2018 NFL Draft: Saturday’s NFL Combine open thread

Today is the second day of the on-the-field portion of 2018 NFL Combine, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern You can view it live on the NFL Network or at NFL.com’s combine hub, starting with the 40-yard dash. Today we’ll see the quarterbacks and various offensive skill positions perform.

Unless you’re watching Lamar Jackson, most viewers shouldn’t be overly concerned about quarterbacks appearing athletic in the timed drills. Instead, be sure to watch how they throw the ball in the on-the-field drills. Watch their footwork, throwing motion and accuracy. Natural throwers like Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Kyle Lauletta, should be able to impress.

Don’t expect any tight ends this year to run as fast as Evan Engram (4.42), but a few could approach the 4.55 range. Hayden Hurst, Dallas Goedert, and Chris Herndon will all be discussed as combine standouts thanks to their quickness and long speed. Assuming he’s fully healthy, former Indiana Hoosier Ian Thomas may surprise in the bench press portion and Penn Stat’e Mike Gesicki is rumored to be able to jump through the proverbial roof.

The 40-yard dash is hugely important for wide receivers and while most eyes will be on speedsters like Calvin Ridley, Jordan Lasley, and Dante Pettis, observers should pay close attention to the wideouts with size. If J’Mon Moore, Auden Tate, Allen Lazard and Courtland Sutton can run a 4.5, they’ll put any speed questions to rest and their stock could rise as a result. The gauntlet drill, where the players must swiftly turn their heads and catch passes in quick succession, is an excellent test of focus and hand-eye coordination for all pass-catching prospects.

Below are the average times from the 2017 combine for today’s relevant positions. Be sure to bear these in mind while watching the individual timed drills: