NFL Scouting Combine Workout Analysis: Inside Linebackers

The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine quick analysis of the workouts of every prospect: the inside linebackers.

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Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma, 6-0, 232

Considering the big question mark is his ability to provide a big thump, his 17 reps on the bench weren’t all that great. He didn’t come up with a top athletic workout and needs to kill it at his pro day.
Projection: Third Round

Steven Daniels, Boston College, 5-11, 243

There’s nothing smooth about his game, but with his base and his body type the quickness was there around the short drills. The 16 reps on the bench were way light, though. He’s not a great athlete and has to play on the inside.
Projection: Free Agent

Josh Forrest, Kentucky. 6-3, 249

Way, way too slow and without the pop and fire, he ran a painful 4.91 40 and only came up with 11 reps on the bench. He has to be a special teamer without the raw ability to be more than a key backup for a few different spots.
Projection: Seventh Round

C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss, 6-1, 234

He’s still trying to figure out what he is. The defensive end/linebacker doesn’t have the fire in his legs to be too explosive, but he moved okay. The 4.81 40 was too lumbering for a 234-pound undersized defender.
Projection: Free Agent

Raphael Kirby, Miami, 6-0, 236

Trying to get past a torn ACL, he didn’t run or do the main workouts, but he lifted a big 27 reps on the bench. He’s not going to be drafted, but he has the power to eventually be a decent free agent.
Projection: Free Agent

Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia, 6-0, 238

Is he a powerful linebacker? The 19 reps on the bench were a bit light. On the plus side, he was quick and strong through the short drills and he jumped well. It was a nice, athletic workout, helped out by the 4.73. He did enough to get drafted.
Projection: Sixth Round

Steve Longa, Rutgers, 6-1, 241

It wasn’t supposed to be a good Combine for Longa considering he’s not an elite athlete on the field, but he still ran an okay 4.78 40 and jumped well – he showed some good power. He’s not going to fly all over the field, but he might be a cheap chance on a run stopper.
Projection: Free Agent

Blake Martinez, Stanford, 6-2, 237

For all the question marks about how athletic he was, he turned in a big combine with a 6.98 three-cone drill and doing a quick job through the short drills. The 22 reps on the bench were good enough, and while he didn’t crank up big jumps, the 4.71 40 was fine.
Projection: Fifth Round

Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn, 6-1, 248

Still getting past an injury he wasn’t able to run or move, but he came up with 21 reps on the bench. He’s a big, strong interior defender, but until he can get around a bit and show a little quickness, he’s a priority free agent.
Projection: Free Agent

Antonio Morrison, Florida, 6-1, 232

He wasn’t at the Combine in a mysterious no-show.
Projection: Fourth Round

Jared Norris, Utah, 6-1, 241

A popper, he’s going to be stuck in a box proved by his 4.8 40 and his lack of explosion and pop in his drills. His worth goes beyond the measurable, but a bigger bench would’ve been nice – the 19 reps were just okay.
Projection: Fifth Round

Gionni Paul, Utah, 5-10, 231

It wasn’t good enough. He’s the type of guy everyone wants on their team, and he could make it as a special teamer, but he was way slow with a 5.05 40. He ran and got around, but he’s a pure inside defender after working on the outside at times.
Projection: Free Agent

Joshua Perry, Ohio State, 6-4, 254

He helped himself in a big way, and while he might not get into the first round, he’ll be off the board early in the second. At his size, to run a sub-4.7 40 and crank up a 10’4” broad jump confirmed what everyone was hoping for. Someone is going to be really, really happy to get him around the 40.
Projection: Second Round

Reggie Ragland, Alabama, 6-1, 247

Yeah, it was more than good enough. He’s not going to be a Von Miller pass rusher – that’s not his game – but he moved great with a 4.72 40 and a quick 4.28 in the 20-yard shuttle. He’s not just a heady thumper with intangibles – he’s an athlete, too. He might not be smooth, but he can get around.
Projection: First Round

Terrance Smith, Florida State, 6-3, 235

He needed to come up with something flashy, and he didn’t. While he jumped great, and the 4.77 40 wasn’t bad, he wasn’t a WOW prospect. He showed enough to get a long look in a camp, and it wasn’t an awful workout, but he’ll have to shine on special teams.
Projection: Free Agent

Nick Vigil, Utah State, 6-1, 238

Everyone knows he can hit and can play, but can he run and move? Yup. He plays fast and he moves fast, getting around the short drills in a hurry. The jumping drills were just okay, and the 4.72 was fine, but he proved that the tape matches the tools.
Projection: Fourth Round

Scooby Wright, Arizona, 6-0, 239

Okay, so he’s not an elite athlete, but he’s good enough. Blow off the brutal 4.9 40. He moved great around the shuttle and short drills, and he jumped just fine. No, he’s not going to be a freakish type of playmaker, but he doesn’t have big deficiencies. The tools are solid.
Projection: Third Round