INDIANAPOLIS – Senior writer John Oehser takes a look at Wednesday around the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine …
The Daily Draw …
A Heisman Trophy winner and the possible No. 1 overall selection …
That's what happened at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday, with Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and Alabama running back Derrick Henry speaking to the media on Day 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
That made Wednesday a newsy kickoff to the week.
Tunsil, who many project as the possible No. 1 overall selection in the April 28-30 NFL Draft, said he absolutely embraces that possibility. The last left tackle selected No. 1 overall was Orlando Pace by the the Rams in 1997.
"Everybody wants to be the No. 1 pick," Tunsil said. "Being the No. 1 pick would be great. I'd love to play for any team. That's been my goal since I was a little kid, man, just to accomplish one of them goals, it would be great.
He also said he absolutely believes he's the best left tackle in the draft.
"You always want to be labeled the best," Tunsil said. "You want to have that confidence in yourself of being the best tackle in the draft. …
"I think I have the great feet, the great frame. I just think I'm the best. You've got to have that swagger about yourself. You've got to be confident. Everywhere you go you've got to have that confidence."
Henry, who the Heisman Trophy while leading Alabama to the national championship this past season, has been projected as the No. 2 player at the position behind Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. While Elliott has been projected as a likely first-round selection, most analysts project Henry somewhere in Rounds 2-3.
"You've just got to let it through you," Henry said. "You can't worry about what you can't control. I just have to try to get better every day, and go out there and compete."
Around the NFL …
*An increasingly-held belief around the NFL is offensive line play has declined in recent seasons. Count Raiders and former Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio among those who believe the increased number of college spread offenses make it harder to evaluate offensive linemen. "What you see are fewer and fewer college offensive linemen getting in three-point stances and doing some of the combination blocks we do in the NFL," Del Rio said. "There are more and more guys playing in a two-point stance and not used to coming back to a huddle. There is a little bit of development once you get to the league. That's the biggest part of it. You're still getting big, strong, talented young men with feet to move and the ability to play, but maybe their development isn't as far along as it was when colleges were more closely aligned with what we're doing in the NFL." …
*As might be expected, the crowd around Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak was deep Wednesday. As expected, the future of quarterback Peyton Manning was a topic – and Kubiak said the franchise has been in contact with Manning as the 18-year veteran contemplates his NFL future. "It's about him taking his time to work through things and think through things," Kubiak said. "There is no hurry here. I want him to enjoy what just took place [the Broncos' Super Bowl victory early this month]. We'll go from there. That plan continues to be in place. …We want him to take his time and we'll work from there. Nothing has changed." …
Position-by-position
Jaguars.com will wrap Combine Daily each day breaking down the day's featured position groups, examining how the Jaguars might address the positions during the draft …
*Running back.Yes, there were two running backs selected in the first round of the draft last season, but that doesn't mean a trend of the NFL valuing the position again. While Elliott is considered a possible Top 15 selection, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said this week he doesn't expect any other backs to go in the first round. That includes Henry. That doesn't mean there aren't backs who will make a difference. It just means a lot will be available on Day 3. Don't look for the Jaguars to address this area early, but they could add a complementary back to starter T.J. Yeldon in the later rounds.
*Offensive line.Tunsil isn't the only left tackle projected in the top 10 in what is considered a good year for lineman at the top of the draft. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley of Notre Dame also is projected as a Top 10 possibility, with Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin, Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker and Indiana offensive tackle Jason Spriggs also first-round possibilities. Kansas State offensive guard Cody Whitehair also has been projected by some late in the first round. Again, this is not an area the Jaguars are expected to address early in the draft. But depending on what they do in free agency, addressing interior offensive line on Day 2 or 3 is a possibility.
