day. Mekhi Becton also looked great in the drills and may have eased concerns about his experience in pass protection for a run heavy Louisville team. He was always in the mix to be the first tackle off the board, but may have locked up top spot with his performance.

Tristan Wirfs had a spectacular showing, and though he still has a higher ceiling inside at guard (All-Pro level), he likely convinced more than a few teams that he has the upside to play on the outside. As good as his Combine was, he did not change his stock much as he was always a projected first round pick who is likely to come off the board after Andrew Thomas, Mekhi Becton, and Jared Wills.

Saahdiq Charles of LSU, Isaiah Wilson of Georgia, and Josh Simpson of Clemson had strong combines that may have helped them climb the draft boards of NFL teams. Overall, the offensive linemen proved once again that this is a very talented class that is going to boast some incredible values all throughout day two, and perhaps even into day three.

At running back there were some exciting performances. J.K. Dobbins and Michael Warren chose not to run, with Dobbins sitting out all of the drills. Cincinnati’s Michael Warren jumped in for the on field drills and looked good doing so. Darrynton Evans had a strong combine, and recorded the second fastest time in the 40 yard dash at 4.41. However, Evans was expected to be that fast if not faster, and as such did little to improve his draft stock.

Zack Moss ran a 4.65 40 yard dash, much to Twitter’s chagrin, but Moss is a power back who ran faster than former first round pick Mark Ingram. It is important not to overreact to track speed, as game speed, with pads and live bullets flying, is what really matters in the first place.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire of LSU ran a 4.60 40 yard dash, a time that once again has some people overreacting. This is why it is important not to rely solely on analytics or highlight packages, as CEH is someone who wins with short area quickness, vision, cutting ability, and contact balance, not home run speed.

Joshua Kelly and DeeJay Dallas are the other backs who impressed with their combine performances. They may have improved their respective draft stocks by a full round, and as such merit some mention in this piece. However, they did not surprise many with their performances, rather they were able to confirm what scouts and analysts saw on tape.

Now that we have gotten the offensive linemen out of the way, and addressed the running backs who do not belong on the list out of the way, let’s take a look at the winners and losers from day two of the 2020 NFL Combine. You can find our day one coverage here.