Thursday morning pro day updates … In the end, it does appear that Alabama OT Evan Neal opted not to run at the school’s pro day yesterday simply because he didn’t feel he had anything to prove. Certainly, he didn’t have much to gain unless he knew he was going to run somewhere in the 5-flat range or better and just looks more like a 345-pound guy who is going to run closer to the 5.25 area. There is still a chance that that he does choose to run at a second pro day Alabama has scheduled for April 13th but it does not appear as if any teams around the NFL are holding their collective breaths – or care much anyway. Again, it appears that Neal’s drills yesterday were run by Jacksonville and the Jets, teams which have the 1st and 4th picks respectively at next month’s draft.
It was also a little surprising that while all 32 teams were represented at yesterday’s Alabama pro day there wasn’t the usual huge turnout of senior NFL types. Bill Belichek was there. So was Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert, but he shows up everywhere, while Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy also made an appearance. But that appears to be pretty much it. And it may be a reflection of the fact that it appears to be a bit of an off-year draft wise for Alabama with only Neal and WR Jameson Williams, who is currently sidelined while rehabbing an ACL, the only two Tide first-round locks. Wait until next year, though, when it appears that Alabama could have a couple of top 5 prospects in QB Bryce Young and DE Will Anderson. Speaking of Young, the battle for the #1 grade next year appears to be already underway as the Tide QB, like Ohio State star CJ Stroud earlier this month, came out and did the passing at his team’s pro day workout!
It was certainly a little surprising that Carolina does not appear to have had any senior people at the Alabama pro day. However, Panthers G.M. Scott Fitterer may have let the cat out of the bag when he strongly hinted during a local interview at the annual meetings that Carolina may be leaning toward taking a QB with the 6th pick overall. Said Fitterer, whose Panthers WERE all over the pro days of Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett: “This will be interesting because the tackles will be the best players on the board. But we do need a QB and at some point you have to take a shot, especially in the top 10. You hate to force it, because when you force it, you could make a mistake. It’s a unique quarterback class, because there’s not a clear number one, number two, number three. Like, who’s the proven starter who can come in and play for you? That’ll be the conversation we have for the next month — quarterback or left tackle.”
However, Alabama was not the only school to hold its pro day yesterday. At Colorado State, for example, TE Trey McBride ran the 4o in the 4.55 range which could very well ensure that he’s the first player at the position off the board this year, although at 6-3.5, 245 he’s not necessarily as big or long as teams usually look for in an every down TE. Meanwhile, at Baylor, safety Jalen Pitre, who also did not run at the combine, said he was timed in the 4.44-4.50 range. Given that players tend to inflate their self-reported numbers a tad figure he actually ran somewhere in the 4.50-4.55 range which is still pretty decent for a safety. And given the same methodology, figure Bears’ RB Abram Smith ran somewhere in the high 4.5 range. At Tennessee, rising CB Alontae Taylor added to resume, which already included a 4.36 combine 40 time, with a 39-inch vertical leap and an 11-plus inch long jump at the Vols’ pro day.
Oh, and did we mention the draft is one-month today! Hang in there!
