It’s only February, but there’s a tight end that already looks like a future member of the New England Patriots.
Iowa’s C.J. Fiedorowicz is one of Saturday’s big “winners” from the NFL Scouting Combine. He impressed in his speed and agility workouts and caught the ball well in positional drills.
The Patriots will like that he was coached by two former Bill Belichick staffers — Kirk and Brian Ferentz — with the Hawkeyes.
Check out Saturday’s combine winners and losers.
WINNERS
Colt Lylerla: Given Lyerla’s checkered history, there’s still a possibility that the Oregon tight end doesn’t get drafted. But he put on a show Saturday with a 4.61-second 40-yard dash and 10-foot-8 broad jump. Lyerla skipped the three-cone and short shuttle.
Taylor Lewan: The Michigan offensive tackle proved to be an athletic freak with top five finishes in the 40-yard dash (4.87), broad jump (9-foot-9) and three-cone (7.39), and an above average time in the short shuttle (4.49) at 6-foot-7, 309 pounds. He was already expected to be one of the first three tackles taken. Now it’s possible he could pass Jake Matthews to be the No. 2 tackle off the board.
C.J. Fiedorowicz: The Iowa tight end was known as one of the best blockers in the class. He helped himself with an above average 4.76-second 40-yard dash (because he was expected to run slower). He led his position with a 7.10 three-cone and 4.26 short shuttle.
Greg Robinson: Robinson solidified his spot as the top offensive tackle prospect with a monster day at the combine. He’s 6-foot-5, 332 pounds and ran a 4.92-second 40-yard dash. He shined in the broad jump, as well.
Michael Sam: Sam didn’t do anything on the field, but he impressed in his news conference. He deserves a spot in Saturday’s winners.
LOSERS
Cyrus Kouandijo: Typically the offensive lineman who runs a 5.59 40-yard dash will wind up being a small-school, undrafted prospect, not a potential first-rounder. Kouandijo looked sloppy in positional drills and showed little explosion in the broad jump. His agility times were average. Kouandijo also failed several teams’ physicals because of an arthritic knee, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
Jace Amaro: The Texas Tech tight end has little blocking experience and couldn’t post a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. Amaro was a fringe first-rounder before the combine and might have seen his way out of Day 1 after struggling with drops. He finished top five in the short shuttle with a 4.30, but his 7.42 three-cone was below average.
Austin Seferian Jenkins and Troy Niklas: Neither of these top tight ends ran the 40-yard dash. Seferian Jenkins has a foot injury that could keep him out of his April 2 pro day and Niklas’ groin is bothering him. We’ll have to wait until the Washington and Notre Dame pro days to see how those tight ends stack up to their competition. Niklas competed in the three-cone and short shuttle and didn’t fare well.
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