Path to the Draft: Post-Combine Projections

This week’s Path to the Draft is a two-parter. As we already doled out combine grades in Part 1, now let’s get updated on how those combine performances affected where former Cowboys are projected to go.

First, important dates and info.

Important Dates/Info

NFL Combine Invites: Rudolph, Washington, Ateman, Lacy, Flowers
NFL Combine: February 27 – March 5, Indianapolis, Indiana
OSU Pro Day: March 15
NFL Draft: April 26 – 28, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

Is Rudolph the Best QB Prospect in Three Years?

Cian Fahey, formerly of ESPN, produces a yearly NFL QB Catalogue, and he has deemed Rudolph the “best QB prospect since Mariota”.

Here’s a snippet.

https://twitter.com/Cianaf/status/971956377764610048

You can check out the complete breakdown.

Skills of a WR

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports laid out the most important skills a wide receiver needs to have at the next level, ranked the prospects in each skill and then gave a later-rounder sleeper for each.

Pretty interesting read but I thought this point was especially good. In the slot, he had Washington ranked 8th of eight, and I think I agree with his point.

All of these receivers could make it work inside, but if Washington is on my team I want him in a position to run more North-South routes — and posts — than intricate patterns from the slot. The same goes for Sutton and Gallup. CBS Sports

Given Washington’s size (5-11 per the official combine measurements) some teams may be tempted to move him inside. But as Adam Lunt has brought up previously, that would mean limiting what makes The Prez great.

Big Board Grades

The Athletic released its Big Board, grading draft prospects. Th

Mason Rudolph was given a second-round grade behind Josh Allen. Their first-round QB grades went to Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Lamar Jackson, in that order.

The writers of the Athletic had James Washington behind Christian Kirk, DJ Moore, Michael Gallup, Anthony Miller and ahead of Courtland Sutton in the second round. They only gave on WR a first-round grade, Calvin Ridley.

Marcell Ateman and Tre Flowers were both give fourth-round grades.

More projections

R.J. White of CBS Sports released his latest two-round mock draft on Thursday which saw James Washington drafted No. 40 overall to the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos’ receiving corps could look much different in the near future, so grabbing a potential long-term starter in Washington makes sense. CBS Sports

Tom Fornelli, also of CBS Sports, has Mason Rudolph going No. 22 to the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills could package these two picks to move up and take a QB earlier, but if they don’t do that they’ll gladly take Rudolph here. Doesn’t have the hype of other QBs in this class, but could prove to be the best NFL player. CBS Sports

247Sports’ latest mock draft predicts no former Pokes in the first round but has James Washington going No. 39 overall to the Bears, Mason Rudolph going No. 47 to the Cardinals and Marcell Ateman going No. 74 overall to the 49ers, a team that has showed interest in the towering red-zone target.