Tannehill among players whose stock has risen since pro day
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M -- The former Aggie was unable to participate at the Senior Bowl or combine after breaking a bone in his foot in early January. During his pro day workout, however, he accurately completed every type of NFL pass he was asked to throw and has set himself up as a top-10 pick.
Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford -- Fleener was another who sat out the major pre-draft scouting events with an injury (sprained ankle). He was able to workout during one of the most anticipated pro days of the year, and ran incredibly fast (under 4.5 seconds in the 40). He also caught every pass thrown his way by Andrew Luck. As a result, Fleener rates as the top tight end in the draft and a late first-round choice.
Bobby Massie, OT, Mississippi -- Massie's performance at the combine was adequate, but his pro day workout could push him into the first round. The big tackle awed onlookers in position drills, and teams now believe he's a lot more NFL-ready than originally thought.
Vinny Curry, DE-OLB, Marshall -- Curry's combine workout was disappointing and bordered on awful. To his credit, he looked like a different athlete at the Marshall pro day. His 40 time of 4.67 was a full .2 seconds better than his mark from Indianapolis and he bettered his vertical jump by 3 ½ inches. He's considered a terrific pass rusher and a good athlete. The combination could push Curry into the first round.
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers -- A poor performance at the combine threatened to push him into the bottom half of the second round. But the big-bodied wideout recovered, posting a 40 time of 4.48 seconds at his pro day, almost .2 seconds faster than his combine mark. He now grades as a top-40 choice.
PAULINE'S TOP 5: QB | RB | WR | OL | DL | LB | DB
Brandon Brooks, G, Miami (Ohio) -- Considered the best player not invited to the combine, Brooks proved he belonged among the best after his two pro day workouts. At his first pro day, he produced testing marks that were competitive with all of the top offensive linemen at the combine. He looked dominant during his second workout, where he performed position drills for almost 30 minutes straight. He's likely to be the first non-combine player drafted.
Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State -- He was disappointingly slow at the combine, failing to break 4.6 in the 40, a poor mark for a cornerback. He improved that time by almost .1 at his pro day, moving himself back into the conversation as a second-day pick.
Tim Fugger, DE-OLB, Vanderbilt -- Fugger ranked in the top 10 in the SEC last year in sacks (8) and tackles for loss (13.5). He complimented his natural pass-rushing skills by turning in a complete pro day workout. He was fast (a 4.56 40), strong (29 reps on the bench) and explosive (34-inch vertical jump). He then looked terrific after being put through a battery of linebacker and defensive end drills. Fugger has positioned himself to be selected somewhere in the middle of the draft's final day.
Jeremy Ebert, WR, Northwestern -- Despite Ebert totaling 75 receptions for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, not much was said about him in scouting circles. All that changed after the 200-pound receiver timed 4.36 at his pro day and stood out in pass-catching drills. He was graded as an undraftable free agent entering the season, but now ranks as a late-round pick.
Ernest Owusu, DL, California -- The 275-pound lineman had a tough time in Cal's 3-4 alignment the past two years, but showed during his pro day that he offers a huge upside when playing in the proper system. Owusu posted gaudy marks during the workout, completing 39 reps on the bench and running as fast as 4.72 in the 40. His 6-foot-4 frame offers room for growth, and teams are now considering Owusu in the final frames of the draft.
Josh Bush, DB, Wake Forest -- The versatile defensive back, who has lined up at both cornerback and safety, picked off six passes last season and totaled 59 tackles, but was not invited to any of the major postseason scouting events. Measuring a shade under 6-feet and 208 pounds, Bush posted times as fast as 4.49 in the 40. His play on the field and performance during his pro day will secure a spot for him in the draft's last day.
DJ Campbell, S, California -- Campbell took a back seat to his highly touted teammate Sean Cattouse, but outperformed the combine invitee during Cal's pro day. In terrible conditions, Campbell ran 4.5 in the 40 after positing a 38-inch vertical jump. He was not considered worthy of an invitation to mini-camp by scouts before the season began, but his pro day workout likely sealed a spot for him in the final round.
Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia -- Scouts rated Minnifield as one of the top cornerbacks from the senior class before the 2011 season, but he struggled on the field and then underwent minor knee surgery at the end of the campaign. Minnifield looked terrible during the Virginia pro day, running his 40 in the mid-4.6s and not completing the workout. He's dropped from a potential second-round pick into the last day of the draft.
Joe Adams, WR-RS, Arkansas -- He was the Razorbacks' big-play threat at receiver and return specialist. He was known for his breakaway speed, but his pro day 40 of 4.55 seconds, which was slightly worse than his combine mark (4.51), has pushed him out of the draft's first two rounds.
Omar Bolden, CB, Arizona State -- Bolden rolled the dice and entered the draft despite missing the 2011 season with a knee injury. Fast times were expected at the Sun Devils pro day, but Bolden struggled to get under 4.55 in the 40 and looked stiff in position drills. There's a very real chance Bolden will not be selected at all later this month.