3 things we learned from Day 1 of NFL Combine on-field workouts
The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis and, on Thursday, the defensive linemen performed their on-field workouts. It was a perfect start for many NFL teams who were attending and looking to upgrade in the trenches.
This year's defensive lineman class is stacked with athletic and technically-gifted players, with two superstars set to be taken in the top 5 of the 2023 NFL draft in April.
Let's analyze the three biggest lessons from Day One of the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
#1 Georgia kids are fast
Nolan Smith couldn't finish his final season in Georgia the way he'd have liked, as he suffered a torn pec midway through the 2022 season that ended his college football career before he wanted to.
On Thursday, he absolutely crushed the NFL combine with a 4.39 40-yard dash, leading all players in his position. Not bad for a guy returning from a major injury.
His pro comparison due to his measurements is Haason Reddick. A pretty good name to be compared to.
#2 Calijah Kancey breaks long-standing records
Kancey is an undersized defensive tackle from Pittsburgh who's very gifted athletically, but his size will absolutely give pause to some teams who are more traditional.
Kancey, however, improved his draft stock on Thursday when he ran an impressive 4.67 40-yard dash, which is the best-ever mark for a player who's over 280 lbs (Kancey is listed at 281 lbs). It was the fastest time for a defensive tackle in 20 years.
How much of his speed will entice teams to give him a chance? It's difficult to know at the moment. Yes, he's built like Aaron Donald in a sense, but there's a reason why Aaron Donald is, you know, Aaron Donald.
#3 Will Anderson is still fighting to be No. 1 pick
With Jalen Carter involved in legal issues, an avenue has opened for Will Anderson Jr. to be the first defensive player taken in the 2023 draft. His 4.60 40-yard dash and 1.61 10-yard splits only solidified him as the best defensive end in the draft.
There are absolutely no doubts about Anderson's quality and he's a guaranteed top-5 pick. Will the Chicago Bears be attracted to his performance and consider him the No. 1 overall pick? We shall see.