Purple Daily - A Minnesota Vikings Podcast

FOOTBALL TAKES: Most SURPRISING risers from NFL Combine with PFF's Trevor Sikkema!

·27 min·2 clips

PFF's Trevor Sikkema reveals five non-obvious NFL Combine risers that flew under the radar.

The episode begins with the host introducing Trevor Sikkema, PFF's lead NFL draft analyst, and setting the focus on five combine risers who aren't the obvious names like Sonny Styles or Kenyon Sadiq. Trevor first explains the inner workings of the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, detailing how he manages player rankings and recently updated them post-combine, acknowledging a delay. The discussion then shifts to specific players, starting with Charles Demings, a cornerback from Stephen F. Austin, whose explosive combine metrics, including a 4.41 40-yard dash and 42-inch vertical, boost his profile in a deep cornerback class. On offense, the host highlights Cole Payton, a quarterback from NDSU, who tested well with a 4.56 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical, positioning him as a developmental prospect or utility player. Trevor covers defensive tackles Grayson Halton from Oklahoma and DeMonte Capehart from Clemson, noting how their combine performances, such as Halton's quickness and Capehart's size and testing, elevate their draft stock from day three to potentially earlier rounds. The host adds Mike Washington Jr., a running back from Arkansas, whose athleticism and background at New Mexico State, as shared by coach David Cobb, make him a riser with third-round potential. Other mentions include Micah Morris, an offensive guard from Georgia, and edge rushers George Gumbs Jr. and Mason Rieger, with Rieger standing out at the Shrine Bowl. The episode concludes with a brief on tight end Sam Roush from Stanford, whose athletic package intrigues despite consistency issues, and a plug for Trevor's podcast, NFL Stock Exchange. Throughout, the format is an interview with analysis of combine data and player evaluations.

As heard by us

A clean Football Takes episode on Combine risers beyond the most obvious draft names.

Football Takes uses this single episode to sort through five NFL Combine risers who were not already carrying the loudest buzz, moving past the Sonny Styles and Kenyon Sadiq tier of familiar coverage.

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Why you'd press play

You want five non-obvious Combine risers, with PFF's Trevor Sykema explaining why the testing changed how he sees their draft momentum.

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