2024 NFL Scouting Combine: Reviewing The Bench Press Results
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is over, but there is still one piece of business to attend to. After the on-field workout, players stay an extra day to do the bench press. Casual fans may not totally care but every piece of information matters.
If we have learned anything, the bench press is an indicator of strength and work ethic. Jalen Hurts, Nick Chubb, and Amon Ra St. Brown are three examples of players who ultimately were undrafted and the bench press and power element of each player should have been more of a factor. Let’s try to avoid those mistakes in the future and let’s evaluate the bench press numbers for each position.
*Link to all of the Combine results*
Quarterback:
Zero quarterbacks competed at the bench press this year. Based on history, it hasn’t been a big indicator of NFL success. Brady Quinn got 24 one year and he sucked. Jay Cutler got 23 his year. Overall, let’s just keep it moving. It’s the one position the bench probably should be viewed as irrelevant.
Running Back:
Blake Corum (27), Braelon Allen (26), MarShawn Lloyd (25) were the top three performers. Let’s break this down piece by piece.
As I said in the running back notes, Corum gets a huge stock up. He moved great and 27 on the bench is really impressive at 205. I’ve been down on Corum all year and I think for good reason. He doesn’t have the juice that Donovan Edwards has.
However, maybe we need to recalibrate. There are just certain things that are just true.
A: It’s a terrible running back class.
B: Corum is tough. You can tell he wears his heart on his sleeve. Wears defenses down as the game goes on. Pass protects his balls off. That’s what happened at Michigan. Maybe there will be a power element to his game that’s underrated. Plus, the pure movement stuff at the Combine was really good.
I no longer think you’re crazy if you pull the trigger here if you have an extra fourth round pick at your disposal.
Not surprised that Allen had a good number. He’s a massive back and young. Should continue to keep getting better.
Ditto for MarShawn Lloyd. You can tell he’s built. Has good arms on him. Ran a fast time too. He got off to such a slow start at South Carolina. He should be a contributor at the NFL level.
Frank Gore Jr. had the lowest number at 12. I wouldn’t overreact to it. A lot of the backs who would have had worse numbers didn’t participate. We know he’s not as powerful as his dad. Christian McCaffrey got 10 reps, once upon a time. I think it says more about the guys who overperform.
Wide Receiver:
This is another position where we probably shouldn’t overthink it. A lot of receivers opt of participating on the bench and it’s fair.
Ainias Smith is the standout here ripping out 21 reps. When people throw out those ridiculous Deebo Samuel comps for players, I always have a laugh. However, maybe the ones for Smith aren’t totally off-base. He had a down Senior Bowl but he’s really good after the catch and can really return punts. Maybe there is more power in his game than I initially thought. It’s a number worth pondering over.
Also, credit to Ricky Pearsall for getting 17. Ditto for Brendan Rice and Ladd McConkey hitting 13. Have been impressed with all three during the process. All three appear to be competitive and hard workers.
The link to the receiver workouts can be found here!
Tight End:
Tip Reiman is the only one who participated. He ripped out 28, which is obviously really good. Big body tight end that appears to be a block first guy. Reiman really struggled to catch the ball during the workout.
Offensive Line:
The offensive line notes are in the embed. Let’s just focus on a few quick hitters so we’re not here all day.
- Beaux Limmer ripping out 39 is awesome. He was damn good during the drills and had a positive Senior Bowl. He’s starting to emerge as one of the best center prospects in the class.
- Zach Frazier and Jackson Powers-Johnson also get 30 reps each. I think those are your three top centers in the class right there along with adding in Sedrick Van Pran to that mix.
- My guy Kingsley Suamataia got 31 reps, which was the best mark of any tackle at the event. Guy has zero hype despite the fact that he was a five-star recruited by Mario Cristobal at Oregon and is related to Penei Sewell. If you don’t want him, I’ll gladly take him.
- LaDarius Henderson, Cooper Beebe, and Christian Jones were the bottom three at 20 reps. Henderson I’m not surprised about because he’s been trash during the entire predraft process. Beebe I wish would have gotten a better result because he has short arms too. Jones performed well at the Senior Bowl but you can tell he’s raw and needs to grow into his frame more.
- Frank Crum, Isaiah Adams, and Javion Cohen each got 22 reps were listed by me as poor performers during the drills. Might want to cross them off the list for good.
Defensive Line:
Not going to go crazy here because a good number of them didn’t participate for whatever reason. Jordan Jefferson didn’t workout but ripped out 34 so that was cool. A nose tackle that could have an impact as a rotational piece.
I more so want to point out that Kris Jenkins ripped out 29, which was tied for second in the group. I thought he looked incredible during the drills. I’m turning into a bigger fan the more time goes on. I like him a lot.
Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro also notched 29 reps.
Edge Rusher:
There is one player that we just have to talk about here. Jared Verse cranked out 31 reps. That’s damn good. If you have been reading the site, you know I’m down on Verse compared to the consensus. However, one thing couldn’t be denied during the season and that’s the fact that he played with really heavy hands. I just don’t think he’s a twitched up alien pass rusher. This bench press number really makes me go back and do my homework on what we should expect. It’s five more reps than anyone else in his group. It’s something.
Linebacker:
Good to see Jeremiah Trotter Jr. rip out 21 reps. I’m just not sure I care because he’s slow as dirt and then confirmed it by being too chicken to run. I just think it really limits him.
Cornerback:
Quinyon Mitchell is absolutely torching the pre-draft process in a good way. The guy can’t lose. Incredible at the Senior Bowl. Incredible at the Combine. Then he goes out there and rips out 20 reps on top of the 4.33 – 40 time? Just WOW.
Chau Smith-Wade also had an impressive showing with 18 reps.
Safety:
Nothing super crazy to report.
Feel free to comment below. Do you think the bench press is a good indicator of NFL success or a total waste of time? I personally think there is merit to it but obviously way more important at certain positions.
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