2022 NFL Scouting Combine: Day Two Notes

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Welcome back to the FPC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine notebook. Today was day two of this week’s event in Indianapolis. Want to read our first edition of the FPC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine notebook? Click here to read our notes and topics from yesterday.

Similar to Tuesday, we saw and heard plenty of comments from NFL head coaches and general managers. We also finally got to see some 2022 NFL draft prospects step up and answer questions at the podium as well. What were some of the headlines that stood out?

The Baltimore Ravens have possibly revealed their ultimate timeline for a possible contract extension for quarterback Lamar Jackson. What is going on during the prospect interviews with the Philadelphia Eagles? Plus, which quarterback prospect did not totally believe that he would be in a spot like this at the NFL Scouting Combine? Let’s kick it off with Wednesday’s edition of the FPC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine notebook.

Ravens Will Get Quarterback Contract Extension Worked On Under “Lamar’s Urgency”

On Wednesday, Ravens’ general manager Eric DeCosta took questions at the podium. There was an interesting note he made about the quarterback position. That was of course surrounding a possible contract extension for Lamar Jackson.

Speaking on the situation, DeCosta noted that they will work under “Lamar’s urgency,” via the team’s Twitter account. “We’ve talked fairly recently. I was very happy to see him working out on the West Coast recently with some of our guys. When we think about the Ravens three, four, five years from now we envision Lamar being a very big part of that team.”

A former first-round pick in 2018, Jackson will be playing on his fifth-year option in 2022, essentially the final year of his rookie deal. He is currently set to make $23.016 million on that during this upcoming season. As a result, a contract extension will be needed soon.

The urgency note is the most notable factor here. Jackson is in a rare spot, as he does not have an agent to help him throughout any contract negotiations. His mother is basically his business partner, as previously reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. How much does not having any agent help or hurt Jackson’s negotiations from a player standpoint? And, will his urgency be much more relaxed, compared to most players?

On the other hand, will the Ravens use this to take somewhat of a discount on his next contract at an important position? Jackson is one of the more dangerous dual threat quarterbacks, when healthy. That health was limited last season. How will that affect any contract talks as well?

Eagles Continuing Quirks During Prospect Interviews?

The Philadelphia Eagles surprised many throughout 2021. After the trade of Carson Wentz and the new head coaching hire of Nick Sirianni, this team was supposed to be in the early stages of the rebuilding process. That last note remains true of where this team is currently at in their winning cycle. However, they were still able to sneak into the playoffs last season, finishing with a 9-8 record. The Eagles later lost on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round.

So, some of what this new regime has tried is certainly working to some degree. The prospect interviews have been highly fascinating to talk about, to say the least. 2022 NFL Draft prospect and former North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell made an interesting statement about his interview with the team. “Probably the craziest thing I had to do, I had to shoot basketballs on a mini hoop,” Howell said. When asked what team that was with, the passer later confirmed that “it was the Eagles.” This is nothing new from this regime. Just last year, Sirianni admitted that he played rock-paper-scissors with prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft.

#Eagles HC Nick Sirianni says he played rock-paper-scissors and trash talked with draft prospects to gauge their competitiveness.

“When you compete with someone that’s competitive, they’re gonna go at you no matter what game you’re playing.”pic.twitter.com/iMUIny1X0o

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 21, 2021

Are these quirks as crazy as they seem on the surface? How much will this really matter for prospects down the road, if they are indeed selected by Philadelphia? The Eagles may actually be looking for factors like the prospect’s level of competitiveness or instincts when thinking on their feet. We have seen prospects get asked to do or answer to even crazier questions well before this Eagles regime, after all. Nevertheless, it is quickly becoming a noteworthy tidbit throughout the week of the NFL Scouting Combine when Philly is involved.

Malik Willis Believed NFL Dream “Was Done” After Transferring To Liberty

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis is regarded as one of the top passers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Currently, Willis is ranked as the second best QB prospect in the class, according to Daniel Jeremiah on NFL.com. The dual threat passer provides plenty of arm strength and innate play-making ability. His talent had been highly monitored from within NFL draft circles for the better part of the last 10 months. However, there was a time where Willis did not think that he would be in this position.

He talked about that on Wednesday at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. When asked if he thought he could achieve the NFL dream when going to Liberty, Willis provided an honest answer. “No, I didn’t (think I could achieve the NFL dream). I thought I was done. I thought I was just going to go have fun and play my last two or three years. But, we here now, so I’m happy,” Willis said.

Despite those thoughts, Willis has always sort of had plenty of believers. The passer originally committed to play college football at Auburn University. Throughout two seasons there, he appeared in 15 total games. Willis completed 11 of 14 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown with the Tigers. He also notched 309 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

But after leaving the SEC, Willis found himself at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He went a combined 17-6 for the Flames over the last two seasons. That is not too shabby for someone who originally believed that Liberty would be where his football career would soon end.

Kenny Pickett Has Been Doing Hand Exercises Before Critical Hand Measurement

Regarded as arguably the best quarterback among a weaker class of passers, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett has been bombarded with talking points surrounding his hand size. Scouts reportedly measured his hand size at eight and one quarter inches last spring. The quarterback then opted not to have his hands measured in Mobile, Alabama at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl. This provided more speculation into how below average, so to speak, that his hand size was.

We will soon get the confirmed answer as to what his hand size really is at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. In preparation for that, Pickett mentioned on Wednesday that he has been doing more hand exercises in preparation for the hand measurement. “Just working (as good of) a stretch that I can,” Pickett said about those exercises.

#Saints QB Taysom Hill has had issues with the football tonight. Silly as it might sound, hand size could be a factor here.

Average hand size for NFL QB: 9.6 inches

Hill’s hand size: 8 3/4

Drew Brees’ hand size: 10 1/4

More info on QB hand size:https://t.co/jeDhmEEoYS

— Deuce Windham (@RevDeuceWindham) August 18, 2018

While hand size is not the top factor that NFL teams will focus on, it should be noted how large the difference is for this passer, compared to most quarterbacks. According to Deuce Windham of The Athletic, quarterbacks measured out to 9.6 inches, on average, when it came to hand size just a few years ago. Even some of the more recent veteran NFL quarterbacks measured in at over 10 inches. As Windham noted, Drew Brees’ hand size was 10 and one quarter inches. We should note that hand size is measured from the top of the thumb to the top of the pinky finger, when the hand is outstretched.

So why is it a big deal for Pickett? Being able to grip the ball thoroughly in colder or sloppy weather is a factor for some teams, depending on where they play their home games. Some believe that hand size can also affect accuracy on passes. Pickett did mention back at the Senior Bowl that “the good news is, I played in Pittsburgh. I have experience playing in bad weather,” via Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders. He also cited a “double jointed” thumb on his throwing hand, when speaking with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Pitt QB Kenny Pickett didn’t have his hands measured here in Mobile, but he has a good reason: He’s double jointed, so his thumb naturally points an odd direction, and he’s doing extra exercises to get an accurate measurement at the combine in March. pic.twitter.com/KLMdraG9AC

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 31, 2022

Titans General Manager Becomes Emotional While Discussing 2021 Season

One of the general managers that spoke at the podium on Wednesday, was Jon Robinson of the Tennessee Titans. Similar to most other teams, the Titans have to be extremely frustrated with how the season ended for them last year. Robinson wore his heart on his sleeve when looking back on the Titans’ 2021 campaign.

At the #NFLCombine @Titans GM Jon Robinson gets emotional when discussing what he needs to do better after a disappointing loss in the divisional round of the playoffs. @WKRN pic.twitter.com/LUVJQ3uZ1M

— Cal Baxter (@CalBaxter) March 2, 2022

When asked what he needs to do better from a GM position, Robinson said “that’s what keeps me up at night,” via Cal Baxter of ABC News on Twitter. There was then a long pause. With teary eyes, Robinson resumed by saying “the trust that ownership has put in me, our fans, and you can only imagine what that stadium would have been like the next week, so pretty long list of stuff that I got to be better at.”

Robinson was referencing the fact that Tennessee lost their lone playoff game to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round. Despite having the AFC’s number one seed, they were unable to reach the AFC Championship Game. The Titans certainly went through a lot in 2021. Yet, they were still able to achieve getting home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Robinson has accomplished so much with Tennessee already. But perhaps, this latest playoff loss will drive him to be even greater moving forward.

Be on the lookout for more of our notes surrounding day three of the FPC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine notebook tomorrow. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.