2024 NFL Scouting Combine: Biggest Surprises (Fantasy Football)

The first NFL Combine I remember watching was in 2001. It was one of those events where I didn’t fully understand what I was watching or why it related to football at all, but dang, it was incredible to witness.

Looking back now, I get why I fell in love with the Combine. I got to see Michael Vick, LaDainian Tomlinson, Santana Moss, Steve Smith Sr. and Reggie Wayne play in what could only be comprehended to me, a 10-year-old boy, as football mini-games. That was just the beginning of my love of this crazy game we all love, and I hope this year’s NFL Combine was able to spark that love of football for another generation of fans.

Believe it or not, the 2024 NFL Draft class walked away from the Combine looking even better than it had prior. There are so many standouts, like offensive tackle Joe Alt, measuring in at an official 6-foot-8 inches tall while also posting elite speed and agility scores. Or how about multiple 6-foot-2 wide receivers posting sub 4.4 40-yard-dash times? The biggest surprises of the week weren’t just good measurements or times. They were elite measurements and times.

Let’s look at some of the biggest surprises from the Combine and what they mean for the upcoming NFL Draft.

2024 NFL Scouting Combine: Biggest Surprises

The Texas Wide Receivers Are VERY Good

Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell have almost certainly made draft evaluators wonder if Quinn Ewers was made to look much better than he actually was in 2023. Probably with what will be the most talked-about performance of the week, Xavier Worthy ran a Combine record, 4.21, 40-yard dash. Worthy headlines with speed, but he can hold his own as a route runner, which is what separates him from the John Ross’s of the world. Worthy also weighed in at only 165 pounds, which may alarm some general managers, but we have seen the red flag of low BMI become more of a yellow flag over the last few seasons. Worthy reminds me a lot of Tank Dell, even though he is a taller player. He could find success early if he lands with a high-IQ coaching staff. Expect him to enter the top-15 conversation in the NFL Draft.

Mitchell had the most impressive Combine of any wide receiver. I was already fairly high on Mitchell before, but after this performance, he landed as my WR5 of the class. He has room to improve as a complete route runner, but he navigates space well and is aggressive at the catch point. Mitchell displayed elite speed and explosiveness at the Combine. His upside is palpable, and he has more than likely ensured that he will be a first-round selection come April.

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – LSU)

Brian Thomas Jr. locked himself into my WR4 spot pre-NFL Draft. He measured in at nearly 6-foot-3 inches tall and posted an absurd 4.34 40-yard dash. The big question for Thomas Jr. was what his official size measurements would be, and he checked those boxes this week. His breakout season at LSU seems to be the real deal. He is a fluid route runner with impressive hip mobility for a player of his size. The speed obviously showed to be real as well. The only remaining question will be if Thomas Jr. can improve some of his functional strength at the next level. He has alpha wide receiver well within his range of outcomes and will be a top 15-18 pick in the NFL Draft.

Ladd McConkey (WR – Georgia)

Ladd McConkey may hear his name called before the end of day one. Everyone knew that McConkey was a route technician. He was one of the few players who seemed virtually unguardable when breaking down his tape. We now know that part of the reason was his athleticism. McConkey ran an impressive 4.43 40-yard dash time while also posting solid explosiveness metrics with a 36-inch vertical.

He is not the old-school porotype of what wins in the NFL, but the current iteration of success at the wide receiver position looks a whole lot like what McConkey has to offer. While I will refrain from going as far as comping him to Garrett Wilson as some others have, I will say this: McConkey is an NFL wide receiver for the foreseeable future and should have an impact in the league and for fantasy football early in the 2024 season.