Combine Speed Only Shows A Guy Can Run
April 15th, 2025
Texas CB Jahdae Barron.
Joe is a big fan of the combine that isn’t televised. “This Joe” has no use for the combine that is televised.
Joe is a huge fan of the access that the combine is and provides. That’s where can one talk to various NFL suits, coaches and college prospects under the same roof in a span of four days, or get valuable background information and off-the-record front office intel found in various eateries and watering holes dotting downtown Indianapolis.
The combine that is televised — for this Joe — is a joke. Joe guesses it is cool in some minor way to see a guy run fast or his agility or pumping weights. Does any of this mean a guy can play football? No.
(Here’s a list of the 10 fastest 40 times at the combine.)
Joe brings this up because Matt Miller of BSPN, who released his final list of top-602 prospects (that’s not a typo), seems to think a guy some believe will be the Bucs’ pick at No. 19 next week, Jahdae Barron, is a shoe-in because — wait for it — he ran fast in a straight line unopposed in shorts and a T-shirt in Indianapolis on a turf field in February.
11. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 194 | Grade: 93
Comp: Cooper DeJeanBarron was a playmaker for the Texas secondary last season, allowing only 20 receptions on 51 targets while also grabbing five interceptions and taking home the Jim Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back. Formerly used as a slot cornerback, he moved to right corner in 2024 and played as well as any corner in the country. After beginning the season as an early-Day-3 guy, Barron is a lock for Round 1 following a combine performance that saw him run a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. That explosive speed showed that he can play on the outside or inside at the next level.
Does Joe think Barron would be a good pick for the Bucs? Well, Joe hasn’t studied Barron that much but Miller’s is the first Barron bio Joe has read that suggests Barron can be a full-time outside corner.
The rest seem to place Barron as more of a nickel corner. Of course, what matters is what Bucs coach Todd Bowles thinks.
Would Joe like to have Barron? Of course. His versatility is enticing and Joe knows Bowles likes versatile players.
But this is where Joe and Miller differ. Too many draftniks equate running in a straight line to being a future elite NFL player. Joe does not. And history suggests (see link above) speed doesn’t mean a guy is automatically going to be a Pro Bowl player.
And this is why Joe pays little attention to the portion of the combine that is televised and narrated by Rich Eisen.
Joe is not opposed to the Bucs drafting Barron. But Joe would be much more comfortable reading how he is a lockdown corner matching up against the top SEC receivers, and maybe how Barron fared in the college football semifinal game defending Ohio State superstar Jeremiah Smith.
April 15th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Barron is far more than his speed and better than what’s assumed. Don’t know how he falls that far though, but I’ve also seen crazier things happen draft day.
April 15th, 2025 at 12:45 am
There is 40 speed and there is football speed. Running with 15 or 20 Lbs if sweat soaked gear on. Just lifting your knees to run is more dificult with thigh pads and knee pads.
Add to that. These guys hire trainers to get them to max out drills and 40 times the moment their college carreer ends. Football ain’t 40 times and drills folks.
Go Bucs!
April 15th, 2025 at 12:55 am
One of the Joes (yeah the Joe who always wants more cowbell…er, edge rush…that Joe) has always preached positional value.
In that case, a slot corner, most IOL, most TE’s, most ILB wouldn’t qualify so a hard no to Barron at 19.
DL and Edge would be there smart plays.
Since this draft is particularly noted for being strong in DL and there’s not much difference between the bottom of the first round and the second round EDGE, methinks DL should be the pick If a top one is available, unless a top 10 talent like CB Will Johnson (who can play outside) were to slip.
Between Grant and Nolen, one or both may be available at 19 to beef up the interior and perhaps shift Bucs DL Logan Hall to play some EDGE.
Then go for another EDGE in round 2 and either a CB and a ILB in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Pick up a swing tackle and another DB and we are done.
April 15th, 2025 at 2:05 am
Yes, IF he can play Outside Corner.
Todd Bowls: The Bucs will not take Nolen, and Logan Hall most certainly isn’t an Edge Rusher.
April 15th, 2025 at 2:17 am
Dane Brugler from The Athletic:
A three-year starter at Texas, Barron played the STAR hybrid position in defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s zone-heavy scheme, seeing time at corner, safety, nickel and dime. After playing primarily inside as an underclassman, he moved outside in 2024 (69.9 percent of his snaps at corner, 30.1 percent in slot/box/post) and led the SEC in both interceptions (five) and passes defended (16). He became the third Longhorn to win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. Barron holds a master’s degree in coverage schemes and has done a great job developing the mental part of his game, giving himself a headstart keying and diagnosing the quarterback and blocking scheme.
AND
Some teams view him as a nickel-only prospect, while others see his value to play multiple positions across the secondary.
April 15th, 2025 at 2:47 am
Im passing, not at 19
April 15th, 2025 at 3:32 am
I agree with Joe on the obsession with combine numbers by the media. What counts is the tape, character, etc.
I’ve always liked Barron, he and Johnson are day-one starter quality. I like Barron better with his 5 picks.
NFLDraftBuzz on Barron:
“Any pattern-match heavy scheme would maximize Barron’s skill set perfectly. His ability to process quickly and play physically at intermediate depths shows up consistently on tape, particularly against high-level competition. The spatial awareness and route recognition skills translate perfectly to complex coverage schemes at the next level. His snap-to-snap consistency and special teams background mean he’ll contribute from day one, but his ceiling is even higher. This is a defensive back who could be making All-Pro teams by year three in a system that leverages his football IQ and allows him to be aggressive in underneath zones. “
April 15th, 2025 at 4:51 am
Barron looks good. I agree with others, not for our 19th pick.
April 15th, 2025 at 6:53 am
He’s done nothing but produce for three years as an SEC starter, but let’s dismiss him because he ran a fast 40 at the combine. Meanwhile, Jihaad Campbell is a one-year wonder with great measurables that started one year at Alabama, and if it wasnt for a shoulder injury, Joe would trade his left nut to get the guy. “Joe” logic is truly baffling.
If Barron there at 19, the Bucs should pick him. He’s a Todd Bowles wet dream.
April 15th, 2025 at 7:59 am
Was just reading Vernon Hargreaves combine report. HE was predicted to be very good
April 15th, 2025 at 8:18 am
If Barron was 2″ taller, he’d be a top 10 pic.
He’s a baller… he’s just not as tall as most teams want their corner to be. I don’t think he’s a player who’s resting on his combine numbers. He’s a very good cornerback who’s combine numbers show why he’s as good as he is, he’s just not as tall as the cornerbacks we’ve been drafting the past few years.
If we ended up drafting him, I would be fine with it because Licht/Bowles know how to draft and they would have seen something in him. My thinking is if we draft him and he picks up the defense fairly quickly, he becomes the starting nickel and Smith becomes a starting safety. That setup doesn’t bother me at all. Sounds pretty epic really.
Is Barron worth the 19? Totally different conversation.
April 15th, 2025 at 8:40 am
Joe, someday I hope you’re able to drop you inhibitions and tell us how you really feel about the televised portion of the combine. I’m getting a hint that you’re not a big fan.
April 15th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Here’s our cornerback room right now:
Jamel Dean
Zyon McCollum
Bryce Hall
Josh Hayes
Tyrek Funderburk
Tyreek Smith will get moved to safety, leaving Christian Izien as the only nickel corner.
Now tell me we don’t need to draft at least two corners in the first four rounds of this draft.
April 15th, 2025 at 9:13 am
*Tykee Smith
April 15th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Would take Barron ahead of Campbell.
He is in my opinion the 2nd or 3rd best corner in the draft. 5 foot 11 is not that small. Unlike Johnson he is not coming off a big injury.
He can start the season in the slot and then move outside when Dean unevenly gets hurt. He can then be Dean’s replacement outside next season.
I do not think another position group outside of safety where our drafted player would be a full time starter.
Even if we went edge, they unlikely would get many snaps with Reddick and Diaby both there. And truthfully not sure how much better any of them would be over Braswell. Pierce junior character issues. Green, character issues. Walker, raw, Williams, not that productive. Leaves Ezerauku…. Who I am not sure give us that much more.
Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College):
* Height: 6’2 ½”
* Weight: 248 lbs
* Position: Edge
* Key Athletic Traits: Explosive athleticism, good burst with quick first three steps, effortless cornering ability, good hand usage, excellent reactive quickness and intelligence as a rusher, good bend and control as a high-side rusher.
* Combine Measurables (from 02/27/2025):
* 40-yard dash: 4.62 seconds
* 20-yard shuttle: 4.19 seconds
* 3-cone drill: 6.94 seconds
* Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
* Broad jump: 9’11”
* Bench press (225 lbs): 22 reps
* Arm length: 34 inches
* Hand size: 9 ¼ inches
Chris Braswell (University of Alabama):
* Height: 6’3 ⅜”
* Weight: 251 lbs
* Position: Linebacker/Edge
* Key Athletic Traits: Freakish specimen (according to some reports), clocked at 21.9 mph, 38.5-inch vertical jump, explosive, speed, quickness, burst, good speed-to-power conversion, violent hands, excellent bull rush ability.
* Combine Measurables:
* 40-yard dash: 4.60 seconds
* 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
* 20-yard split: 2.67 seconds
* Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
* Broad jump: 9’7″
* Arm length: 33 ¼ inches
* Hand size: 9 ⅜ inches
Comparison:
* Size: Braswell is slightly taller and heavier than Ezeiruaku.
* Speed: Both appear to have similar 40-yard dash times, suggesting comparable straight-line speed.
* Explosiveness: Both are described as explosive athletes, but Braswell’s reported vertical jump in some sources is notably higher than Ezeiruaku’s combine result.
* Agility: Ezeiruaku’s 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle times suggest good agility and change of direction. Information on Braswell’s agility drills from the combine is available and indicates he is also agile.
* Playing Style: Ezeiruaku is noted for his bend and ability to counter as a pass rusher, while Braswell is highlighted for his speed-to-power conversion and bull rush.
In summary, both Donovan Ezeiruaku and Chris Braswell are considered highly athletic edge defenders with quickness and explosive traits. Ezeiruaku’s combine numbers provide specific metrics showcasing his agility, while Braswell’s scouting reports emphasize his raw power and top-end speed.
April 15th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Trust Jason. Invest in beef. Have a beer. Relax.
April 15th, 2025 at 10:53 am
[Absolutely not true. Joe has written (and spoken on Ira’s pod) *many* times that a good argument can be had to draft at every position on defense next week. Feel free to search the free archives for verification. — Joe]
Nothing is further from intelligence to trust a GM to draft an Edge than it is to have [that’s not very nice, why such hate on a perfectly find Wednesday? — Joe] (Licht) drafting for that position early on.
He’s absolutely terrible at that position in early rounds.
Our CB play was the worst in the NFL bar none.
We need to draft two CBs just to try and improve, and likely need a free agent veteran as well.
Not only do we not have talent that can stay healthy enough to play, we have a defensive guru that can’t coach fundamentals.
28-27
April 15th, 2025 at 11:16 am
a comp I saw for him was, drumroll please, Tykee Smith
April 15th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
There’s quite a a few ways we could go with this draft. In my opinion we sorely need an ILB before Saturday morning. Other than that we could use a good many spots, but we only have two other picks.
April 15th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Before Saturday, that is…
April 15th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
He is a better corner than Tykee Smith. I think his coverage skills are much better. To me taiki Smith looks like a slot corner or free safety he is somebody I would rather see blitz and be a playmaker and force fumbles whereas Barron is more of a guy who I see shadowing defenders and preventing completed passes because of either pass breakups or quarterbacks looking the other way because the receiver is not open.
April 15th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Apparently Joe missed a day. He thinks today is Wednesday.
Lighten up on the sauce sir. It’s turning your mind to mush.
April 15th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
Barron is a monster and could be a starting safety in our defense.. Ballhawk and fits the size criteria for Bowles safety and nickel….
April 15th, 2025 at 9:05 pm
Mr. Becker says it best- Barron compares to Tykee Smith but I would add that Tykee does not have sub-30′ arms and Barron lacks the dawg and length it takes to match up with NFL TEs in the slot in press man and NFL WRs on the outside so despite his many talents I’ll chuck heavy objects at fragile things if the Bucs take him at 19. He is a Bowles fantasy but I’m hoping Parcells got in Bowles ears about getting real and thinking and deciding on pass rush and DBs who can play man. The pass defense needs another dimension not more toys to fail in the exact same way it has for too many years.
Indeed all the he ran this woo-hoo or he ran that boo-hoo is all poo-poo. Yet players’ stock inevitably spikes and drops every year due to this insignificant number among many other insignificant numbers. Malaki Starks tape proves this point but not as well as Ronde Barber and his HOF career as a 4.67 40 runner does.
The most relevant proof through is 2025 combine underachiever JJ Pegues. His tape versus his combine numbers (which compare favorably to another combine loser by the name of Vince Wilfork) are so disparate its appalling. His athletic web is like a little asterisk that spikes out on the bench press vector like a distant exploding star.
A combine buzzmeister whose tape matches his combine performance though is Landon Jackson. He is not a fit with what Bowles does but boy is he going to make some team very happy to have him, ideally someone in the AFC east besides the Bills because he is the DE that can make a beast like Josh Allen one dimensional on his half of the field.