Brett's Cowboys Corner

This past week, the NFL Combine wrapped up in Indianapolis. Every year, we like to overanalyze the workouts of NFL prospects and move around our boards based on workouts.

Not to take away from the combine, regardless we learn a lot from players based on their interviews with teams and we start hearing some rumors, which helps figure out the direction of our draft boards.

Though it is slowly becoming the norm that players sit out the drills at the combine, or pick and choose what to do. While most of that comes from the agents, it can hurt certain players because scouts will be suspicious of why you aren’t working out.

If you are a corner and don’t run…you are probably a 4.58 40-yard dash.

But after the workouts are all said and done, there are still some players who rise up boards because they impressed in Indy.

Sonny Styles, LB — Ohio State

The converted safety produced at the combine, and he was expected to test well. But his numbers were better than what could have been expected.

NFL Next Gen Stats scored Styles as the #1 LB at the combine. He ran away with a 4.46 40-yard dash.

Sonny Styles was slowly moving his way up the draft board and was rumored to be going into the week as a target at pick 7 to Washington. After this weekend, I am not sure if Styles will be available at pick 7.

Mike Washington Jr, RB — Arkansas

While Jeremiyah Love has secured the spot to be the first running back off the board, there isn’t a solidified RB2 yet, and after this weekend, teams should look at Mike Washington Jr.

Washington ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, posting the fastest RB time and matched another speedster back in 2024, Isaac Guerendo. Who eventually was a 4th-round pick. An emotional moment as he broke down in tears after his blazing time, he knew that 4.33 just moved him up boards and got him drafted.

Washington had a breakout year at Arkansas with over 1,000 rushing yards. He coupled that great season with a good pre-draft process, including a great week at the Senior Bowl.

Eli Stowers, TE — Vanderbilt

Stowers and fellow tight end prospect Kenyon Sadiq traded standout moments throughout the combine, each pushing the position’s standards higher. Stowers set a tight end record with an 11-foot-3 broad jump, and his 45.5-inch vertical ranked as the second-highest mark recorded since 2003.

He is a former quarterback converted to tight end in college. He plays as a big receiver. He lined up all over for Vanderbilt. He is good at running across the field and can get yards after the catch.

Stowers helped get himself considered to have his name talked about as much as Kenyon Sadiq.

Dani Dennis Sutton, Edge — Penn State

Sutton is a powerful edge rusher whose tape may be lacking some consistency. But when he arrived in Indy, he posted some impressive testing numbers. He ranked as the 2nd edge when it comes to athletic testing per Next Gen Stats.

He didn’t always have the greatest production at Penn State, but his frame and athletic testing will get NFL scouts excited.

Sutton may have elevated himself into the second round.