The second day of the 2025 NFL Combine featured standout performances from some of the draft’s most intriguing prospects. Several players made headlines with their elite athletic testing, improving their stock as the draft draws closer. The speed testing is especially important in regards to the Los Angeles Rams as four of the last five cornerbacks that they’ve drafted have tested around the 80th percentile.
Among players that stood out was Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston who put himself firmly in the early-round conversation with a blazing 40-yard dash. Additionally, South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori showcased freakish athleticism that could push him into the top 20. Here were Friday’s winners.
- Day 1: Which Linebackers Stood Out on Day 1 of Athletic Testing?
1. CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was firmly in the third or fourth tier of cornerbacks and seen as a late-second or third-round pick entering the day. However, after testing, it’s hard not to put him in the same conversation as Azareye’h Thomas. He’ll have a chance to go at the end of the first round and at the very least will be seen as a mid-second round pick.
Hairston was one of the better testers of the day. His first run in the 40-yard dash was a 4.30 and then he managed to beat that in his second run with a 4.28. Hairston became the first sub-4.3 40-yard dash of the 2025 NFL Combine. He then did a 39.5-inch vertical which was second among cornerbacks and was third in the broad jump at 10’9. Hairston was also very smooth in the position drills. Again, the Kentucky cornerback was seen as a player that could be taken in the back-half of round two. He likely jumped up into the early second round.
2. S Nick Emmanwori, Texas A&M
It’s hard to talk about the second day of testing without mentioning Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina. Emmanwori showed just how much of an alien he is as an athlete and that he is essentially if DK Metcalf was a safety. At 220 pounds, he ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. He did a 43-inch vertical and 11’6 broad jump. The next closest broad jump for a safety was 10’10 from Marques Sigle.
There has been some talk about Emmanwori potentially moving down to linebacker. However, everything that I’ve heard in Indianapolis is that teams want him at safety. Emmanwori was considered a fringe first-round pick coming into the combine. Given how he tested, it’s very possible that a team gets enamored with his athleticism and he goes inside the top-20.
3. TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Among the tight ends, Terrance Ferguson was the best testing player. He did the fastest 40-yard dash at a 4.63 while doing a 39-inch vertical and 10’2 broad jump. His 39-inch vertical also led tight ends and his broad jump ranked third. When it comes to the tight end position, the tiers below Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren are very interesting. Ferguson showed that he was an explosive athlete. Paired with his route-running on tape, Ferguson may have jumped into that second-tier of tight ends that will get selected on day two of the draft.
Ferguson did slip up in the gauntlet, posting one of the slower speeds and getting off-line. With that said, his testing numbers were really good and that will go a long way with teams. Paired with a good Senior Bowl, Ferguson continues to make noise as a potential day two selection.
Honorable Mentions
- CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
- TE Mason Taylor, LSU
Had Hairston not stolen the show at cornerback, Porter would have been the player that everybody was talking about on day two. He matched Hairston’s 4.3-second 40-yard dash and also finished second in the broad jump. While Taylor didn’t test, he did go through position drills. Taylor had the best gauntlet and looked smooth. That’s arguably more important than the testing aspect.
Other Notes and Quotes
Matthew Golden Could Be a Target at 26 + Jayden Higgins
The Rams will be looking to get more explosive at the offensive skill positions in the draft. A priority will be to find an ‘x’ that can win on the boundary. The Rams met with Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden and provides exactly what they need. It’s hard not to like Golden’s mindset which was emphasized when he said, “Whenever you need that clutch play, I’m gonna be there.” Golden talked about his ability to play inside and out and despite being a bigger receiver, he’s a smooth route-runner.
Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins is a player that has caught my eye throughout the draft process. He continued to show just how charismatic he is and I’ll be excited to see how he tests on Saturday. Higgins mentioned that his route-running and ability to play all three positions is what makes him stand out. Said Higgins,
“I would just say my route-running. Like you said, I’m big but I can run routes like little guys. Just being able to have good feet and get in and out of those breaks is definitely a big thing...At Iowa State, the biggest thing there was using my versatility. I played inside, outside, in the slot, etc. Definitely had to know all of those positions and it helped me as far as making plays against linebackers or smaller corners.”
Florida QB Graham Mertz looks up to Matthew Stafford
It’s always somewhat interesting when a player mentions someone in the NFL that they model their game after. On Friday, Florida quarterback Graham Mertz spoke highly of Matthew Stafford calling him one of the five best passers in the NFL and someone that he tries to emulate. Mertz mentioned Stafford’s football IQ as something that really helps him a ton.
Savion Williams more than just a gadget player
One of the more perplexing players in this year’s draft class is TCU’s Savion Williams. A lot of teams are going to see him as primarily a gadget player. Others may take him off of their board because of his raw route-running. However, Williams emphasized that he’s more than just the player in the wildcat. Said Williams,
“I can pull up clips of me catching balls over people, catching balls behind me that I’m not supposed to catch, making people miss out in the open when I get the ball, going deep. Doing the wildcat stuff, that stuff just really came naturally because that’s what I did in high school.”
Final Thoughts on Day 2
- The big conversation on day two of the NFL Combine continued to be Matthew Stafford as the two sides were set to meet on Friday. Obviously a deal ended up getting done. Talking to people in Indianapolis and over-hearing different conversations, it never felt like a Rams-Stafford divorce was in the cards. Teams like the Giants and Raiders planned to make a strong push for Stafford if he couldn’t come to terms with the Rams, and that was always going to be a very big if.
- Alaric Jackson also agreed to terms on a three-year deal. With the top two priorities for the Rams all set, they can start putting together an offseason plan with free agency nearing. The Rams will have a lot of options and a lot of it will depend on how they want to build out the roster.
- It might mean something or it might mean nothing, but Rams Senior Personnel Executive Ted Monago was very involved and close with the safeties during on-field testing. Malaki Starks had a slower 40-time at 4.5-seconds. A common theme for the Rams has been that they’ve benefited from teams putting too much stock into the 40. It’s resulted in them drafting Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Jordan Fuller. Starks did a 4.5, but was the fastest safety in the position drills. The Rams have other needs than safety, but if Starks is there at 26, it would be interesting.
