The last of the on-field drills for NFL draft prospects at the scouting combine were completed Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, and pro football teams got their final looks in Indianapolis at members of the draft class they’re interested in.
The Miami Dolphins, before the draft in late April, prepare for free agency to begin a week from Monday. Depending on which positions they address in free agency, they will use information gathered from the combine through a process that continues through college teams’ pro days and prospect facility visits, which can begin Tuesday.
Miami doesn’t have a first-round pick, but it has a selection in the middle of the second round, No. 51 overall, as well as two in the third round, plus a sixth- and seventh-rounder.
With an eye on possible needs — if not addressed in free agency — at linebacker, cornerback, running back, tight end and on the offensive line, here are 10 prospects who improved their draft stock at the past week’s combine, many of which could interest the Dolphins.
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell
He’s a throwback of an inside linebacker with a 6-foot-5, 249-pound frame that can play physical in the box against the run and downhill-blocking offensive linemen. He’s not perceived as an athletic linebacker but, although his straight-line speed didn’t flash with a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, he impressed with the best three-cone drill (6.74 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.24) among linebackers, as well as the second-best broad jump (10-8) and No. 3 vertical (37.5 inches). The Dolphins could use a secure tackler like Campbell, who displayed more athleticism than scouts anticipated, assuming they are looking to upgrade in the middle this offseason for new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The Butkus Award winner for the nation’s top linebacker and recipient of the William V. Campbell Award, also known as the Academic Heisman, will also surely impress in interviews with teams. Jack Campbell could be the leader of a defense for the next decade for whichever team drafts him.
Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks
Banks turned heads with his 4.35-second 40-yard dash, 11-4 broad jump and vertical of 42 inches. For perspective with other cornerbacks that could go around the same Day 2 range, Banks, at 197 pounds, ran the same 40 time as Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at a far-leaner 166 pounds. Banks can play more physical while still possessing the elite closing speed. Banks also had the top vertical (42 inches), No. 2 broad jump (11-4) among cornerbacks.
Georgia edge Nolan Smith
This one won’t factor in for the Dolphins as they’re unlikely to get a chance at Smith or target an edge defender early in the draft with Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb already in place, but Smith had a historic combine. A defensive line prospect running a 4.39 40 with a 41.5-inch vertical! Smith is an athletic freak at 239 pounds.
Miami tight end Will Mallory
The five-year player with the Hurricanes wanted to prove he’s a size and speed combination at the combine. He did that with the fastest 40-yard dash among tight ends, at 4.54 seconds. At 6-foot-5 and running that well but still expected to be available on Day 3 of the draft, he could be a prospect to interest Miami, especially with the Dolphins expected to let Mike Gesicki walk in free agency. On top of the 40 time, Mallory had the combine’s third-best vertical among tight ends and was in the top five in the bench press, with 25 reps.
Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers
The former Broward County high school football standout at University School, which was on the same Nova Southeastern campus as the Dolphins’ old facility in Davie, started combine week as the name that was floating around. It was because of the before-and-after photos posted of a much more chiseled Flowers after gaining 12 pounds of muscle ahead of combine week. He ran the 40 in 4.42 seconds. While his vertical and broad jump didn’t rank highly among receivers, Flowers’ tape speaks for itself with his explosiveness and route-running. Now, he has the build to go with it while still running well at his new weight of 182 pounds.
Michigan cornerback DJ Turner
The speedster ran the fastest 40-yard dash of the entire combine at 4.26 seconds, and speed moves prospects up draft boards and gets them more money. Turner, who didn’t participate in all drills, has explosive athleticism that was exhibited by his 38.5-inch vertical. He also has scheme versatility and can line up inside or out at 5-11, 178 pounds.
BYU tackle Blake Freeland
Coach Mike McDaniel’s zone blocking scheme requires athleticism, and Freeland had an outstanding display of athleticism for a 6-8, 302-pound lineman. Freeland set a lineman record at the combine with his 37-inch vertical. He also led all offensive linemen with a 10-foot broad jump, and while his 4.98-second 40-yard dash was one-hundredth of a second behind the O-line leader in Georgia’s Broderick Jones, Freeland’s 10-yard split, which is of greater emphasis for linemen, was tops at 1.68 seconds.
Illinois running back Chase Brown
Brown had the best broad jump (10-7) and vertical (40 inches) among running backs going through drills Sunday evening. He also posted a 4.43 40 after his second-team All-American final season with the Fighting Illini. Brown is a scheme fit with familiarity in running the outside zone, and he could be a candidate to jump into a new tier of backs than previously in, possibly into Day 2.
Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe
He’s undersized at 6-feet, 225 pounds, which may not be ideal, but Pappoe posted the top 40-yard dash (4.39) and bench press (29 reps) among linebackers. So he’s not only fast at that size, but he has compact strength at his weight to hold his own in the box. And hey, undersized at linebacker sounds like one Dolphins great who’s going into the Hall of Fame in August.
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson
A bit raw as a passer and another player that won’t factor into Dolphins decision-making, but Richardson put on an athletic display when quarterbacks went through drills. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, posted a 40.5-inch vertical and 10-9 broad jump, all leading quarterbacks in the combine. Richardson also impressed with his arm on a 60-yard deep throw down the sideline. He solidified that his athleticism makes him a sure-fire first-round pick that will get time to develop other aspects of his quarterback play.
