Fallout From The 2025 NFL Combine
Chew shares the highlights, and lowlights, from the 2025 NFL Combine weekend.
The 2025 NFL Combine is in the rearview mirror and we are left to twiddle our thumbs until the legal tampering window opens on March 10th. Until then, let’s review some notable results from this weekend’s Combine. And there is some non-Combine NFL news to boot!
Before we dig in, if you find this even remotely intriguing please consider subscribing. Stay calm! We’re getting to the Combine results.
Check out my prior articles highlighting the important dates in the NFL Offseason, as well as, key drills/results for each fantasy-relevant position group at the NFL Combine.
Quarterbacks
Not Much Activity…Within The Combine
This year’s Combine saw a mere four quarterbacks go through some of the running and jumping drills and only two completing all of them. Those four quarterbacks were:
Brady Cook
Tyler Shough
Seth Henigan
Will Howard
Cook bested his small handful of competitors in each and every drill. Speaking of handful, how about Jalen Milroe’s hands growing more than Pinocchio’s nose! Related to throwing drills, I personally do not take much from throwing at the Combine or Pro Day when compared to their throwing in-game. The 2025 quarterback group is widely considered one of the weaker quarterback classes in recent memory. But that does not mean there was no quarterback news to come out of Combine weekend.
For the real news. Despite Tom Brady’s best efforts to ski into Matthew Stafford’s heart, the latter has agreed to stay in Los Angeles (terms not yet released). The standoff between Stafford and the Rams always felt like it would end in a reunion, but this solidifies the falling of the first quarterback domino this offseason. This is tremendous news for dynasty managers who have Puka Nacua, with the security of a good quarterback and status as his number one target (sorry Cooper Kupp).
The remainder of the veteran quarterback landscape will unfurl over the coming weeks, culminating in the unofficial beginning of free agency on March 10th. The notable names still looking for homes (via sign or trade) include:
Sam Darnold
Russell Wilson
Justin Fields
Aaron Rodgers
Kirk Cousins
The NFL teams with some level of uncertainty at the quarterback position include:
Cleveland Browns
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans
The quarterback situations will become clear soon enough, but let’s dive into the most impressive position group for fantasy at the NFL Combine this year. The running backs!
Running Backs
The Rootinest Tutenest
I will never miss an opportunity to highlight a fellow Virginia Tech Hokie when they make waves in the NFL. And the NFL Combine is no different. Bhayshul Tuten paced all running backs with a 4.32 second 40-yard dash (tied with De’Von Achane). But what is more impressive is the number of running backs (17) that boasted a weight-adjusted speed score above 100. Aside from Tuten, a few of those names that I am excited for in dynasty are:
Omarion Hampton
Quinshon Judkins
TreVeyon Henderson
Brashard Smith
D.J. Giddens
Straight-line speed and weight-adjusted speed score is not what defines a running back’s NFL success, but it is remarkable to consider the sheer athleticism in this year’s draft class at the position.
There was already ample hype for the crop of 2025 rookie running backs and the Combine did nothing but slow it down. The Combine success of these running back offers a buying opportunity for those veteran running backs that are now viewed as over-the-hill; especially the free agents. The beginning of free agency will be very telling about what the NFL thinks of the upcoming rookie class of running backs. In a prior article I highlighted the tiers of each free agent position group, which had tier one of the running backs consisting of:
Najee Harris
J.K. Dobbins
Rico Dowdle
Aaron Jones
Javonte Williams
Wide Receivers
Texas Receiver Leads The Pack… No, The Other One
Despite Isaiah Bond eyeing Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record, it was his Texas teammate Matthew Golden that came the closest with a 4.30 second result. For receivers I am not concerned with who is the fastest but there is a concern with receivers that fall too far down the athleticism rankings. This is especially true when undersized receivers put up slower-than-expected times, like Oregon’s Tez Johnson with a 4.51 second result. But thankfully other drills over a glimpse of other ways receivers can win. A few of the stand outs from other drills include:
Vertical: Sam Brown Jr. (41.50”), Jaylin Noel (41.50”), Jaylin Lane (40.00”), Tai Felton (39.50”), Isaac TeSlaa (39.50”) and Jayden Higgins (39.00”).
Broad Jump: Jaylin Noel (11’2”), Isaiah Neyor (11’1”), Jaylin Lane (11’0”), Tez Johnson (10’11”), Tai Felton (10’10”) and Isaac TeSlaa (10’9”).
3 Cone Drill: Tez Johnson (6.65 sec), Jaylin Lane (6.75 sec), Jacolby George (6.77 sec), Daniel Jackson (6.78 sec), Chimere Dike (6.82 sec), Jaylin Noel (6.82 sec) and Arian Smith (6.82 sec).
20 Yard Shuttle: Isaac TeSlaa (4.05 sec), Daniel Jackson (4.07 sec), Jaylin Lane (4.12 sec), Tez Johnson (4.15 sec), Jaylin Noel (4.17 sec) and Andrew Armstrong (4.18 sec).
This year’s group of free agent receivers is lacking in high-end options in or around their prime. Assuming Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin stay with their current teams, the rest of the top of free agents are primarily aged 30 years or greater. But what about wide receiver trades you may ask?
Amidst the NFL Combine there was a trade which saw the San Francisco 49ers sending Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Samuel enters his aged-29 season and has dealt with injuries and a change in offensive philosophy in recent seasons. 2025 is a contract year for Samuel and the Commanders have the cap room and the need to surround their franchise quarterback with weapons. I expect more veteran receivers to be on the move prior to the start of free agency, especially for those teams looking to configure their salary cap for this and future seasons.
Tight Ends
Not A Fannin Of The Athleticism
The NFL Combine for tight ends was, how you say, underwhelming. And this is only referencing those that participated in drills. There is no doubt there are some productive tight ends that will come out of this rookie class, but for a position where athleticism is most important there was not much to write home about.
Terrance Ferguson led the way with the top 40-yard dash and vertical results; as well as, finishing third for the broad jump. After finishing his collegiate season as a mega-producer for the Bowling Green Falcons, Harold Fannin Jr. finished middle of the pack in the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jump. As an undersized tight end this draws some concern. However, it was encouraging to see Fannin finish top-3 in both the 3 Cone Drill and the 20 Yard Shuttle. This highlights his agility as a route runner.
The 2025 rookie tight ends have one thing going for them which is entirely independent of their performances at the Combine, the free agents. This year’s free agent class of tight ends is lacking high-end options, plain and simple. So outside of Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, maybe some of these other tight ends can slide into roles where they are the second option in two-tight end sets.
Before we have to worry about landing spots for these rookies via the NFL Draft we get to witness the marvel that is NFL Free Agency. The legal tampering window opens on March 10th so make those trades in dynasty before player values take a dramatic shift.
So you made it this long and hopefully you enjoyed it (that’s what she said). If you wouldn’t mind sharing this in your group message with your fellow dynasty degenerates I would greatly appreciate it!