Top 10 NFL combine stars: Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett stand out from pack
The NFL scouting combine always plays host to some breakout names, and several prospects once again used the stage to showcase the best of their athletic ability.
This year's showing in Indianapolis played host to an intriguing group of quarterbacks, a deep set of pass rushers and a record-setting performance in the 40-yard dash.
Here's a look back at the 10 biggest standouts of the 2017 NFL scouting combine:
10. Jabrill Peppers, LB/S, Michigan
The versatile defender said in Indianapolis that he envisions his future at safety, a stance he pushed by working out with the position group Monday after a first go on Sunday with the linebackers. His 4.46-second 40-yard dash especially stood out among the linebackers, but it also would have been a favorable mark for a defensive back. Projecting Peppers as a safety is still somewhat of a leap of faith given his relative lack of experience at the position, but he eased some concerns with his performance.
9. Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
After catching 158 passes last season, Jones followed up on an impressive Senior Bowl week with a stellar showing in Indianapolis. Jones was pinned as an underneath threat, but his 4.45-second 40-yard dash could aid his case as a player who can attack a defense at multiple levels. At 6-2, 202 pounds, he also could have the ability to hold up on the outside.
MORE COVERAGE:
Browns impressed by Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett?
Don't be surprised if Oklahoma's Joe Mixon is drafted by end of third round
8. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
McCaffrey said before the combine that he said his skill set was being overlooked. That shouldn't be the case after a strong combine performance in which he ran a 4.48 40-yard dash and 6.57-second three-cone drill, which was easily the fastest of any running back. His mark of 10 bench press reps was somewhat disappointing, but McCaffrey highlighted his value as a utility threat deserving of first-round consideration.
7. Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
Alabama's O.J. Howard would also be a candidate at this position, but Engram helped himself stand out in one of the draft's deepest groups. With a blazing 4.42-second 40-yard dash and 36-inch vertical leap, he looms as a nightmare matchup in the passing game. Despite lingering questions about his blocking, Engram showed smooth pass-catching ability in drills and could fill a role similar to Jordan Reed of the Washington Redskins.
6. Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
The Big 12 defensive player of the year looks like a steady riser in the draft, and an impressive all-around combine performance may have given him an additional boost. A 4.53-second 40-yard dash and 39.5-inch vertical leap, second among all defensive linemen, highlighted his athletic ability. Even more important, though, may have been an astonishingly quick 6.85-second mark in the three-cone drill, as questions linger about his on-field ability to bend and change directions.
5. Haason Reddick, DE/LB, Temple
A former high-school running back and safety who started at Temple as a walk-on, Reddick is the kind of player built capitalize on this stage. His 4.52-second 40-yard dash and 11-foot-1 broad jump set him apart in testing for defensive linemen, even though his future is likely at linebacker. Reddick moved well in drills and showed he can be a dangerous playmaker if he can consistently slip blocks in the NFL.
MORE COVERAGE:
Top 10 NFL free agents in 2017: Where does Adrian Peterson fit?
Best quarterbacks in NFL free agency: Mike Glennon among limited options for starters
4. Obi Melifonwu, S, UConn
The 6-4, 224-pound safety might look like a linebacker, but he runs like a cornerback with an astonishing 4.40-second 40-yard dash. After his 44-inch vertical and 11-foot-9 broad jump topped all marks at the combine, Melifonwu might be the biggest athletic marvel of this draft class. With the combine serving as the launching pad for former UConn safety Byron Jones to become a first-round selection in 2015, it's fair to ponder whether Melifonwu will enjoy a similar rise.
3. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
The combine isn't always the easiest setting for a quarterback to stand out, yet Watson put on quite the showcase. The Clemson standout set himself apart from North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer with on-point passes with plenty of zip, as well as his clean footwork. Already championed for a winning demeanor exhibited during last year's national championship run, Watson showed he won't shrink from a challenge.
2. John Ross, WR, Washington
What's left to say about a player who set the NFL scouting combine record with a 4.22-second 40-yard dash? Ross didn't go through on-field workouts after he experienced a calf cramp, but he also posted explosive marks with a 37.5-inch vertical leap and 11-foot-1 broad jump. Ross was a known deep threat, but he gave scouts even more reason to like a player who led the power five conferences with 17 receiving touchdowns.
1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
With plenty of people tracking his every move, Garrett delivered the kind of performance expected of a No. 1 pick. In testing, the edge rusher showed a remarkable blend of speed (4.64-second 40-yard dash), power (33 bench press reps) and explosiveness (41-inch vertical leap, tied for fourth-best at the combine). Garrett already could point to an established track record of production at Texas A&M, but the event served as a reminder of just how well-rounded and promising he can be on the next level.
Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.
PHOTOS: NFL scouting combine
