By John Sarianides

Day 5 at the 2017 NFL Combine featured the defensive tackles, defensive ends and linebackers. Here are my thoughts on how these position groups did.

1. Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett tested as well as we thought he would. He ran a 4.64 forty and he hit 41 inches on the vertical jump. Garrett was impressive and he solidified himself as the number one player in this draft class.

2. I couldn’t be more impressed with Michigan Safety Jabril Peppers. He worked with the linebackers on Sunday and will be working out with the defensive backs on Monday. Peppers ran a 4.46 and did all of the drills with ease. 

Peppers has another chance to impress on Monday and regardless of what happens, Peppers improved his draft stock. 

3. Florida Atlantic defensive end Trey Hendrickson ran a 4.65 forty and was impressive in the positional drills portion of his workout. I am projecting Hendrickson to go in the third round but I wouldn’t be surprised if he went earlier.

4. Missouri defensive end/outside linebacker Charles Harris was very impressive. He looked smooth and fluid in his positional drills and he impressed in the testing portion as well. 3-4 teams looking for outside linebacker help moved Harris up on their draft boards yesterday.

5.  I can’t say I’m surprised Vanderbilt outside linebacker Zach Cunningham struggled. His game film doesn’t impress me as much as it does others. I get teams like him because of his versatility but he is not an explosive or fast athlete. Cunningham’s 4.67 forty time is proof of that. Cunningham will drop on some teams boards because of his performance in Indy.

6. Remember two months ago when Temple defensive end Hassan Reddick was a day three prospect? Not anymore. After an impressive performance in the Senior Bowl and an even more impressive performance at the combine. Reddick is a first round prospect now.

7. Ohio State outside linebacker Raekwon McMillian had a terrific workout and was impressive in the positional drills. McMillian was projected  as an early day three prospect but I would be surprised if he didn’t get out of the second round.

8. Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas lived up to the hype. He ran a 4.67 forty and he looked smooth and fluid in the positional drills. Thomas solidified his standing as a top fifteen pick.

9. Villanova defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon is a physical specimen at 6-7 285. He ran a 4.83 forty and he tested well. He looked a little stiff in the positional drills but there is no question the potential is there. It will take a patient defensive line coach to work with a piece of clay like Kpassagnon. 

10. Wisconsin outside linebacker T.J Watt ran a 4.69 forty and was explosive and athletic in the positional drills. Watt should go in the 25-32 range in the first round with a strong pro day workout.