Los Angeles Chargers: 2020 NFL Combine stock watch
By Steven Haglund
Stock Up: Denzel Mims, WR Baylor
One of those wideouts who showed out this weekend was Denzel Mims out of Baylor. Aside from a certain tackle from Louisville, no one has seen their stock soar like Mims.
Before the Senior Bowl, he was viewed as a late third, early fourth round type player. After showing out in practices down in Mobile he seemed to cement his status as a day two prospect.
Now, after putting up a monstrous performance at the Combine, he is getting legitimate first-round buzz. His 40 time of 4.38 squashed any doubt of his down the field speed. Add in his great three-cone time, vertical and broad jumps, he proved that he’s an elite athlete.
He would fill the role vacated by Tyrell Williams perfectly but it seems unlikely that he will be there at pick number 37.
Stock Down: Jared Pinkney, TE Vanderbilt
This tight end class was still quite murky heading into Combine weekend. There’s not really a top dog in the class, it’s not a terrible group and there are some intriguing options but someone needed to separate themselves this weekend. Unfortunately, that was not Jared Pinkney.
The former Vanderbilt tight end made a living as a big-bodied, savvy route runner. He certainly looks the part of an NFL tight end, but then he went out and ran the slowest 40-yard dash of the group, clocking in at 4.96.
If he had been able to run in the 4.7 range that really would have helped his case as the group jockeys for positioning. Tight end isn’t a huge position of need for the Chargers, but if they franchise tag Hunter Henry it does make sense to draft a tight end this year in the middle of the draft.
Pinkney looks like he’ll be available all the way until the last round of the draft but there are many other more intriguing options at the position this year, such as Harrison Bryant, Adam Trautman, Cole Kmet, and even Charlie Taumoepeau.
Stock Up: Cam Akers, RB Florida State
If I could be so bold here, I LOVE Cam Akers. He’s one of the prospects I have planted my flag on this year. So seeing him show out at the Combine was no surprise.
Akers posted a very good 4.47 40-yard dash and an excellent 20 reps on the bench press. Where Akers really shined were the positional drills. He showed off great balance and very quick footwork. Despite a terrible supporting cast and an awful offensive line, he was able to be a constant producer at Florida State.
There hadn’t been a lot of hype surrounding him due to him playing for a bad team but there certainly is now. Consider him firmly in the day two discussion from now on. He would have been an excellent fit in Los Angeles but the Chargers are unlikely to draft a running back until day three and it seems that Akers has played himself out of that range.
Cam Akers only needs one hand✋
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 29, 2020
Stock Down: Jalen Reagor, WR TCU
The speedy wide receiver out of TCU didn’t look that speedy after all this past weekend. Jalen Reagor‘s stock was soaring after the season as it seemed people were really valuing his big play ability. He seemed like a lock to go in the back end of the first round, now there’s real doubt that comes to pass.
There was a lot of hype that he could run in the low 4.3 range so the official 4.47 definitely seems like a letdown. Then he also ran a slow three-cone drill and looked a step slower in the positional drills than he did on film.
It’s still possible that he goes in the first round, but with some of the other wideouts putting out elite performances this weekend it appears that Reagor may have been leapfrogged. As it pertains to the Los Angeles Chargers, this might actually be good news because he likely will be there in round two if they so choose to go in that direction.