Even with the NFL Scouting Combine, draft prospects seem to feel more at ease in the comfy confines of their college practice fields. College Pro Day workouts are structured to the point of being scripted. But no matter what players still have to perform, and two of the top prospects showed just that the last 2 days.
Sam Bradford had more to lose than anyone with his Oklahoma Pro Day. Coming off of a shoulder injury that required surgery and caused him to sit out most of the 2009 season, Bradford needed to impress and then some after not throwing or working out at the NFL Combine. He did just that. 63 passes. 62 completions. And many thought that ball could have been caught. His accuracy was considered his strength, and he showed just how pinpoint that accuracy can be. He has filled out physically, and he carries the extra weight well. He is a deceptive 235 pounds. He always looked skinny but now it looks like he is maturing in the manner he needs to in order to withstand the rigors of an NFL season. The St. Louis Rams have pretty much made up their minds about selecting Bradford, and the choice was cemented by his Pro Day workout. Look for Bradford to sign a contract equal to or better than the one Matthew Stafford signed with Detroit in 2009, and he can thank his workout performance for that.
The next day Dez Bryant held his Pro Day workout. After running the 40 in a slower than expected time, he got the same response as Joe Haden after the NFL Combine. That he looks faster on film. But Haden ran a bit faster in his Pro Day workout, and any doubts about his ability seems to have been put to rest. Bryant is a different story, and there is a recent draft pick that some will probably start to compare him to. Mike Williams from USC.
Williams was seen as the top receiveing prospect coming out of college, but he had to sit out a year due his unsuccessful challenge of the NFL Draft eligibility policy. The time off seemed to allow a lot of rust to settle and he never did live up to expectations. He was a bit taller and heavier than Bryant, but it is going to be tough not to comapre the two receivers. Bryant sat out the 2009 season at Oklahoma State, and now it looks like he isn't the reciever he was in college. Now Jerry Jones is looking to wine and dine Bryant. If he is still avaliable at the #27 slot for Dallas, he is going to lose a lot of money in signing bonus because of a slow 40 time at his Pro Day workout. Let's hope Bryant has a much more successful career than Mike Williams did.
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