The NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis. On Friday afternoon, the tight ends and defensive backs will record their 40-yard dash times. It is one of the most popular and watched contests at the NFL Combine. Luckily for us, Underdog has faster and slower pick ’em available! Here are my NFL Combine Underdog Fantasy Pick ‘Em plays!
NFL Combine: Underdog Fantasy Pick ‘Em Friday Defensive Backs and Tight Ends
Brock Bowers Tight End, Georgia – 4.50 Seconds
The 6-4 230 lbs tight end is almost a lock to go in the first round of the NFL Draft. Some mock drafters have the prospect compared to George Kittle and landing at pick number five to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The last time Bowers was recorded doing the 40-yard dash was back in 2019 at the Nike Sparq camp. At the invitation-only camp for high school stars at the time, 240-pound Bowers ran a 4.5 40-time.
Some coaches didn’t believe the time and asked Bowers to run a second time. He did and again ran a 4.5. Almost five years later, with high-level SEC training and time to prepare for this draft, I believe Bowers will run faster than this on Friday.
Pick: Faster Than 4.5 Seconds
Cade Stover Tight End, Ohio State – 4.62
The 6-4 251 lbs tight end/ edge rusher out of Ohio State is hoping to be a top 100 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Stover has the size, hands, and “football guy” mentality that scouts and coaches love to see. His speed is one of his bigger question marks.
Has Stover been focusing on getting down the 40-yard dash time or continuing to learn the tight end position? My lean is learning the tight end position overall, knowing speed isn’t going to be what defines him in the NFL.
Pick: Slower Than 4.62
Tyler Owens Safety, Texas Tech – 4.30
Owens projects to have one of the fastest 40-yard dash times at this weekend’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis. The former high school track star ran a 10.29-second 100-meter dash in high school. That translates to roughly a low 4.2 second 40 times for the speedy defensive back. Players like this thrive on their ability to run fast.
It’s likely his main focus leading up to this week has been on that 40 times. I’m looking for this speedster to set a blazing pace on Friday.
Pick: Faster Than 4.30 Seconds
Quinyon Mitchell Defensive Back, Toledo – 4.35
This 6-0 195-pound defensive back is another speedster to keep an eye on. Projected to be a top-15 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Mitchell ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash time at a school timing day last spring.
Mitchell was GPS-timed at the same top speed as the Miami Dolphins speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill (23-MPH). Only three players in the NFL were tracked at a higher speed on a touchdown in the 2023 regular season than Mitchell.
Those players were Tyreek Hill, DK Metcalf, and the Bengals Chase Brown. A man that fast, how can you pick his slower than?
Pick: Faster Than 4.35
