2023 Indy Combine Revisited - Results vs. Reality

As a gauge on what we might expect from the 2024 Indianapolis Combine, let's take a look back at our reactions to the stars of the 2023 Combine what happened to them in the draft and their rookie season..

Here is how we reported the highlights on March 5, 2023 at the combine and then what happened to some of these stars in the draft and their first season.

* Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (after 2023 combine). Created the biggest buzz of the week, checking in at 6-4, 244 and setting Combine position records with a 40.5-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump; blazing 40 yards in 4.43 seconds and launching 65-yard passes with ease. Richardson told former NFL coach Steve Mariucci that he is the best quarterback in the draft, although going into the combine he was generally rated as the No. 4 quarterback.

2023 Combine

2023 NFL Season

2023  Recap: Richardson was drafted in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts with the fourth overall. Richardson's combine measurables ranked him as the most athletic quarterback prospect in league history according to the Relative Athletic Score (RAS) metric. He joined Cam Newton and Daunte Culpepper as the only quarterbacks to have achieved a perfect RAS score. On August 15, 2023, Richardson was named by head coach Shane Steichen as the Colts' starting quarterback over Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger.On September 10, 2023, Richardson made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and threw his first touchdown pass. In Week 2 against the Houston Texans, Richardson ran for two touchdowns before leaving the game with a concussion in the second quarter and was declared out for Week 3. He returned against the Los Angeles Rams and threw two passing touchdowns and ran for one as he erased a 23 point deficit in a 29-23 loss in overtime. His rushing touchdown in this game marked the first time in NFL history that a rookie quarterback scored a rushing touchdown in each of his first three starts. On October 9, 2023, Richardson was placed on the injured reserve due to a grade three AC joint sprain he suffered in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans. He underwent shoulder surgery to repair the sprain on October 24, 2023.

* Alabama's Bryce Young (after 2023 combine). Considered the top quarterback by many, measured only 5-10 1/8, down from his suspicious roster size of 6-0, and 204 pounds, up from 194. He saved his workout for a March 23 pro day. "Yeah, I've been this size, respectfully, my whole life," said the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner.  "I know who I am, I know what I can do." Sources report Young was "very astute and advanced" in team interviews.

2023 Combine

Pre-draft measurables: Height, 5-101/8; Weight, 204 lb; Arm length, 30 1/2; Hand span, 9 3/4

2023 Season

2023 Recap: Young was selected by the Carolina Panthers as the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Panthers, who originally held the 9th overall pick, traded their original first round pick, wide receiver D. J. Moore, and several other draft picks to the Chicago Bears to move up to the first overall pick. He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $37.9 million fully guaranteed, on July 21, 2023. On September 10, 2023, Young made his NFL debut in a Week 1 loss against the Atlanta Falcons, where he threw his first career touchdown to Hayden Hurst. He also threw two interceptions, both to Falcons safety Jessie Bates. In week two, Young threw for 153 yards and a touchdown to Adam Thielen in his home and primetime debut in a 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. On September 22, 2023, Young was ruled out for Week 3 with a sprained ankle. On October 29, 2023, in Week 8, Young got his first win as he defeated 2nd overall pick C. J. Stroud and the Houston Texans 15–13. Young threw for 235 yards and a TD in the win. On December 17, 2023, in Week 15 against the rival Falcons, Young threw for 167 yards and led a 95-yard game-winning drive for a 9–7 victory. The win was the Panthers' second of the season and ended a six-game losing streak.[43] The following week against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, Young had the best game of his rookie year to that point, throwing for 312 yards and two touchdowns, both to D. J. Chark. The Panthers lost 33–30.

* Ohio State quarterback C. J. Stroud  (after 2023 combine). 6-3, 214, didn't run and jump, but he did throw. He overcame an initial bad deep ball and passed with great precision and touch after that. Stroud, when asked to describe his style: "Free flowing but still disciplined. Able to take the completion when it's there, but at the same time making plays. … I like to do is extend plays and take the routine plays when they're routine. I don't try to press the envelope, and I think that's very important."

2023 Combine measurements: Height 6-3; Weight,  214;  Arm length, 32 5/8; Hand span 10.0

2023 Season

2023 Recap: Stroud, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2021 and 2022, was selected by the Texans second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, he led the Texans to a division title and playoff victory en route to winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Being second overall, Stroud became the highest drafted quarterback in Ohio State's history.

On September 10, 2023, Stroud made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, where he threw for 242 yards in the 25–9 loss. During Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Stroud threw his first two NFL touchdowns, one to Nico Collins and the other to Tank Dell, and finished with 384 passing yards in the 31–20 loss. Stroud's 384 yards are the second-most in a single game by a Texans rookie quarterback. The following week, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Stroud finished 20-of-30 for 280 yards with two touchdowns as the Texans won 37–17. He also joined Cam Newton and Justin Herbert as the only players in NFL history to put up at least 900 passing yards in their first three games.Stroud was named the Offensive Rookie of the Month for September, finishing the month with 78 completions on 121 attempts with 906 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

In Week 5, Stroud threw his 177th pass attempt without an interception, breaking the previous NFL record set by Dak Prescott for the most pass attempts without an interception to begin a career in NFL history in a 21–19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The streak ended the following week against the New Orleans Saints at 191 attempts; Saints linebacker Zack Baun intercepted the pass but had the ball punched out by wide receiver Nico Collins with offensive tackle Tytus Howard recovering the ball for the Texans. In Week 8, Stroud faced his friend and fellow top draft pick Bryce Young for the first time in the NFL. Young came out on top in a defensive battle, 15–13. Stroud threw for 140 yards and had his first rushing touchdown in the loss. In Week 9, Stroud passed for 470 yards, breaking the single-game passing yard record for a rookie quarterback that was previously set by Andrew Luck in 2012. Stroud also passed for five touchdowns, during a 39–37 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The game also marked just the third time in NFL history a quarterback has thrown for at least 470 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions, joining Y.A. Tittle and Ben Roethlisberger.

In Week 14 against the New York Jets, Stroud suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter as the Texans lost 30–6. After a two-game absence, Stroud made his return in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans, completing 24 of 32 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown in a 26–3 victory.In a win-or-go-home situation against the Colts, Stroud completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in a 23–19 win, clinching the Texans' first playoff berth since 2019. During this game, Stroud became just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 4,000 yards in his rookie season. Stroud also became the third player in league history to lead the league in passing yards per game (273.9) and touchdown/interception ratio (4.6) in the same season, joining Tom Brady in 2007 and Joe Montana in 1989.

In his playoff debut against the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round, Stroud tied the rookie record for most passing touchdowns in a playoff game and became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game in league history as the Texans won 45–14. Stroud finished the game completing 16 of 21 passes for 274 yards, three touchdowns, and a near-perfect passer rating of 157.2. In the Divisional round against the top-seeded Ravens, Stroud was held in check, completing 19 of 33 passes for 175 yards and a 72.2 rating as the Texans lost, 34–10.

* Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (6-4, 229) showed a tight release, was laser sharp on medium passes and, once he found range, tossed exceptional deep passes and lived up to his own hype. Said Levis when asked why he took part only in passing drills: "Because I got a cannon. I got to show it off. …I think I've got one of the stronger arms to come out of any draft class in recent memory."

 * Texas running back Bijan Robinson (5-11, 215) is a versatile throwback to days when halfbacks were picked in the top three, and some rate him in top five. Dashed 40 yards in 4.46 seconds, soared 37 inches in vertical jump but looked dangerously efficient on bag drills, change of direction and as a natural receiver. Robinson's self-description: "I can do all three for your offense, whether it's a unique player at receiver or in the slot and, obviously, at running back. Just creating mismatches for defenders all over the field."

* Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs (5-9, 199) secured his spot as the No. 2 RB in this draft with a 40-yard time of 4.36 seconds and, except for one deep pass, caught everything thrown his way. Gibbs:"I'm one of the most versatile people out there, I can slot up anywhere. Slot receiver, running back, I can do a lot. I see myself as a playmaker more than anything."

 * Georgia tight end Darnell Washington (6-7,264) claimed he is "the most unique tight end in the draft," then set out to prove it with a remarkable workout that included 40 yards in 4.63 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.57 seconds and a short shuttle time of 4.08. He did bobble a couple of passes with his huge (11-inch) mitts, but also made a final catch with just one hand.

* Old Dominion tight end Zack Kuntz (6-7, 251), rated as a late draft pick going into Combine, grabbed attention with a 40-yard time of 4.55 seconds (with a 10-yard split of 1.57), a vertical jump of 40 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, eight inches. Can you say "red zone target?"

* Getting an Edge: Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe (6-0, 225) and Georgia pass rusher Nolan Smith (6-2, 238) each stopped the clock in only 4.39 seconds for 40 yards. That was said to be tied for the second best time ever for linebackers at the Indy Combine. However, that counts Shaquem Griffin's 2018 time of 4.38 as No. 1, despite a report we verified at the time that the clock misfired and his actual time was closer to 4.5.

    Meantime, two other linebackers ran 40 yards in 4.39 seconds at an Indy combine – Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons (2020) and Penn State’s Mica Parsons (2021). So now, in reality,  there are four co-holders of the record.

* Northwestern defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore (pronounced add-E-TOMMY-wah add-E-BAR-eh) was a standout at the Senior Bowl then checked into Combine at 6-2, 282. He dashed 40 yards in 4.49 seconds and went 37.5 inches in the vertical jump, which adds data to the explosiveness he shows in game tapes.

* Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (6-1, 281) added fuel to comparisons with All-Pro Aaron Donald thanks to a blazing 40-yard time of 4.67 seconds, fastest DT Combine time since 2003. Donald was 6-1, 280 when he was a first round pick out of Pitt in 2014. His 40 time was 4.68. Coming off shoulder injury, Kancey was still the most fluid defensive tackle in positional drills. We will be moving him up.

*Illinois running back Chase Brown (5-9 1/2, 209) showed why he was a former Florida prep state champion in track (4X100) with a 40-yard time of 4.43 seconds, a vertical jump of 40 inches, a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches and 23 reps with 225 pounds. More clout for this second-team AP All-American after rushing for 1,643 yards, fourth in the FBS

*USC wide receiver Jordan Addison.  While the USC product was able to perform the 40-yard dash (4.49 seconds), vertical leap (34 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-2), he didn't complete the entire on-field workout. Addison told NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales he'd be fine and is planning to finish drills at the Trojans' pro day on March 21.

*Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. Felt tightness in his hamstring during position drills, so he shut down activities as a precautionary move. Before calling it a day, though, Hyatt put up some explosive testing numbers: 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 40 inches in the vertical leap and 11-foot-3 in the broad jump.