The NFL Combine wrapped up with several players boosting their draft stock over the weekend. But some prospects didn’t help themselves in Indianapolis.
The pre-draft process is the biggest job interview in sports. Everything gets tracked and judged.
Just like draft stock can rise, it can fall just as quickly. Five prospects either said something or did something during workouts that’ll force teams to take another look at their tape.
Not all these players had terrible performances. But something stood out as a negative that scouts noticed.
The good news? The Combine usually does one of three things. It confirms what teams already thought, shows a player performing better than expected, or reveals someone who didn’t meet expectations.
QB Diego Pavia – Vanderbilt
Pavia has several factors working against him. He did nothing in Indianapolis to change how teams view his projection.
At barely 5’10, his arm strength is average. His arm talent falls short of what teams want in a future starter.
Pavia’s been self-promoting in ways that don’t make sense. He recently claimed he has no competition at the Combine and the best arm in the draft.
He revealed he’s getting advice from Johnny Manziel. That might be the only person who thinks that’s a good idea.
During the passing portion, some throws were fine. But they were mostly ‘throw it to a spot and let the receiver go get it’ types. Most sideline throws were off target and uncatchable.
The deeper throws had receivers waiting or coming back to the ball.
WR Makai Lemon – USC
Lemon entered the Combine with top 10-15 potential. After Indianapolis, the first round might not be a lock anymore.
The on-field work wasn’t awful. But it wasn’t good enough to confirm what scouts already thought. At times, he seemed passive and not giving full effort.
Then there’s how he spoke to media.
When Lemon spoke at the Combine, it went viral. His approach didn’t sit well with many evaluators. He came off as someone trying to sell something while looking cool doing it.
That’s likely aimed at impressing people who aren’t NFL decision makers. GMs will reconsider how much they like him as a prospect.
He ran clean routes and made tough catches. But concerns remain about Lemon’s overall approach.
WR KC Concepcion – Texas A&M
Concepcion came into Indianapolis as one of the hot names expected at the top of the second round. Some thought he could crack the first round.
He had electric plays in 2025, especially as a returner. In space, he can be lethal.
Concepcion seems to have concentration issues though.
He has a consistent 10% drop rate. In 2025, he caught 61 passes on 104 targets. That’s under 60% catch percentage.
At Indianapolis, those tendencies showed up again. While no one has completely soured on Concepcion, the idea of moving into the first round is fading.
Before the Combine he was WR5 on many boards. After Indianapolis, it’s hard to see him higher than WR10.
Unlike other prospects, his speaking situation won’t hurt him with teams.
“I want to be a role model for those who are not able to speak in front of large crowds.”
@AggieFootball WR KC Concepcion on why he decided to talk to the media at the Combine
Concepcion used his platform to speak about his stuttering, hoping to inspire other kids with similar challenges to pursue their dreams.
OT/G Fernando Carmona – Clemson
Carmona was another player experts expected to rise. At 6’3, 310 pounds, he provides a nice option at tackle or guard.
While offensive linemen aren’t expected to run fast, his 5.22 forty creates mild concern. His 1.85 10-yard split is more troubling.
Anything over 1.75 for an offensive lineman isn’t great.
Then there was drill work. It wasn’t completely awful, but aspects that show up on tape didn’t translate to Indianapolis.
The agility was lacking and there were unexpected stumbles during drills. Other linemen like Oliavavega Ioane from Penn State and Monroe Freeling confirmed or improved their stock.
DT Kayden McDonald – Ohio State
McDonald is a concerning case. Four defensive tackles were jockeying for position at the top of the position.
Caleb Banks only played three games in 2025. Peter Woods took a statistical step backward. Lee Hunter and McDonald round out the group.
McDonald arguably had better game film than the others.
The concern? His tape and Combine performance don’t match at all. Most teams will defer to tape over Combine every time.
It just means scouts will revisit his film. If he performs closer to tape expectation at Ohio State’s Pro Day, he can minimize the damage to his draft stock.
The Combine is only one part of the pre-draft process.
These players still have time to improve their stock. Pro Days and individual workouts come next.
