2022 NFL Scouting Combine: Day Three Notes

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Thursday has been a bit of a different atmosphere in Indianapolis, Indiana. For the first time this week, we have 2022 NFL Draft prospects doing on-field workouts. The position groups that are involved in these workouts today include quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends.

Not all of the prospects that are set to be drafted will participate in the workouts. However, the ones that will certainly have an opportunity to boost their individual stock. The ones that are not doing on-field workouts were still involved in interviews and measurements.

One of the more anticipated measurements was conducted on Thursday. That was of course the hand measurement of Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. We discussed that anticipation yesterday, which you can read here. Besides that, we also have comments from Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. What does he believe separates him from other quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft? Finally, we will share some of our top reactions to on-field workouts and results from Thursday at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Let’s kick it off with the third edition of the FPC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine notebook.

Pickett’s Hand Measurement Confirmed

As alluded to yesterday, Pickett opted not to have his hands measured in Mobile, Alabama at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl. He also cited having a “double jointed” thumb on his throwing hand, during a sit-down interview with Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Officially, Pickett has checked with a hand measurement of eight and one-half inches.

Yesterday, we referenced a tweet from a few years ago by Deuce Windham of The Athletic, where quarterback hand measurements were 9.6 inches on average. Other quarterbacks like Drew Brees had a hand size measurement of over 10 inches.

Pickett has a hand measurement that is not just smaller than others. It is historically small. That should not completely hurt his draft stock. But, it would not be surprising to see that become a major factor for some quarterback needy teams.

To compare it to others within this 2022 draft class, there were other quarterbacks who measured in on average or above average, to say the least. Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder clocked in with a hand measurement of 10 inches. Corral measured in at nine and five-eighths inches. Meanwhile, Liberty’s Malik Willis checked in at nine and one-half inches. Nevada’s Carson Strong measured at nine and one-eighths inches. Lastly, North Carolina’s Sam Howell measured at the same number that Strong did.

Corral: “My Ability To Lead A Team Will Separate Me” In 2022 Quarterback Class

Matt Corral is one of the prospects who will not be participating in on-field drills at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. As he continues to recover from an ankle injury suffered in the Sugar Bowl, Corral will wait to perform at the Ole Miss pro day on March 23rd. As much as those physical results will be a major factor for his draft stock, the mental awareness and intangibles also mean quite a bit at the quarterback position.

In a story with Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports, Corral opened up about his battle with depression. He talked more about that this week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. “I was one of those guys who didn’t want to talk about emotion,” Corral said. “That’s just how it was. If I was crying, I was like, ‘stop crying.’ I have two older brothers, and it was like a toughen-up type of thing.”

Corral has also grown a greater understanding of life in general. Of course, that is something that he will have to balance when handling the pressure of being a quarterback at the NFL level. He discussed that further when looking back on the 2021 season at Ole Miss.

“There were a lot of players who weren’t necessarily comfortable with talking about their issues. Them seeing me be vulnerable made them feel more comfortable. Having that understanding of what I want to get out of this and what they want to get out of it and us being on the same page, that’s a huge thing,” Corral said. “Taking care of the life stuff, when that’s taken care of, I feel like football takes care of itself. That’s what we saw in 2021. We weren’t the best team or the most talented team, but we played the best together, and I think that was a big part of it.”

Corral closed by saying that vulnerability has helped shape him into a better leader. “What really separates me is my ability to lead a team. I understand what it means to be vulnerable around people who don’t necessarily want to be vulnerable.” Overall, it is safe to say that he is ready to become a leader of an NFL franchise. His recent experiences have helped mold him further.

Calvin Austin III Turns Heads With Explosive 40-Yard Dash

Among the first group of wide receivers, Calvin Austin III from Memphis dazzled in the 40-yard dash. He was largely expected to fly at a crisp pace. Now, it is important to remember that the 40-yard dash times are unofficial initially. Austin III clocked in an unofficial time of 4.32 seconds.

While that is ultra-swift, it was the explosion that Austin III displayed from start to finish throughout his run that blew me away. Given this wide receiver’s size (5’7’’, 170 pounds), that is a key component for him. A smaller frame like his will always be judged intensely entering this process. Yet, Austin III’s explosion is important for that build, rather than finishing with a much more smooth run.

To put into perspective how explosive he can be as a runner, Austin III was actually part of the Memphis track and field team. He was a member of the Tigers’ 4×100-meter relay team. He received second-team All-American honors as a part of that foursome in 2019. Furthermore, Austin III received four All-American Athletic Conference selections in 2018. This included categories like the indoor 200-meter dash, the indoor 4×400-meter relay team, the outdoor 4×100-meter relay team and the outdoor 4×400-meter relay team.

Sam Howell Showed Off Rapid Release

Among the weaker class of quarterbacks in 2022, there are plenty of items that passers have begun to separate themselves with. The point that keeps growing for Howell is his arm strength. Most fans believe arm strength is solely based on how far down the field that you can complete it. While Howell has been one of the more consistent college quarterbacks in the deep passing categories, his release jumped out during on-field workouts on Thursday.

There was plenty of zip that he showed when throwing to receivers on two different route patterns. We saw that on the slant route and the out route. For instance, his quick flick of the wrist resulted in the ball coming out hot, but still under control. It was not just how quick it got to the receiver. However, the accuracy and ball placement were more well-rounded than other quarterbacks during those routes.

We saw Howell get the ball right where it needed to be, just as the wide receiver was finishing his break. On the out routes, he hit them just a couple of steps before they got to the sideline. The top of the break was where the pass catchers received it on the slant route as well. With other passers, receivers were having to either wait or adjust harshly during those routes. Howell was able to fire it to them in both an urgent and calm way, because of his rapid release at the top of his dropback.

Some Surprisingly Good 40-Yard Dash Times

We go back to the 40-yard dash for our last note of the day. As we look at some of the surprises, which players ran in a surprisingly good way? Let’s look at a few and why this mattered for them. All of these were within the second group of quarterbacks and wide receivers.

We start with the aforementioned Cincinnati quarterback, Desmond Ridder. He ran an unofficial time of 4.49 seconds. Why is this good for him? We did not always see Ridder get to showcase his rushing ability at a consistent rate for the Bearcats. He provides more dual threat capabilities than people may realize. For him, he showed off a mix of speed and smoothness as a runner. Ridder can also evade pressure and work confidently on the run. It may not have been his staple style of winning. But, this time was beneficial for him, and he could provide more running upside than most may expect at the NFL level.

Next, we have Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave. He ran an unofficial time of 4.26 seconds. Why is this good for him? First off, that is blazing for anybody, no matter what position that is. We should also look at the play speed of Olave. Known for being a smooth technician, there were times where this pass catcher left run after catch opportunities on the table, so to speak. Watching him, I wanted to see more of an attack from him in the open field. This speed may not be consistent in the NFL. This time could help Olave’s stock, nonetheless.

Lastly, we have Cincinnati wide receiver Alec Pierce. He clocked in unofficially at 4.33 seconds. Why is this good for him? Unlike Olave, Pierce showed a lot more urgency in space when watching his tape. He essentially does everything at 100 miles per hour and provides plenty of effort. Yet, running a time like this could give him a boost, given that he is well-rounded and instinctive as a pass catcher already.

Be on the lookout for more FPC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine notebook articles throughout the rest of the weekend. 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.