2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Winners from Day 3 – Quarterback, wide receiver and tight end workouts

The third day of the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is done and dusted, and it was a potentially big day for the New York Giants.

There were several busloads of wide receivers on the field today, not to mention a deep and talented group of tight ends. As it just happens, the Giants could use a receiver or two, and potentially a tight end as well. There were also several talented quarterbacks who could cause upsets and help reshuffle the board.

Who were the winners from the quarterback, wide receiver and tight end workouts?

(Spoilers: The answer for tight ends is “yes”.)

Stetson Bennett (QB, Georgia)
Bennett needed a big day at the combine, probably more than any other player on the field today. Despite coming out of nowhere to lead Georgia to a 29-1 record since 2021 and consecutive national championships, Bennett’s small stature (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) made him a discount at the NFL level. And just a month ago, he was arrested for public intoxication in Dallas. He had to climb back to being draftable.

He ran an official 4.67 second 40, tied with Will Levis for top ball speed and was the most impressive thrower in the first quarterback group.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB, UCLA)

I have to admit my personal bias here: I got into Combine-like DTR. It’s not often you see a 200 pound quarterback throw a block for a 220+ pound running back. He has rare competitiveness and a big arm with a lot of athleticism. Today, DTR ran a 4.56-second 40, measured 6-foot-2 with 9⅞-inch hands, and eclipsed both Will Levis and Anthony Richardson with a 62 mph ball speed.

He appears to have improved his mechanics and become more consistent with his footwork, which may help explain his impressive ball speed. I’ve argued that DTR is my pick for a quarterback drafted after the first round who could emerge as a starter.

Anthony Richardson (QB, Florida)

I can’t sit here and say that a quarterback who is supposedly the QB2 on some team’s board is a Combine “Winner”. But when you test out as the most athletic quarterback in combine history, it’s worth mentioning.

(Note: His official time was 4.43 and he had a top speed of 23.4 mph)

Richardson was somewhat erratic in his throws – which fits in with his scouting report. He’s undeniably raw as a quarterbacking prospect, and it’s almost not fair for him to throw just before CJ Stroud. But his upside and tools will almost certainly have him drafted in the first half of the first round.

Bryce Ford-Wheaton (WR, West Virginia)

Ford-Wheaton raised eyebrows early Saturday with an incredible workout. How impressive was he, really? His only comparison is DK Metcalf:

Oh, and he was impressively consistent catching the ball in field drills.

Derius Davis (WR, TCU)

It’s easy to lose track of individual receivers when you have 50 receivers working out in the position group. But Davis made a very good first impression with an official 4.36 second 40. That would turn out to be the fastest time of the first group of wide receivers. He was overshadowed as a prospect on TCU’s offense by Quenton Johnston, Steve Avila, Kendre Miller and even Max Duggan. But Davis will likely convince teams to go back and see if he’s a hidden gem who can emerge in the NFL.

Andrei Iosivas (WR, Princeton)

Iosivas had one of the more impressive workouts among the wide receivers in the measurables. He confirmed the speed, running a solid 4.4-second 40 at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. What jumped off the field was that every time it seemed like there was an impressive throw and catch among the first group, Iosivas was on the receiving end.

Matt Landers (WR, Arkansas)

Arkansas’ quarterback KJ Jefferson (whom I’ve lovingly nicknamed “Truck Stick”) doesn’t come out until 2024, but Matt Landers gave scouts plenty of reasons to return to Arkansas tape for 2023.

At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, he turned in a 4.39-second 40, a 37-inch vertical and a 10-foot-10 broad jump. The 2023 NFL Draft has athletic receivers and big receivers, but it doesn’t have a lot of big, athletic receivers. It’s going to catch the eye of many scouts.

Tucker Kraft (TE, South Dakota State)

Okay, to be honest, the entire tight end class was a winner today. They looked amazing out there and that’s saying something when the 10th fastest TE still had a 4.7.

Everyone knows that Michael Mayer is probably the best all-around tight end in the class and Iowa produces very good tight ends (Sam LaPorta). So I’m going to give a little shine to one of the small school players, and Tucker Kraft looked like he belonged among the best big school tight ends in the country. Not only is he a very good athlete, but he was solid in all the field drills. He’s going to be one of many starting tight ends coming out of this draft class.

Darnell Washington (TE, Georgia)

Okay, stop me if you’ve heard this before: An athletic freak from Georgia showed up at the NFL Scouting Combine.

If Washington wasn’t considered a first-round talent before today, he certainly is now. The 6-foot-6, 264-pound tight end entered the combine with a reputation as a terrific blocker but a relatively unproven receiver. His loss certainly proved his blocking ability, and given how skilled the Georgia team is, it’s understandable that the ball rarely went his way. It’s easy to expect the big blocking tight end to look more like an economy-sized offensive tackle. But instead, he looked more like an NBA power forward out there on the court. He moves exceptionally well for his size and was a very consistent receiver.

He still needs work in that area of ​​his game, but the upside is somewhere between Martellus Bennett and Gronk.

Just ask NFL NextGenStats…

And then there is this:

Zack Kuntz (TE, Old Dominion)

I’m not sure Kuntz was on anyone’s radar before the draft – and if he was on the NFL’s radar, they were quiet about it.

But the 6-foot-7, 255-pound tight end turned in an insane 4.55-second 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical. Not only was he the tallest player in Combine history to record those kinds of numbers, he did so after undergoing surgery to repair a kneecap (ouch!). Even more impressive, Kuntz looked surprisingly fluid in field drills.

How’s that for a catch radius?

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