Earlier this week we covered some of the players who should be removed from the Chiefs’ draft board following the 2019 NFL Combine. Now we’ll take a look at those who’ve truly helped themselves through the process. The Chiefs should consider moving each of these 12 players up on their final draft board due to their performances in Indianapolis.

Offense

Miles Sanders RB Penn State

No running back put up a more well-rounded day than Penn State’s Miles Sanders. Sanders placed in the top-10 for the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, and 20-yard shuttle. He also had the top score in the 3-Cone drill, which got a lot of people talking about this player. Sanders measured in at 5-foot-10 5/8 and 211 pounds, which is right under where the Chiefs like their running backs to be in terms of height and weight. He looked the most comfortable out of any running back going through the on-field workouts too. I had Sanders penciled in as a late third round guy, but teams would be wise to move him up the board.

Ryquell Armstead RB Temple

Ryquell Armstead has consistently been rising throughout the pre-draft process. He had one of the better weeks at the Senior Bowl, and I really felt like the one last thing he had to prove was his long speed. He did that at the combine by posting a 4.45 40-yard dash, which was good for second-best among the group. At 5-foot-11 and 223 pounds, that’s a really good time. He also backed it up with a solid on-field workout where he looked smooth catching the ball. He answered a lot of the remaining questions and I think teams will be confident taking him earlier than previously slotted.

Darius Slayton WR Auburn

It’s always a risk leaving school as an underclassmen. Many of them go undrafted before they bet on themselves too early. Auburn receiver Darius Slayton was smart to bet on himself though. He weighed in at a solid size of 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds. He put up a blazing fast 4.39 40-yard dash which tied for sixth-best among receivers at this years combine. He also had one of the top 10-yard splits at 1.45 seconds. Slayton tied D.K. Metcalf for third in the vertical jump with 40.5 inches. Ultimately Slayton has vaulted himself into third round consideration with this performance.

Josh Oliver TE San Jose State

My original evaluation of Josh Oliver had him as a sixth-rounder, but he actually outperformed expectations at the combine. His 4.63 40-yard dash tied for the third-best among the tight end group. His bench press number (22) was good for a four-way tie for second-best. He ranked in the top 15 in every other drill he participated in. During the on-field workout he also had an incredibly athletic one-handed grab. It drew some audible noises from the crowd of scouts and NFL folks. I could see this player sneaking his way into the third round if a team likes him enough.

Iosua Opeta G Weber State

Few players helped themselves as much as Iosua Opeta did at the combine. He’s a player that many fans didn’t know of ahead of the event, and his workout has thrust him into position to be drafted. Opeta had 39 repetitions of 225 on the bench press. That was good for five more than the closest offensive lineman. He had really good numbers in the broad jump (112 inches) and the 40-yard dash (5.02) as well. Even during his on-field workouts he looked the part of an NFL offensive lineman. Most teams probably have him as a day three prospect, but that’s a lot better than going undrafted.

Erik McCoy C Texas A&M

People might be paying most attention to Garrett Bradbury’s performance at the center position, but I thought that Erik McCoy put up a really solid combine as well. He had the best 40-yard dash, running a blazing 4.89. He tied for the sixth-best numbers on the bench press of all offensive linemen. This is a guy that I was looking at late in the third round, but with this performance I might consider him a bit earlier.

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