On-field workouts for the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine began Thursday and will run through Sunday. Quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends completed their athletic testing on Thursday. On Friday, running backs, offensive linemen, special teams and place kickers took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to do the same.
Experts' projections have most commonly identified offensive line as one of three positions the Rams could potentially target early in this year's NFL Draft. Using those projections, theRams.com examines how a pair of those prospects fared on Friday.
Oregon center Jake Hanson
| Drill | Result |
|---|---|
| 40-yard dash | 5.5 seconds |
| 10-yard dash | Did not participate |
| Bench Press | 33 reps |
| Vertical Jump | Did not participate |
| Broad Jump | Did not participate |
Ohio State offensive guard Jonah Jackson
| Drill | Result |
|---|---|
| 40-yard dash | 5.23 seconds |
| 10-yard split | 1.84 seconds |
| Bench Press | 28 reps of 225 pounds |
| Vertical Jump | 26.0 inches |
| Broad Jump | 98.0 inches (8 feet, 2 inches) |
Washington offensive tackle Trey Adams
| Drill | Result |
|---|---|
| 40-yard dash | 5.60 seconds |
| 10-yard split | 1.89 seconds |
| Bench Press | Did not participate |
| Vertical Jump | 24.5 inches |
| Broad Jump | 92 inches (7 feet, 8 inches) |
Why these drills and numbers matter
The 40-yard dash measures explosion from a static start, but arguably the most important number within that is the 10-yard split, which helps evaluate how quickly an offensive lineman can block downfield.
Scouts evaluate prospect's endurance and upper-body strength through the bench press, while the vertical jump helps them assess a prospect's lower-body explosion and power. The broad jump helps a scout measure a prospect's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength.
Of note, Hanson's 33 bench press reps were fourth-most among the 39 offensive linemen who participated in the drill. Jackson's 28 bench press reps tied for sixth-most.
Adams has had to overcome a back injury and an ACL injury over the last two years to get to the combine, so the medical testing may end up being the most important part of this week for him. It's also something to keep in mind when comparing his results to the thresholds established by one expert.
Below are the minimum target results NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt, who spent 30 years as the Dallas Cowboys' vice present of player personnel from 1960-89 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, looks for when evaluating prospects at the combine.
Note: Wisconsin offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz, who appeared in the first mock draft roundup, is not participating in on-field workouts at the combine this week due to shoulder surgery he underwent at the end of the 2019 season.
