Yardbarker
x
Players who helped and hurt themselves the most at the 2017 NFL Combine
Mar 3, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington wide receiver John Ross speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports

Players who helped and hurt themselves the most at the 2017 NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is where scouts go to salivate, and it can make or break the draft stock of many NFL prospects. This year's combine featured plenty of great — and not so great — performances. Here we feature the players who helped or hurt themselves most at this year's combine.

 
1 of 24

Helped: Aviante Collins, OT, TCU

Helped: Aviante Collins, OT, TCU
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

Collins showed himself to be a workout warrior at the combine. The TCU tackle finished second among offensive linemen in bench press reps (34) and first in the 40-yard dash (4.81 seconds). He's likely to move over to guard due to his lack of height (6-4) but should have pushed himself up some boards.

 
2 of 24

Hurt: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

Hurt: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Considered by some to be a first overall pick prospect, Allen didn't had the dominant day some were hoping. He ran a poor 5.00 40-yard dash, and news broke that he had surgery on both shoulders in college. It wouldn't be a shock if he fell out of the top 10 picks.

 
3 of 24

Helped: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

Helped: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Garrett might have solidified his status as the top overall draft pick. He had the fifth fasted 40-yard dash among defensive linemen (4.64 seconds), second most bench reps (33), best vertical jump (41 inches) and second best broad jump (10-8). He could be a once-in-a-generation talent. 

 
4 of 24

Hurt: Derek Barnett, DL, Tennessee

Hurt: Derek Barnett, DL, Tennessee
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Barnett was tapped as a first-round pick by some heading into the combine, but he had very bad luck due to illness late in the week. He skipped out on some tests and ran a mediocre 4.88 40-yard dash.

 
5 of 24

Helped: Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP

Helped: Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Jones put his athleticism on full display, finishing second among running backs in the vertical jump and third in the broad jump. His 4.56-second 40-yard dash was fair, but the overall scores will help him move up a deep running back class.

 
6 of 24

Hurt: Corey Clement, RB, Wisocnsin

Hurt: Corey Clement, RB, Wisocnsin
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Clement had a terribly disappointing 4.68-second 40-yard time and only had a 28.5-inch vertical leap. He did have a good final year at Wisconsin, but Clement is looking like a third-day draft pick.

 
7 of 24

Helped: Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina

Helped: Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
Icon Sportswire

Jones was the talk of the Senior Bowl, and the talk continued into the combine. The highly productive wideout ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and finished third in the broad jump among wide receivers. He very well could have earned a first-round slot.

 
8 of 24

Hurt: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

Hurt: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Cook was considered possibly the top running back in the 2017 class, but his combine results weren't spectacular. Despite running a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash, Cook struggled in the vertical jump and broad jump. While almost certainly a first-round pick, it remains to be seen where Cook will fall.

 
9 of 24

Helped: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

Helped: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Lattimore hurt his hip during the combine, but he was the talk of the combine among defensive backs before that point. He ran an electric 4.36-second 40-yard dash, third best among corners, and was tied for the third best vertical jump. Projected as a first-round pick, Lattimore certainly didn't hurt his stock.

 
10 of 24

Hurt: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

Hurt: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

One of the most bizarre stories at the combine in recent memory, Foster was sent home after an argument with a hospital worker. He was considered the best inside linebacker available by a wide margin going into the weekend, so it remains to be seen what the incident will do to his stock.

 
11 of 24

Helped: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Helped: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Perhaps the most versatile running back in the 2017 class, McCaffrey ran a strong 4.48-second 40-yard dash and also finished third in the vertical jump, first in the three-cone drill and first in the 60-yard dash. He likely ensured his status as a first-round pick.

 
12 of 24

Hurt: Leonard Fournette, RB. LSU

Hurt: Leonard Fournette, RB. LSU
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Fournette's 235-pound weigh-in was considered high before his poor 28.5-inch vertical jump. He made up for the poor jump by running a strong 4.51psecond 40-yard time, but the weight and jump could push him out of the top 10 in the draft.

 
13 of 24

Helped: Obi Melifonwu, S, UConn

Helped: Obi Melifonwu, S, UConn
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Melifonwu proved to be one of the most athletic defensive backs at the combine, leading all safeties in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump while standing at 6-4. He set himself apart in a deep draft class for his position.

 
14 of 24

Hurt: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

Hurt: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

The first-round talk for Kizer is finally starting to wane. He didn't grade particularly well in any drills, ranking ninth among signal callers in the 40, eighth in the vertical jump and 11th in the broad jump. The drills aren't as important for quarterbacks, but it doesn't sound like many heads were turned.

 
15 of 24

Helped: Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA

Helped: Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Moreau showed he's an elite athlete at cornerback, finishing second in the 40-yard dash (4.35 seconds), fifth in the vertical jump and first in the broad jump. He's probably outside of the first round due to a deep cornerback class, but he earned himself some money.

 
16 of 24

Hurt: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington

Hurt: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

The combine can be especially important for players from smaller schools like Eastern Washington, but Kupp didn't help himself. He ran just a 4.62-second 40-yard dash and didn't stand out in either the vertical or broad jump. He's looking like a later-round pick.

 
17 of 24

Helped: Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota

Helped: Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

The speedy Myrick was the talk of the defensive backs for his 40-yard dash time. He ran it in 4.29 seconds, a time that only trailed record-breaking wideout John Ross.

 
18 of 24

Hurt: Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State

Hurt: Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

Pumphrey profiles best as a third-down scatback, even as he was one of the most productive college backs in history. His lack of size is a major knock, and Pumphrey had only five bench press reps. The lack of strength shouldn't come as a major surprise, but it won't convince teams who were wary of his ability to break tackles and block.

 
19 of 24

Helped: John Ross, WR, Washington

Helped: John Ross, WR, Washington
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Ross got most of the press at the combine for breaking Chris Johnson's 40-yard dash record after registering a 4.22-second 40 time. He just might have solidified himself as a first-round pick.

 
20 of 24

Hurt: Teez Tabor, CB, Florida

Hurt: Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

A projected first-round pick, Tabor might have killed that prospect after struggling at the combine. He had a 40-yard time above 4.6 seconds, which could be a red flag for some teams.

 
21 of 24

Helped: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State

Helped: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Samuel's speed was clear on the film and even clearer at the combine. While he was overshadowed by John Ross, Samuel ran an impressive 4.31 40 time. It's not impossible that he could be a first-rounder.

 
22 of 24

Hurt: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

Hurt: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Williams didn't run the 40-yard dash at the combine and didn't grade particularly well in his jumps. Those are potential red flags for the 6-4 star from Clemson and could push him to the late first round or worse.

 
23 of 24

Helped: T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin

Helped: T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

J.J. Watt's brother ran a strong 4.69 40-yard dash and finished third in the vertical jump. Neither success is shocking for a converted tight end but still very promising for his draft status.

 
24 of 24

Hurt: Tim Williams, LB, Alabama

Hurt: Tim Williams, LB, Alabama
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

Has Williams worked himself out of the first round? He ran a mediocre 4.70-second 40 time and didn't excel in any other drills. He's one of several Crimson Tide players who didn't fare well.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.