Pro day updates … Needless to say, the center of attention at the Florida pro day earlier today was Gators’ QB Anthony Richardson who put on a solid performance throwing the ball. However, Richardson wasn’t the only Gator to attract attention today. There reportedly was a lot of interest in star OG O’Cyrus Torrence. Torrence reportedly went out to dinner with Tennessee on Wednesday evening. That’s interesting because of late Torrence has been talked about as a likely 20-25 pick, but the Titans, whose OL has been decimated this off-season, actually pick 11th, suggesting that just maybe teams are looking at Torrence earlier than the 20s. And that could be backed up by the fact that Torrence already has had 30-visits with Washington,Pittsburgh and Detroit, each of whom picks in the teens, while he also met with Atlanta, which picks 8th, today. And back to Richardson for a moment. There seems to be a growing buzz that he could be destined for Seattle next month. Pete Carroll, for example, was the only head coach not from Carolina (or the neighborhood as the Jags’ Doug Pederson was also there) to take in Richardson’s session today. Of course, the Seahawks have the 5th pick overall and have indicated that they’d like to take a developmental QB at spot (or earlier if they end up trading up.) Indeed, with Geno Smith likely around for at least another year or two, the Seahawks would be one team that could afford to give Richardson some development time. However, interesting to note, that Indianapolis, who have been largely boycotting the QB pro days did have a senior person there in Morocco Brown, the Colts’ chief personnel exec.
Somewhat disappointing day for TCU WR Quenton Johnston at the Frogs’ pro day. Expected to blow people away with a 4.4 type 40-clocking, the times reported for Johnston were all in the 4.50 range – and that’s the unofficial time – suggesting that he actually may have timed closer to 4.55 or even 4.60. Johnston also had a couple of drops on the day. The buzz around the league, though, at least for the moment is that teams know how fast he plays and combine that with his size (6-3, 212) he still figures to be in the mix to be the first receiver off the board next month. Also note that Bill Belichek was there from New England and the receiver-needy Patriots have the 14th pick, as was Green Bay GM Brian Gutehurst, whose WR-needy Packers pick 15th. Of course, it wouldn’t be a major WR workout this year if the Giants didn’t take the guy to dinner the night before, which they did!
Of course, nobody expected Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November, to participate in today’s UT pro day; however, Hooker did reportedly actually throw a few easy passes as he continues to say he’ll be ready for the start of the 2023 season.
At Oklahoma, RB Eric Gray, one of the good second-tier backs who did not run at the combine, had a solid 37.5-inch vertical, but only clocked (unofficially) in the 4.65 range in the 40 which would certainly qualify as something of a disappointment.
