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Draft Stock Falling:
DE Trey Flowers, Arkansas (6’2 | 266 | 4.93): For a guy that some scouts thought could be a standup rusher and only weighs 266, a 4.93 40 and 1.73 10-yard split are slow times. Flowers is a hard worker and projects as a quality 4-3 DE, but it may have to be on the left side as a base end. I thought Flowers would show better speed, versatility, and explosion based on his tape and his lack of those traits and versatility will hurt his draft stock a bit. It’s a very deep edge rusher class and with most of the DE/OLB prospects exceeding expectations it is more damaging for those who underperform like Flowers (and Golden).
DE Marcus Golden, Missouri (6’2 | 260 | 4.90): See Flowers, Trey. Golden has a similar build and skill-set and also had disappointing speed and quickness times.
DE Ryan Delaire, Towson (6’4 | 254 | 4.97): I was high on Delaire as a small school sleeper prospect coming into the combine. On tape he looks like an explosive edge rusher, but barely cracking 5 seconds in the 40 isn’t going to cut it at the next level for a guy that only weighs 254 pounds. Delaire looked stiff in the drills as well and didn’t show the athleticism needed to play as a 3-4 OLB.
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DE/OLB Lynden Trail, Norfolk St (6.7 | 269 | 4.91): Coming into the combine scouts were torn on what position would be the best fit for Trail (OLB, DE, TE), but after a 4.91 40-time, a 1.77 split, and just a 32″ vertical his choices may be limited to 4-3 DE. Trail still has plenty of potential with ideal height and arm length, but the lack of perceived versatility hurts his draft stock.
DT Darius Philon, Arkansas (6’1 | 298 | 5.00): I thought Philon had a shot to get drafted on day 3 based on his tape, but he looked really slow on Sunday. At under 300 pounds, he projects as a 3-tech DT at the next level and he didn’t show the quickness needed to play that position. His 1.82 split and 8 flat 3-cone where similar to the times of the 330+ pound space eaters like Shelton and Phillips.
* Some analysts, like Bleacher Report’s Chris Simms, had Shane Ray listed as someone who hurt their draft stock which I think is ridiculous and unfair considering the combine medical staff wouldn’t let him compete in any drills. A solid pro day from Ray and he will be right up there with Fowler, Gregory, and Beasley in the top 10.