There are the obvious early first-round talent winners like linebacker Sonny Styles, running back Jeremiyah Love, and offensive lineman Spencer Fano, but today I want to focus on some later-round picks that helped improve their stock at this year’s NFL Combine. 

1. Mike Washington Jr. - RB, Arkansas 

Mike Washington Jr. arguably had the best day of any prospect, including those projected to go in the top of the draft. He posted the fastest forty-yard dash time of any running back at the combine with a time of 4.33 seconds, while coming in second for the position with a 39-inch vertical jump and 10 ‘8 broad jump. His 40 time alone is faster than some of the league's most explosive backs. Jahmyr Gibbs (4.36), Saquon Barkley (4.4), and Jonathan Taylor (4.39). All of this, while being 6 ‘1 and 223 lbs, gives Washington the athletic profile of a home-run hitting workhorse running back.  

The Redshirt-Senior combines this with a productive year at Arkansas, posting over 1,000 yards on 6.4 yards per carry. He added a solid 28 catches and 9 total touchdowns, proving he could be a three-down back if needed. Before the combine, Washington Jr. was slotted as a clear day three pick and was closer to the consensus seventh or eighth running back. After the combine, he is now right in the mix for the third running back taken after the two Notre Dame backs in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, and could see himself being taken on day two of the draft. 

2. Jacob Rodriguez - LB, Texas Tech

Jacob Rodriguez was one of the most productive defenders in all of college football last season, but was generally seen as a borderline day two pick who likely would come off the board on day three. While generally undersized for the position, many people were also quick to judge his overall athleticism at the next level. He turned in an outstanding 4.57-second 40-yard dash and matched it with explosive leaping numbers, including a 38.5-inch vertical and a 10 ‘1 broad jump. His movement skills were just as impressive, posting an elite 6.90-second three-cone and a 4.19 short shuttle. Overall, these scores were a big surprise for many evaluators and really turned some heads with his athleticism. 

After an outstanding campaign as the leader of Texas Tech’s elite defense, where he saw his name come up in many Heisman conversations mid-season, Rodriguez solidified himself as a very good NFL linebacker prospect after posting above-average athleticism scores at the combine. Overall, his elite tape and leadership with an unexpected combine should help Rodriguez now definitively hear his name called on day two and maybe even in the top-50 come draft night. 

3. Taylen Green - QB, Arkansas

Let me preface by saying I don’t think Green’s combine will move him into day one or even day two of the draft. That being said, I think someone will look at the traits Green has and take a shot on him on day three. Green is 6-foot-6, 233 lbs, and ran a 4.36 forty-yard dash time (fastest by a quarterback since Michael Vick), all while breaking other combine records such as the highest vertical jump and furthest broad jump by any quarterback since 2003. He is a freakish athlete at the quarterback position, and I could see many coaches wanting to get the chance to try to polish many of the flaws he has as a quarterback.

Taylen Green’s passing numbers leave something to be desired, as he needs to get more consistent with his eyes and his throwing motion. However, after coming off a strong performance at the Senior Bowl, where he showed consistent growth each day, combined with his elite athletic testing at the combine, could make him an enticing late-round quarterback prospect. Overall, his athletic testing being off the charts alone could take a guy who was considered a borderline undrafted prospect, to someone who should hear his name called mid-day three.