NFL Combine Takeaways & Risers...

The NFL combine is officially in the books. Next on tap: Free agency 😎

What’s in store:

• Russell Wilson is OUT in Denver. After two rollercoaster seasons at Mile High, Broncos country is officially ready to get off the ride.

• Mike Evans inks an extension to stay in Tampa Bay. Now he just needs the Bucs to take care of business with Baker to run things back in 2024.

• Darren Waller reportedly still mulling retirement. The oft-injured Giants tight end is no sure thing to play in 2024 entering his age 32 season.

• Faraz presents: the top-10 risers from this year’s combine! Get it straight from the horse’s mouth – Faraz was there live in Indy!

• Broncos inform QB Russell Wilson that they will release him following the beginning of the new league year

  • The Broncos will eat a historic $85M in dead cap as a result of the move, which sets the Broncos on a crash course with one of the top QB prospects from this year’s class. Whether Denver elects to move up in the draft order to secure their guy remains to be seen, but with plenty of talent at the top, they could very well elect to sit back and let the board fall to them – especially if they’re interested in a QB not named Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels. Denver will be strapped for cash over the next few seasons thanks to the release of Wilson, which will likely be a post-June 1st designation, and we could start to see some dominoes fall in the coming days and weeks in what could be a large-scale rebuild. The potential casualties are many, including the likes of former first round pick Jerry Jeudy and second round pick Courtland Sutton, who have both been at the center of trade talks over the past year. As for Russell Wilson, his next landing spot will likely be his last chance as a starter in the NFL – lucky for him, there are plenty of QB-needy teams this offseason cycle, and he’ll almost certainly have an opportunity to prove himself.

• Buccaneers sign WR Mike Evans to 2-year, $52M contract extension with $35M guaranteed

  • After initial reports indicated that the veteran receiver would test the open market for the first time in his career, the Buccaneers rebounded with an offer to keep Mike Evans in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. At this point, Evans appears to be QB-proof even with Baker Mayfield drastically improving his play over the course of the year in 2023. If Mayfield can parlay that success from last year’s divisional round run into another strong season at the helm for the Bucs (which appears to be the way things are trending), Evans could reprise his role as the go-to-guy in Tampa Bay’s offense. Evans led the team in target share and the league in touchdowns last season even after a rough start to the season, and barring a high-profile addition through free agency or the draft, he’s in line to dominate once again. While his touchdown numbers in 2023 are statistically much more likely to regress this upcoming season than improve, Evans will be a threat for double-digit scores as long as he can stay healthy.

• Giants TE Darren Waller remains undecided on 2024 season and future in NFL, considering retirement

  • After playing through the abomination that was the Giants 2023 season, I’d want to retire too (or at least strongly consider it, as Waller reportedly is) if I looked up and realized that Daniel Jones was slated to be my starting quarterback the following year. Perhaps that’s a harsh assessment from a staff writer who is a Cowboys fan, but Waller has struggled through injuries over the past few years while being part of mediocre at best teams. With Danny Dimes going down for the year and Waller himself missing the better part of six games this season, his first season in New York didn’t pan out according to plan. His 53 catches for 552 yards ranked him as a low-TE2 on the season, with his lone touchdown coming in Week 7 with Tyrod Taylor under center. Waller hasn’t come close to replicating the success he saw in 2019 and 2020 over the past three seasons thanks to injuries and the aforementioned shoddy QB play, and with the Giants clearly embroiled in a rebuild, the immediate future looks bleak for the soon-to-be 32-year old tight end. He’s not getting any younger, and he will be squarely outside the top-12 fantasy TE discussion heading into 2024 assuming he does lace ‘em up for at least one more season.

• Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo

  • Guerendo was already on our radar as a sleeper because of his efficiency in both the rushing and receiving game, but he definitely increased his draft stock with his Combine performance. Running a 4.33 40 at 225 pounds, along with a 41.5 vertical is bananas. He finished with a 9.98/10 Relative Athleticism Score. Still likely Day 3.

• Texas WR Xavier Worthy

  • Worthy’s record-breaking 4.21 40 along with his 41” vertical will have teams more than interested. Worthy also broke out at 18 years old with a 30% dominator rating (best in class), has the highest receiving yards/team pass attempt among this WR class, but his 165 pound frame can cast some doubt on how he’ll hold up at the next level.

• LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr

  • Xavier Worthy was fast, but Thomas running a 4.33 40 with a 38.5” vertical at 6’3” 209 pounds contributing to a 9.97/10 Relative Athletic Score is going to give him serious first round draft appeal. His production profile is not in his favor, as he only had one good season without much route variety, but it seems like there’s untapped potential here given his speed/fluid combination.

• Georgia WR Ladd McConkey

  • McConkey has had an amazing pre-draft process so far, and the Combine was the cherry on top. A 4.39 40 and smooth gauntlet just cemented him with first round potential. His route running is one of the best in class, his 3.32 yards/route run last year is 4th best in class, and his 3.26 career YPRR is 5th best. Chiefs at 32 anyone?

• USC RB Marshawn Lloyd

  • Lloyd was one of the most versatile workhorse RBs in this class, given his production and efficiency in the both the run and receiving game. In 2023, he had the best combination of yards after contact, missed tackles forced, and yards/route run of any RB in this class. His 4.46 40 and 36” vertical at 220 pounds is the cherry on top.

• FSU RB Trey Benson

  • A sub 4.4 40 and an insane 9.78/10 relative athletic score at workhorse size cements Benson right near the top of this RB Draft class. He’s 4th in this class in career yards after contact/attempt and missed tackles forced/attempt, and also has serious big play ability.

• Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright

  • Not only did Wright run a 4.38 40, but the explosiveness measured on his first 5 yards hit 15 MPH, which was a feat no other RB was able to hit over the last two years. Combine that with a historic 11’2” broad jump, and he scored a 9.75/10 relative athletic score. His 2023 season was extremely efficient among this class, ranking Top-4 in YAC/att, MTF/att, and YPRR.

• Texas WR AD Mitchell

  • At 6’2” 205, running a 4.34 40 with a 11’4” broad jump and a 39.5” inch vertical leap is crazy impressive - it led to an insane 9.98/10 Relative Athletic Score. He doesn’t have the most impressive production or efficiency profile; he has one good season under his belt, and his 1.68 career YPRR and receiving yards/team pass attempt was one of the worst in this class.

• Florida WR Ricky Pearsall 

  • Pearsall has also had a great pre-draft process, capping it off with a 9.78/10 relative athletic score after a 4.41 40, a 42” vertical, a 10’9” broad jump, and also went nuts in the shuttle and 3-cone. Great athlete who also showed off his route running skills at the Senior Bowl. He doesn’t have the most impressive production or efficiency profiles, but I think he can excel out of the slot.

• South Carolina WR Xavier Legette

  • An athletic freak at his size. 4.39 40, 40” vertical, and a 10’6” broad jump at 220 pounds is nuts; it led to him scoring a 9.92/10 relative athletic score. He gets compared to AJ Brown a lot, but he’s nowhere near as refined as a route runner. He had a solid Senior Bowl, but he didn’t have a productive season until his 5th year in college. Boom/bust prospect.

Buy Breece Hall

This is not a cheap buy by any means. He’s one of the most expensive RBs you can buy, but you’re not buying at his ceiling. His ceiling is coming, and if you want a RB who can go nuclear for the next year or two, he’s the RB to get to put your contending team over the top.

He was up and down last season, so he doesn’t necessarily have that elite season on his resume for non-competing dynasty teams to keep him that close to the chest. He still doesn’t have a 1000-yard season.

With a healthy Aaron Rodgers running a much more capable offense, we could see a 2000-yard season out of Hall. The fact that he racked up 76 receptions last year was incredible, and while some may think it was a result of QBs checking it down, it was more than that. He accounted for a higher target share and more first down receptions than all RBs not named CMC, and no RB totaled more yards/route run than Hall (among 16 RBs with 60+ targets). 

We focus on the receiving game because targets are almost 3x as valuable as carries in PPR, and 1.7x as valuable in half-PPR. But despite the terrible o-line last year, he was 2nd in yards after contact per attempt among the 25 RBs who had 200+ carries last year. He still averaged 4.5 yards per carry, and no RB had any business doing that on 200+ carries behind that o-line on that offense. The big plays were there, as well - he had the highest percentage of his rushing yards on big plays. He did all of this one year post-ACL injury.

He’s going to be two years removed from his ACL this season on a better offense with a better offensive line, so while we might be buying high, we’re buying a league winner for those competing teams that need that extra oomph to get them over the top.

What to send:

SF 2024 rookie 1.08 + 40+ dynasty value points

Non-SF 2024 rookie 1.04 + 40+ dynasty value points

Dynasty Trade Chart Preview

The dynasty trade chart included in the Dynasty Kit is your one-stop shop for all of your offseason transactions, from the highest-profile blockbusters to the simplest of bench player swaps. Every player has been assigned a simple, easy to compare trade value to assist you in swinging deals and getting the most out of your negotiations.

Trade offer just come in, and you’re not sure if you’re on the winning end of it? Look no further than the trade chart, which will help you compare the value of each side of the trade and make an informed decision. No more getting swindled, and no more bad trade building!

Below is a preview of the dynasty trade charts that you’ll be able to access for just $15/month! Position rankings, ECR, and buy low/sell high indicators make assessing your team’s value a breeze. CLICK HERE to sign up and see the rest of the charts!