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10 NFL Combine Sleepers to Watch This Weekend

10 NFL Combine Sleepers to Watch This Weekend

321 players were invited to the 2024 NFL combine, including all of the NFL’s brightest draft prospects.

While some players won’t participate in testing or on-field drills due to injury or personal reasons, the combine remains an incredible opportunity to see the best prospects all in one spot.

Each year we see a few players rise up draft boards, usually due to elite testing numbers. This year there are a number of candidates who have the chance to do the same.

 

What to Expect at the Combine

The NFL combine is a 4 day event that begins Thursday, February 29th at 3pm ET. It follows this schedule:

2024 NFL Combine Schedule

 

On-Field Drills

The 40 yard dash gets all the attention, but NFL scouts already know how fast most of these guys are.

Media scouts often don’t since most of them only pretend to watch film, resulting in the massive mock draft adjustments you’ll see in the coming days.

The real benefit of the combine is seeing all the prospects on-field, performing testing and drills immediately after one another.

Moral of the story: Testing numbers aren’t the only way to perform well at the combine. I’ll be releasing an All-Drills team when the combine is finished, just like last year.

 

Draft Sleepers to Watch at the Combine

These 10 prospects may or may not light up the combine from an athleticism standpoint, but they are all guys who are currently undervalued by media scouts.

Expect NFL executives to have their eyes on these NFL combine sleepers:

 

Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State

Jaden Hicks is a pretty well known player, but most people don’t realize that he has a legitimate chance to sneak into the first round and be the first safety drafted.

Hicks is just a 3rd year player, but has an elite combination of size (6’3” 210lbs) and speed for the position. He shows incredible closing speed, length to break up passes, and fluidity in the open field.

Think about a player with the body of Tyler Nubin but the fluidity of Calen Bullock. He’s just a little bit raw.

Hicks was one of the few underclassmen invited to the Senior Bowl, but was unable to participate due to an ankle injury. He’s reportedly full-go for the combine.

 

Ryan Flournoy, WR, SE Missouri State

Ryan Flournoy is a name you might not know, but really should. The FCS receiver will be one of the best testers at the combine, and has a good frame at 6’2” 205lbs.

Flournoy is said to have ridiculous testing numbers, including a 41” vertical, 10’11” broad jump, 6.65 cone drill, and is able to squat 510 pounds.

He was a multiple time 1st Team All-Conference honoree in the Big South, and showed impressive fluidity and strength at the point of attack.

NFL teams will love his aggressiveness and athletic ability.

 

Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian

Jalyx Hunt is a really fun prospect who has the chance to catapult up the rankings if he puts on a good performance.

After starting college as a safety at Cornell, Hunt is now an edge rusher with prototypical size at 6’4” 250 pounds. He plays bigger than his frame thanks to his long arms, and still has the foot quickness to drop back in coverage as a 3-4 OLB. He’s played a different position every year of college, but earned the Southland Defensive Player of the Year award this past season due to his constant pressure.

Hunt has a quick first step and does a great job of working sideline-to-sideline. He has an NFL frame and all the athletic traits needed to develop into a legitimate NFL edge player. He’s quite raw and there are still question marks for him, but the combine will be a big opportunity for him to rise.

 

CJ Hanson, G, Holy Cross

CJ Hanson is one of the more athletic offensive linemen in the class, combined with a big frame at 6’6” 305lbs.

Before dominating at the East-West Shrine Game, CJ Hanson dominated the Patriot League in the FCS.

The 3 year starter had one of the highest win rates in all of college football, showing an ability to win against speed or power.

The combine will be an excellent opportunity for him to let his quick feet and other athletic traits stand out.

 

Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP

Tyrice Knight had one of the most dominating stat lines in college football this past year. In just 12 games, Knight recorded 140 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 7 passes defended.

Knight has been a consistent producer, but he also looks the part of an NFL linebacker. He has natural strength that shows up in his tackling, he makes quick reads, and he has a good first step.

Knight is underrated in coverage, and has the physical traits to continue that in the NFL.

A good day at the combine could move him into the top 5 linebackers in the class, and a potential day 2 selection.

 

Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State

Kamara doesn’t have the size of a traditional outside linebacker, but all he does is produce. He’s one of the most efficient players in college football both as a pass rusher and a run stopper, and has the rock-solid build necessary to translate his skillset to the NFL.

Plenty of undersized edge rushers are available each year, but Kamara is different. He’s a tactician with his approach and doesn’t get swallowed up in the run game. He reminds me a ton of a former Colorado State OLB, Shaq Barrett.

If he can live up to that comparison, he’s doing pretty good for himself.

 

Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

Braelon Allen is an insane athlete who shined early in his career at Wisconsin. While he’s a well-known name, I think seeing him up close and surrounded by other NFL running backs will really put into perspective just how big and athletic he really is.

He had a 610 pound squat as a 17 year old freshman, and has only gotten stronger since.

He didn’t end up putting up quite the numbers of recent Badger greats, but he also didn’t have quite as good of offensive lines. Allen is built for endless power, while still only being 20 years old.

You can’t rule out the possibility of him being RB1.

 

Xavier Weaver, WR, Colorado

Xavier Weaver has been disrespected throughout this draft prospect, and it’s time that ends.

The WR1 has been on my radar for years. His route running is so deceptive, with strong hands and a knack for getting open consistently.

He did it at South Florida, he did it at Colorado, and he’ll do it in the NFL.

He doesn’t have the 4.2 speed or elite size or some of the big name receivers in the draft class, but he’s a good athlete with reasonable size. He’ll be an asset for an NFL team.

See my Xavier Weaver scouting report.

 

Jacob Monk, C/G, Duke

Jacob Monk might not run a fast 40, but this dude is built for endless power.

Monk has a chance to be one of the first 5 centers drafted due to his lower body and core strength. He can bench 450 pounds, has a 625 squat, and the ability to handle extra-big nose tackles without a double team.

Monk has a low center of gravity that NFL teams will love as a day 3 pick, but right now he isn’t even viewed as that.

 

Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado State

Holker burst onto the scene in his game against Colorado early in the season, and he never slowed down after that.

The 6’5” 235 pound Holker doesn’t have great strength as a pass blocker, but he shows nice effort in the run game. More importantly, he has the open field fluidity that NFL teams covet right now from the position.

Holker led all FBS tight ends in receiving this past season with 767 yards, showcasing strong hands and some of the best route running in the class.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see him dominate the on-field drills and become the fourth or fifth tight end drafted.

 

NFL Combine Predictions

These were my 10 favorite NFL combine sleepers who are currently being undervalued by media scouts. I don’t necessarily expect all these players to steal the show at the combine, but keep your eye on them in drills and you’ll see why I like them.

If you have any sleepers you want me to keep an eye on, feel free to leave a comment below.

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