3 winners from Day 1 of the NFL Scouting Combine
By Evan Groat
Albert Okwuegbunam
Although Albert Okwuegbunam only participated in the forty yard dash, he might have done enough in that one drill to see his stock rise in the coming weeks. Heading into the draft season, many felt that he was good enough to be at least a second round pick, but with how thin the tight end position is this April, he could end up in the first.
Anytime you have a 260 pound tight end, run a blazing 4.49 seconds in the forty you are going to turn heads at the combine. It was the fourth fastest time for a tight end since 2003. A tight end of that size, with that kind of speed presents a match up nightmare for defensive coordinators.
This years tight end crop doesn’t exactly move the needle, if Okwuegbunam turns in another positive performance at his pro day he could vault up the tight end ranks.
Next. 2020 NFL Combine recap: Joe Burrow sits, but other QBs shine Thursday. dark
The Raiders do not have an immediate need at the tight end position, but as we saw with Darren Waller last season for the Silver and Black, an athletic tight end can really stand out within an NFL offense. Day 2 of the NFL Combine will feature the running backs, offensive line, and the specialists, before the defensive players take the field this weekend.