The NFL Scouting Combine is the most important event in the draft process for NFL teams, as it gives teams the opportunity to evaluate prospects and get a better sense of their abilities in person. This year’s combine, held in Indianapolis, was especially important as teams looked to find the best players to fill out their rosters for the upcoming season.
This year, seven NFL scouts gave their favorite prospects at each position, and Yahoo Sports caught up with them to get their opinions. At quarterback, Anthony Richardson was the favorite among two of the seven scouts polled. Although he is seen as a bit raw by some analysts, his rushing ability gives him a higher floor to be a productive passer early on while he adjusts to the speed of the NFL passing game.
The running back position saw unanimous agreement among the scouts, with Texas’ Bijan Robinson being the favorite. At tight end, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer was the favorite, while Georgia’s Jalen Carter was the favorite at defensive tackle despite his recent arrest.
At wide receiver, Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all received votes. Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison was the favorite at offensive line, with two votes each for Peter Skoronski and O’Cyrus Torrence.
At linebacker, Arkansas’ Drew Sanders was the favorite with five votes, and Clemson’s Trenton Simpson received two votes. Will Anderson Jr. and Tyree Wilson were the favorites at edge defender, while Christian Gonzalez, Kelee Ringo, and Devon Witherspoon were the favorites at cornerback. Finally, Alabama defensive back Brian Branch received six votes as the favorite safety.
Overall, the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine was an important event for teams to evaluate prospects and get a better sense of their abilities in person. It will be interesting to see how the draft plays out in the coming months and which players end up being the favorites of the 2021 NFL Draft.
