2018 NFL Draft: Prospects who should rise after Scouting Combine

The 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Combine will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Which prospects should rise up draft boards after the event?

The 2018 NFL Draft will be greatly influenced by what transpires at the Scouting Combine. That doesn’t exactly make it an exception to past events, but it’s a critical truth to remember as we enter the week of measurements and madness.

Whether or not you’re a fan of what transpires at the Scouting Combine, it’s undeniable that certain prospects could benefit from the event.

While some drills and activities at the Scouting Combine are generally inconsequential, others justify the importance we bestow upon them. In addition to measuring athletic ability, said activities determine if a player meets what are determined to be unwritten standards.

Thankfully for a certain group of prospects entering the 2018 NFL Draft, this event will provide them with a platform to send a message to their skeptics.

Say what you will about the value of the Combine, but it’s hard to watch a player excel and not at least be intrigued. Even if the Combine doesn’t directly prove a player’s long-term potential, it opens a door and creates a platform for improved exposure.

The question is: Which prospects should we be keeping an eye on at the Scouting Combine? More importantly: Who’s going to rise up 2018 NFL Draft boards?

Kalen Ballage is widely projected to come off the board in the range of the third or fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. That’s not exactly surprising, as Ballage never once ran for upwards of 700 yards in a single season during his four years with the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Ballage is one of the most physically impressive running backs in this draft class, however, and should surface on many a radar after the Scouting Combine.

Ballage is a 6’2″ and 228-pound running back with a chiseled frame and a powerful lower body. At the Scouting Combine, he should lift and run well, and should even test well in receiving drills if he opts to take part in them.

A versatile playmaker who’s more explosive than he is shifty, Ballage has the tools to provide value on all three downs for an NFL team.

The running back position is deep in the 2018 NFL Draft, but Ballage has a chance to make noise. He flashed his potential in 2016, when he caught 44 passes for 469 yards, and amassed more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage.

Ballage has star potential in the NFL, but even if he ends up being an RB2, his value could be immense to a team that values depth at running back.

Tyrell Crosby is somewhat undersized for a tackle at just under 6’5″, but if that’s all you’re looking at, you’re missing the bigger picture. Crosby has a wide frame, gargantuan arms, and gigantic hands—all of which he utilizes to manhandle defenders at the line of scrimmage.

If you think those adjectives are too extreme to describe Crosby, just look at the measurements he’s already posted at the Scouting Combine.

With a near 7’0″ wingspan and hands that flirt with 11 inches, Crosby is the type of physical presence whom coaches would love to have on the roster. Even if he can’t be a tackle, he’ll have the size, strength, and length to overwhelm opponents at guard.

You can help a player improve their footwork and recognize incoming blitzes, but you can’t teach an elite combination of length, hand size, and strength.

Crosby has experience in a dynamic offense that featured a mobile quarterback and a variety of running backs. That makes him a compelling figure in the 2018 NFL Draft, as he can enter a traditional or modernized offense and experience success.

Crosby is projected by most as a late second or early third-round draft pick, but he may end up with a late Round 1 or early Round 2 grade by the end of the Scouting Combine.

If you’re looking for this year’s Marquise Goodwin, look no further than Pittsburgh Panthers standout Quadree Henderson. Henderson may not run quite as fast as Goodwin, but he’s a game breaker who can fill in at multiple positions.

Henderson, like Goodwin, will require time before he can consistently contribute to the passing attack, but the upside is significant enough to discuss.

Henderson is a dynamic playmaker who will provide immediate value in the return game. He returned four kickoffs and three punts for touchdowns during his three seasons at Pitt, amassing 2,437 total yards as a returner.

Not only does Henderson have blazing breakaway speed, but he combines quickness with underrated strength when he enters the open field.

Henderson has experience as a running back and a wide receiver, which both improves and damages his draft stock. Teams may not know what to do with Henderson, but his proficiency as a returner should temper some of the concerns and open more creative offensive minds.

Come the Scouting Combine, Henderson’s athletic ability and versatility should help him rise up boards and surface as a potential third or fourth-round option at the 2018 NFL Draft.

Derwin James is a proverbial lock to come off the board in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. His injury history could keep him out of the top 10, however, which is where a player of his talent, skill level, and versatility should be.

After the 2018 Scouting Combine, the odds should improve dramatically of James emerging as one of the first 10-to-15 players selected in April.

James is a 6’3″ and 215-pound safety with the range and athleticism to change the course of a game. He’s a playmaker in the secondary, with the IQ and physical ability to turn a promising throw into six points the other way.

James is also an excellent tackler with the closing speed, physicality, and power behind his hits to overwhelm even the best of running backs.

At the Scouting Combine, James’ combination of size, athleticism, and strength should help him get to where he deserves to be in the NFL Draft hierarchy. Injury concerns exist, but if his knee checks out, he should rise up draft boards around the league.

James could be a playmaking free safety or a hard-hitting strong safety. Regardless of where he lines up, he has the tools to be a star.

Leighton Vander Esch is one of the top 25 prospects on my personal big board. Many around the NFL Draft world are beginning to move him up their boards, due in large part to the fact that scouts and executives have already done so.

As franchises look for a confirmation of their suspicions, expect Vander Esch to validate the hype and solidify his place as a first-round draft pick.

Vander Esch is a 6’4″ and 240-pound linebacker with long arms and the speed to play all over the field. He’s one of the best run defenders in this draft class, which is reason enough for teams to be intrigued within the first two rounds.

What makes Vander Esch such a compelling prospect is that he’s just as effective in coverage, where he can drop back and match up against contemporary tight ends.

As teams search for clues against the tight ends who are dominating the modern NFL, Vander Esch could be the answer. He’s fast enough to play against a Zach Ertz type of player, and strong enough to hold his own against those of a Travis Kelce mold.

This is mostly upside talk due to Vander Esch’s inexperience, but he has the size, length, strength, and athleticism to be a special player.

Must Read: The big question facing Lamar Jackson at the Scouting Combine

After the Scouting Combine, Leighton Vander Esch should lock in his Round 1 grade at the 2018 NFL Draft.