Standing 6-3 3/8 and weighing in at 228 pounds with a superhuman body fat percentage of only 1.6%, D.K. Metcalf got his NFL Scouting Combine started off with a bang. He kept the momentum going when he turned in an impressive 4.33 in the 40-yard dash and leapt to a 40.5 inch vertical. After the skeptics weighed in on his unbelievable body fat percentage, the 40 time was a huge surprise and tied Metcalf for second-fastest among all the receivers at the Combine. Given Metcalf’s history of bodybuilding, the 27 reps of 225 pounds that he threw up during the bench press portion of the Combine was hardly a surprise.
With a performance like that, how can anyone question Metcalf’s NFL readiness? Well, after a less than stellar showing in agility drills, critics are questioning his ability to run NFL routes. Metcalf was unimpressive in the 3-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle. He turned in a 7.38 3-cone performance and 4.5 in the shuttle. Additionally, while 1.6% body fat is impressive, it is dangerous in a contact sport such as football; especially at the highest level.
While coaches and general managers gawked at his size during meetings, Metcalf does not have a ton of film as he declared after his redshirt sophomore season at Ole Miss. He played in all twelve games as a redshirt freshman before a neck injury ended his RS sophomore season after only seven games. As a result, Metcalf caught only 67 balls in his collegiate career. The 40, bench press, and vertical results are nice to have but when it comes to position specific measurables, the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle are more indicative of a prospect’s ability to run a route tree.
Metcalf will have an opportunity to improve his agility times at his Pro Day. The concerns over agility results may be unfounded as Metcalf’s ability to create a window could compensate for his lack of route running skills. Either way, Metcalf’s physical gifts are undeniable and it will be interesting to see where he is taken in a draft class rich in receivers.
