Is 32 3/4 enough? Nope.
How about 32 7/8? Not quite.
Thirty-three inches: That’s the number (or better) Will Campbell wants to see when scouts unfurl the measuring tape from shoulder to fingertip on his outstretched arm.
Though it might seem trivial to fuss over such small differences, the NFL Scouting Combine is all about highlighting those eighths of an inch and tenths of a second. Most NFL teams have firm measurement thresholds, and some are stricter than others. For offensive tackles, teams ideally want 34- or 35-inch arms; anything shorter than 33 inches means a potential move to the interior.
Campbell has a strong resume. He earned LSU’s left tackle job as an 18-year-old freshman and started the following 38 games there, earning All-SEC and All-America accolades in the process. He grew up modeling his game after Andrew Whitworth (a fellow West Monroe, La., native) and allowed just two sacks over his final 30 games. Not bad in the SEC.
GO DEEPER
Which 2025 NFL Draft prospects could determine how Round 1 plays out?
He’s also my top-ranked offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft class and No. 6 on my top 100. I don’t know how every NFL team feels, but any I’ve talked to over the last few weeks have him at offensive tackle on their preliminary draft boards. We’ll see if that changes leaving the combine.
Campbell has been working for the last two months with longtime offensive line trainer Duke Manyweather at OL Masterminds. Manyweather is always honest in his assessments, and he doesn’t mince words about how he sees Campbell.
“Is he a tackle? Absolutely,” Manyweather told The Athletic. “We’ve seen a lot of tackles with great length who couldn’t block a troll on Twitter.”
As Manyweather explains it, the focus when studying offensive tackles should be on the feet because that leads to effective hands and putting a blocker in position to end the fight. Rashawn Slater has only 33-inch arms, but he keeps himself in position to finish. So does Penei Sewell, whose arms measure just 33 1/4 inches.
“It’s not a crime to get beat initially; it’s a crime to stay beat,” Manyweather said. “And Will does a really great job of resetting his base and staying in phase. He is really strategic of how to use his hands to end the fight.”
Given Campbell’s core strength and competitive finish, I have little doubt he could move inside and play guard at a high level. But teams want to keep him outside, making that arm length number an important one.
Other draft prospects to watch in Indianapolis this week:
GO DEEPER
Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List revisited: Who will dominate at the NFL combine?
While bouncing between receiver and corner for the Cyclones, Porter struggled to find a full-time role until his sixth season. But his speed allowed him to be a playmaker on special teams with four blocked punts and a blocked field goal over the last four years. Porter (6 feet 2 3/8 and 197 pounds) should be an impressive tester, especially in the 40-yard dash, which would cement his status in the top 100 picks.
The son of two accomplished college athletes, Porter was a standout track athlete in high school, setting Iowa’s record in the 400 meters (46.99 seconds). He finished with five state titles and a personal best of 10.68 seconds in the 100.
How does that track speed translate to the football field? He was clocked at 22.17 mph during Senior Bowl practices last month, the fastest time of the week and one of the best since data has been available. In the eight years Zebra Technologies has been tracking player speed at the Senior Bowl, only one player was faster: Tariq Woolen (22.45 mph), who ran a 4.26-second 40 at the combine.
A strong candidate to run this year’s fastest 40-yard dash, Smith was a high-level track athlete in high school and nationally ranked as a sprinter and leaper. He won a state championship in the long jump as a freshman, and his personal-best long jump (25 feet, 3 inches) is the best in this draft class, just ahead of his Georgia teammate Malaki Starks (who also should test extremely well).
Smith also ran track at Georgia and set a personal best of 10.10 seconds in the 100 meters, which easily translates to the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash.
What a snag by @ArianSmith2 😤#SeniorBowl Saturday 2:30pm ET on @nflnetwork #GoDawgs | #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/cSj6LRnB2m
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) February 1, 2025
A few others who should be in the mix for the fastest 40-yard dash: Jacob Parrish (Kansas State), Quincy Riley (Louisville), Jaydon Blue (Texas), Jimmy Horn Jr. (Colorado) and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee).
Bond transferred from Alabama to Texas this past offseason with the idea that he would be Quinn Ewers’ new go-to target. That didn’t quite materialize for several reasons, including the right ankle injury Bond suffered, which lingered throughout much of the season. But there also were numerous on-field inconsistencies teams will want addressed during interviews in Indianapolis.
During the testing portion of the combine, Bond should stand out in a big way. Since age 8, he has been nationally recognized in track and set a personal best of 10.48 seconds in the 100 meters in high school. Bond finished his prep career with multiple state titles in the 100 and 200, which should translate well in drills. He has a lot on the line.
One of the freakiest size-speed athletes in the draft class, Campbell filled the stat sheet last season using explosiveness and natural force. At almost 250 pounds, he should be one of the more impressive testers at the combine, which will further discussions inside war rooms about whether Campbell is best suited off the ball or in more of an edge-rusher role. Regardless, the buzz for Campbell will get louder and louder in Indianapolis.
Even if he isn’t quite his listed size (6-3, 227 pounds), Emmanwori has crazy range and athleticism for a bigger defensive back. According to Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” he posted a broad jump of 11 feet, 4 inches and a 42-inch vertical last offseason, both of which might be the best in this draft class. His testing could cement his status in the first round.
GO DEEPER
The biggest NFL offseason needs for all 32 teams: A lot of defense, OL and a few QBs
Cornerback is a “stopwatch” position, and all eyes will be on Johnson’s 40-yard dash — if he elects to run one. Top-end speed is one of the few question marks NFL scouts have about Johnson and the main thing keeping him from being a top-10 lock. But he should shine in the jumps and short-area agility testing. I can’t wait to see his three-cone drill.
Another cornerback with plenty at stake, Barron isn’t viewed as a first-round lock by NFL teams — the physical traits are closer to good than great. He’s right around 5-11, 190, but are his arms longer than 30 inches? What will he run in the 40-yard dash? How will he look in his pedal and transition drills?
Barron is such an easy player to like because of his nose for the ball and versatile experience across the secondary. But teams will be watching his drills closely.
Best DB in the nation 🏆🤘@Officia1dae x @jimthorpeaward pic.twitter.com/oVFHrnswjm
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 13, 2024
Medicals at the combine will be crucial for every prospect but most important for several key players, such as East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. and Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who are coming off injuries.
But Simmons might have the most on the line. He was making a strong case to be OT1 over the first month of the season until he suffered a non-contact patella injury. Each team’s medical staff will get an opportunity to examine the knee and get a better understanding of the injury, rehab and prognosis. According to a league source, he is expected to have a private workout for teams in April, before the draft.
Talk about a player who looks the part: Williams should be north of 35-inch arms and 260 pounds when he gets measured in Indianapolis. He is a loose, flexible athlete on film with long strides that help him accelerate with ease. NFL teams will be eager to see how Williams’ on-field movements are reflected on the stopwatch.
And it isn’t just Williams, a potential top-10 pick, scouts are excited to see. They’ll be closely watching all of the likely early-round edge rushers, including Abdul Carter (Penn State), Jalon Walker (Georgia), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), Mike Green (Marshall), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State) and others.
GO DEEPER
2025 NFL Draft consensus Big Board: Abdul Carter new No. 1, Mason Graham holds in top 5
Burch is a former five-star recruit, and it’s easy to see why. Just over 6-4 and around 290 pounds, he is a loose mover with outstanding short-area movements to maneuver through gaps or unleash his power on blockers. A few injuries this season have caused him to be somewhat underrated, but it won’t be surprising when the buzz builds after his combine performance.
One of the top “freaks” on Feldman’s list, Grant is a 350-pound behemoth but nothing close to a slug. According to Feldman, he ran a sub-5.00-second 40 in college, along with a 4.69-second short shuttle, which would be a terrific time for a guy that size. Some teams believe he is a second-round prospect, and others like him higher. Regardless, Grant is a rare athlete.
Mbow had a solid yet unspectacular week at the Senior Bowl, with some of his play-strength issues standing out. But his strengths include lower-body movements and fluid body control, which will be highlighted during drills. A short shuttle of less than 4.50 seconds and a three cone under 7.50 are lofty yet realistic expectations. The combine needs to be (and should be) where Mbow makes his money.
At just under 6-4 and around 225 pounds, Williams has some freaky ability. The top-end speed is just OK, though, so I don’t know that his 40-yard dash will be exceptional. But he has springs in his calves, which should show in the jumps and his explosion during drills. Scouts also have questioned how natural his hands are, so I’m eager to see him catch the football in the gauntlet drill.
#TCU WR Savion Williams is an NFL prospect who will gain steam throughout the draft process.
Freaky athlete for his size (6036v, 228v) with 40″ vert and 600 lbs squat (@BruceFeldmanCFB freak list alum).
TCU starting to use him in wildcat/backfield packages (HS QB). pic.twitter.com/fuElneIlP3
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 29, 2024
A late bloomer, Grant started playing football as a junior in high school, joined William & Mary as a 240-pound project and blossomed into an NFL prospect. The Senior Bowl was supposed to be his springboard to a Day 2 draft projection, but a late-season injury sidetracked that idea.
Instead, the combine should be where he turns heads with his burst and agility — as long as he is healthy. Scouts measured his arms at 35 5/8 inches last spring, and if he tests as expected, his tools and promising tape might be enough to get him in the top 100.
Noel has had a pretty good year: He got engaged, graduated from college, set career bests in receiving and performed like one of the best players at the Senior Bowl. And I’ll bet he continues that strong momentum in Indianapolis. Though Noel won’t stand out with his size, he has speed, coordination and strong hands, which should be evident in the athletic and positional testing.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos: Ric Tapia, Matthew Visinsky / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It's hard to believe that we're less than two months out from the 2025 NFL Draft, and w
The Matthew Stafford sweepstakes is heating up. After the Los Angeles Rams reportedly allowed the veteran quarterback’s agent to talk to teams, the list of su
The 2025 NFL wide receiver free agent market could be booming this offseason for a few
Under the best circumstances, covering the NFL Scouting Combine can be a whirlwind, leaving some media members feeling overwhelmed, tired, and maybe a li