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NFL Combine Notebook: Tracking WR Targets

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On Friday, the wide receivers took the podium at the 2019 NFL Combine, and with that came news that the Steelers had met or planned to meet with at least five of the top receivers in the draft class.

On Saturday, Arizona State’s N’Keal Henry was added to that list, giving Kevin Colbert and company a half dozen prime targets to track as they went through the workouts on Saturday.

Marquise Brown (Oklahoma) isn’t running, as he’s still recovering from foot surgery, but here’s the results from the workouts as the receivers took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.

40-YARD DASH

D.K. Metcalf 4.33 seconds*

Deebo Samuel 4.48 seconds*

A.J. Brown 4.49 seconds

N’Keal Harry 4.53 seconds

Riley Ridley 4.58 seconds*

*-unofficial time

VERTICAL JUMP

Riley Ridley 30.5 inches

A.J. Brown 36.5 inches

N’Keal Harry 38.5 inches

Deebo Samuel 39 inches

D.K. Metcalf 40.5 inches

BROAD JUMP

D.K. Metcalf 134 inches

Riley Ridley 124 inches

Deebo Samuel 122 inches

N’Keal Harry 122 inches

A.J. Brown 120 inches

3 CONE DRILL

Deebo Samuel 7.03 seconds

Riley Ridley 7.22 seconds

D.K. Metcalf 7.38 seconds

20-YARD SHUTTLE

Riley Ridley 4.28 seconds

D.K. Metcalf 4.50 seconds

BENCH PRESS

N’Keal Harry 27 reps

D.K. Metcalf 27 reps

A.J. Brown 19 reps

Deebo Samuel 15 reps

Riley Ridley 13 reps

ANALYSIS

It looks like the Steelers certainly have a type, as most of the receivers are big, physical, and with straight-line speed, a combination that is easily projectable as an outside deep threat at the NFL level. That’s interesting, because that’s not the kind of receiver Antonio Brown is at 5-foot-10 and more known for quickness than strength.

But speed trumps all at the receiver position, and Brown certainly has that. For comparison’s sake, he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at his combine.

NEXT UP

The Steelers have or will also meet with a pair inside linebacker targets in LSU’s Devin White and Alabama’s Mack Wilson, according to Joe Rutter of the Tribune-Review.