Combine catchup: wide receiver

Notes from NFL Combine coverage of February 27th:

NFL Network was more of a hindrance this weekend than a help. The 40 times they initially reported for many players ended up significantly off from their official total to the point it became a real fiasco. The NFL holds releasing the official times until everyone has run at the position. I guess that nullifies a competitive advantage for names at the end of the alphabet. But surely they can get the official times to NFL Network without tipping off the players. And even if they do, I think that's much less of a problem than the NFL Net intern or whoever getting CJ Spiller's time wrong by a tenth of a second.

I believe all the times I will mention are the official times but I can't swear to them in court. Amazingly, the NFL's website isn't even listing players' Combine 40 times. That is decidedly unhelpful, people.

* Wide receivers.
- Golden Tate got a ton of buzz when NFL Net timed his 40 at 4.34. The real time, 4.42, ain't half bad, either. He as AWFUL in the gauntlet drill, though. Mike Mayock did describe him as the best run-after-catch WR in the draft. Little question the Rams need that factor. However, you have to catch the ball in order to run after the catch.
- Dez Bryant, who Michael Irvin mistakenly called “Antonio” at least once, did not participate in anything due to a hamstring problem. Yeah, that's not helping anybody figure out how good a guy who was suspended most of last season is.
- With their first pick in the NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders select Clemson WR Jacoby Ford, this year's fastest 40 runner at 4.28.
- Riley Cooper helped his stock, at least with me. His 40 time was 4.52 and in one of the upsets of the weekend, he caught everything I saw thrown to him.
- Regis Benn fell on his butt on one drill but caught well. He also ran well, with a 4.48.
- Antonio Brown ran in the 4.5's and caught well. Unofficially 4.50.
- Damian Williams had a couple of EASY drops in the first gauntlet run but was much better the second time through. Ran a 4.53.
- Mardy Gilyard caught well but may have hurt his stock with a 4.56 40.
- Jordan Shipley didn't look terribly coordinated, knocking cones over and falling down during drills. 4.57 40 didn't help him, either.
- Brandon LaFell's 40 was a disappointing 4.6.
- Chris Bell struggled in the deep route drill and had one of the few drops.
- Brandon Banks of K-State is an interesting prospect. He ran a 4.43 and caught everything in sight. Probably had one of the best sets of hands there. He weighed in at 149 POUNDS, though. I think I weighed that in 8th grade.
- I'm not sure why Dezmon Briscoe came to the Combine. His 4.61 40 and NINE bench presses weren't even good results for a punter.

- Some other sleepers, or guys I didn't know that much about before, at least:
- Nyan Boateng of Cal looked very smooth and caught everything. That performance flies in the face of his scouting report, though. I would think teams would take a second look at him, though.
- Blair White of Michigan State appeared to have good hands and good speed. Again, one of those players who just seemed to pop up all the time doing something good.

In the end, I don't think the Rams have a lot of help coming at WR in the draft based on today's performances. Tate has to show MUCH better hands than he did to merit the 2nd-round pick. Bryant's turned into the Sam Bradford of WRs in giving us little recent play to go on. It would? should? be inconceivable to draft him and Bradford.

Valuewise, the WR position can wait until at least the 3rd round, and possibly later.