NFL Analysis

3/8/24

6 min read

2024 NFL Draft: Which Players Need to Crush Pro Days After Disappointing Combine

By Connor Livesay

Senior NFL Draft Writer
Notre Dame running back Audric Estime rushes for a touchdown against Stanford
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Audric Estimé (7) breaks free for a touchdown run against the Stanford Cardinal during the third quarter at Stanford Stadium on Nov. 25, 2023. (D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is over, so prospects' next step is their respective pro days, which will take place over the next month.

For many prospects, team visits and meetings will be the only thing standing between them and the 2024 NFL Draft. For others, pro days could determine where they are drafted come April. 

Here are five prospects who underwhelmed in Indianapolis last week and have some thresholds they need to hit at their pro days. 

5 Players Who Need To Crush Their Pro Days

Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame

One of the more disappointing times of the combine came from Audric Estime.  

His 4.71-second 40-yard time puts the Notre Dame running back in the 10th percentile of draft-eligible running backs since 1999, according to MockDraftable.com. The good thing for Estime is he can focus on improving his 40 time over the next few weeks. His combine testing in the vertical jump, broad jump and weigh-in were fine. 

Notre Dame’s Pro Day is on March 21, giving Estime two weeks to work on reducing his 40 time to the high 4.5 range. That would greatly improve how he is viewed at a position that lacks a consensus No. 1. 

Estime offers plenty of explosiveness and power, but his lack of long speed must improve at his pro day if he wants to be considered in the top 100.  

Kalen King, CB, Penn State

Kalen King has experienced one of the biggest falls of the offseason, and he did himself no favors in Indianapolis. King, once viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, struggled last season, which pushed him down draft boards. A rough week at the combine means King has to impress at Penn State’s Pro Day on March 24. 

The next couple of weeks should give King time to improve on his 4.61-second 40 time, 1.61-10-yard split, 37-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-2 broad jump. He measured 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds, with 30⅞-inch arms. That puts him below the height, weight and length threshold for outside cornerbacks. 

King has the opportunity to improve on his athletic testing and ultimately improve his ranking in a rather deep cornerback class. Improvements in the 40-yard dash to the low 4.5s will be needed if King wants to hear his name called inside the top 100. 

Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon

One of the more shocking testing days came from Bucky Irving. 

Irving’s 3.71 relative athletic score was one of the lower outputs, regardless of position. On tape, Irving lacked size and was not a dynamic long-speed player.

However, he showed plenty of burst, explosiveness, agility, and speed compared to last weekend's performance at Lucus Oil Stadium. Irving will have a quick turnaround for Oregon’s Pro Day, which is March 12. 

He will get one more opportunity next week to prove to NFL teams that his combined performance was more of a bad day at the office rather than a reflection of his actual athleticism. 

Ideally, Irving will get his 40 times down in 4.4s but, more importantly, improve on his jumps, which were the biggest disappointments in his testing.

Irving’s explosiveness on tape is of little concern, but the 29.5-inch vertical and 9-foot-7 broad jump at 5-foot-9, 192 pounds is tough to bet on at a position that thrives on speed and explosiveness, especially from smaller-built running backs. 

Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

In Keon Coleman’s case, the 40-yard dash is the only drill needing improvement at Florida State's Pro Day on March 22. 

Coleman’s 6-foot-3, 213-pound frame, 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad jump graded out well above average in his relative athletic score. However, his 4.61 40-time will be an issue for some teams considering Coleman in the top 40 or 50 picks.

He showed out in drills, impressing in the gauntlet drill and running routes. No scouts expected Coleman to come in and be a threat for the 40-yard dash record, but the 4.61 put him in the 17th percentile for wide receivers in the NFL since 1999, according to MockDraftable.com. 

Coleman’s overall value will not be his straight-line speed. But if he can post a time in the low 4.5s, teams inside the top 40 should have no problem drafting the big-bodied, explosive receiver. His 9.23 RAS score is nothing to shake a stick at, but if he can improve his 40 time, he will work himself back into the Round 1 conversation. 

Kamren Kinchens, SAF, Miami

Like King, it has been quite the fall for Kamren Kinchens. 

At one time, Kinchens was viewed by many as the top safety in this draft class and was consistently in the first round of mock drafts. After more people caught up to his tape and after a really rough day at the combine, Kinchens will need to show out at his pro day on March 18 to solidify himself as a Day 3 pick. 

Kinchens has a lot of work to do to improve his 4.65 40 time, 1.62 10-yard split and 9-foot-2 broad jump. The 5-foot-11, 203-pounder finished with a 2.11 relative athletic score, which ranks 771st out of 976 free safeties since 1987. Kinchens’ lack of size, length, speed, agility and explosiveness are areas of concern. 

High-end athleticism is not needed to be a successful safety in the NFL (see Kyle Hamilton), but it is tough to find successful NFL players who have graded this poorly from a size, speed and explosion standpoint.

If Kinchens could lower his 40 time into the 4.5s and improve his broad jump, the arrow could point up for him. 

Tags: Audric Estime, Bucky Irving, Kalen King See More

Connor Livesay

Senior NFL Draft Writer

Connor Livesay is an NFL Draft analyst whose deep-rooted passion for the game has positioned him as a prominent figure in the field of football analysis. With a focus on the NFL and the NFL draft, he delivers year-round coverage and insights that have been well-respected by fans and professionals. His online presence can be found mainly on Twitter, where he goes by the handle of @ConnorNFLdraft and has a dedicated following of more than 11,000 people. His active engagement on this platform allows him to share valuable perspectives, breaking news, and expert opinions, establishing his reputation as a trusted source for all NFL and NFL draft-related content.

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