INDIANAPOLIS -- The third day of workouts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, with the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers taking center stage on Saturday.
Many of those who partook in the events at Lucas Oil Stadium wowed scouts with their speed in the 40-yard dash, their agility in drills and their explosiveness in the broad and vertical jumps. Some exceeded expectations, causing their draft stock to rise; others displayed flaws in their speed and/or athleticism (or chose not to perform), hurting their chances of being selected on Day 1 or Day 2 when the draft begins in Green Bay, Wisconsin (April 24-26).
Below I've listed six players who undoubtedly impressed the league's personnel decision-makers with their on-field performance. I also list three players who could use a strong effort at their school's pro day to leave the most favorable impression possible before the draft.
Programming note: Tune in to NFL Network and NFL+ for live coverage of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Stock up
Ewers needed to look good in the combine throwing session after flashing his talent but also struggling with pocket awareness while dealing with an oblique injury last season. He accomplished his mission on Saturday, throwing with easy velocity on out and dig routes. He placed most throws effectively, although he did fail to connect with receivers at times. Yes, Ewers' performance wasn't perfect. His first two deep balls fluttered because his feet and arm weren't in sync, but he displayed the potential to stretch the field later on. Saturday’s showing was a step in the right direction for Ewers as he looks to alleviate concerns about his game.
After a strong finish to his career with the Longhorns, Golden continued to build momentum in Indianapolis, running a blistering 4.29-second 40 -- the best time of any combine receiver this year -- and 1.49-second 10-yard split at 5-foot-11, 191 pounds. He did not participate in the jumps or position drills on Saturday, but the game film will speak for itself. Combining his elite speed with the reliability and toughness he showed at Texas should cement his status as a first-round prospect.
At 6-4 1/8, 214 pounds, Higgins ran a solid 4.47-second 40 (1.53-second 10-yard split) and showed explosiveness with a 39-inch vertical leap. He doesn’t have elite quickness, but he'll still be able to challenge NFL corners at the top of the route. Higgins looks the ball into his hands and can turn upfield quickly for a player of his size. If he wasn't on teams' boards as a Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) pick, he certainly should be after this weekend.
Judkins is in the mix for a late first-round or very early second-round draft slot after an outstanding combine performance. His 4.48-second 40-yard dash was excellent for a 221-pound ball-carrier, as was his 38 1/2-inch vertical and group-best 11-foot broad jump. That explosiveness translated to the field during his time at Ole Miss and Ohio State, especially in the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff National Championship victory. He caught the ball very well in drills and looked comfortable transitioning up the field after the catch.
After Higgins stood out among the first group of receivers at the combine, his Iowa State teammate Noel starred in the second group of pass catchers. Noel posted a 4.39-second 40, tied for the best vertical among all receivers (41 1/2 inches) and led all players at the position with an 11-foot-2 broad jump at 194 pounds. What stood out the most to me, though, was how he ran every drill in the on-field workout at full speed. Many receivers run at a slower pace in the gauntlet to make sure they can turn to catch passes, but Noel ran the drill as fast as I've ever seen. He was hustling on each out, dig and deep route, snagging passes without hesitation. That effort should not be ignored by NFL scouts and coaches.
Tuten transferred from North Carolina A&T to Virginia Tech before the 2023 campaign, earning second-team All-ACC nods in each of the past two seasons. On Saturday he led all combine RBs with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash and 40 1/2-inch vertical. His 10-10 broad jump at 206 pounds turned heads, too. The 5-9 1/4 back showed why he was a regular contributor in the passing game during his college career, smoothly grabbing throws during drills. While he doesn’t possess elite change-of-direction ability (4.41-second 20-yard shuttle), Tuten has some make-you-miss in the open field, portending dual-threat contributions at the next level.
Stock down
The 6-4 1/4, 236-pound passer connected on several shorter throws, showing his ability to move an offense when in sync with his receivers. Once the routes were going deeper down the field, though, Howard struggled to connect. His throws on dig routes were not on target and he had to throttle down his comeback throws to make an accurate pass. His velocity was inconsistent on go routes, too. He put a lot of air under the ball on some of those attempts, and I also saw him release more of a pure line drive to add length to the throw. Howard played a big role in the Buckeyes’ run to a national title last season, but I don't believe his combine workout will help him convince teams he has all of the tools of an NFL starter.
Johnson was an effective back in Iowa's zone scheme, following blocks and bursting into the open field for big gains. Unfortunately, the 4.57-second 40 and 1.62-second 10-yard split he posted on Saturday won’t help him, and he did not participate in the jumps. Johnson underwhelmed in the short-area agility drills, and he tends to clap down on the ball as a pass catcher instead of smoothly bringing it in. I expect him to be a solid pro, but he missed a chance to boost his stock with his performance at the combine.
Wells’ 4.58-second 40 was well below the mark teams would like to see for a receiver of his size (6-0 3/4, 201 pounds). His results in the jumps (34-inch vertical, 10-4 broad) were better but still unspectacular. It was clear during the workout that while Wells has solid hands, he’s lacking the juice to guarantee himself an NFL roster spot, even after gaining an impressive 19.8 yards per reception (ranking eighth in the FBS) last season.
