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The NFL Combine does three things really well: It puts team executives in one city where they can have conversations that definitely aren’t “tampering,” gives fans something football-related to talk about during the offseason, and can make young players either gain or lose millions in draft value overnight.
That last part is what we’re looking at today. Every year, we see players test so incredibly well or poorly that they shoot up from a day-two prospect to a first-rounder — or crash from a potential first-round pick to the middle rounds. For the Philadelphia Eagles, holding the 32nd overall selection, these combine performances could directly impact who’s available when they’re on the clock.
Why the combine matters (even when it shouldn’t)
Let’s be clear — the medical testing is actually the most important part of the combine for NFL teams. They need to know if a player’s body can hold up at the pro level. Bad medical results can drop a player down draft boards or remove them completely. But that’s not the fun part to talk about.
Team interviews matter too. They help evaluate character and football IQ. We rarely get to see what happens in those rooms, though occasionally snippets leak out.
It’s the physical tests that get all the attention — and often lead teams astray. Remember Anthony Richardson? Only 24 games at Florida, but tested like a superhero at the combine. The Colts grabbed him fourth overall in 2023. Are they second-guessing that decision now? You bet.
That’s the combine effect.
Teams fall in love with a prospect who nails the three-cone drill, jumps out of the building, or runs so fast their clothing malfunctions (Chris Jones, we haven’t forgotten).
Take Jordan Davis — his 4.78 forty-yard dash at 340+ pounds sent his stock into orbit, with the Eagles grabbing him 13th overall in 2022. So far, his on-field production hasn’t matched that draft position.
On the flip side, former Eagles like Zach Ertz, Jason Peters, and LeGarrette Blount all tested poorly. Ertz slipped to round two while Peters and Blount weren’t even drafted. All three became stars in Philadelphia.
The truth? Physical testing at the combine is mostly a crapshoot — mostly. The 40-yard dash gets headlines, but the first 10 yards matter more for evaluating explosiveness. Similarly, the broad and vertical jumps show lower-body power, while the three-cone drill measures change-of-direction ability.
And the bench press? Completely meaningless for on-field performance — but damn, it’s fun to watch!
These measurements might seem ridiculous, but when they matter to decision-makers with draft capital, they matter to everyone. Here are the prospects Eagles fans should watch closely this week, as their combine performances could dramatically alter their NFL futures.
1. Charles Grant, William and Mary, Offensive Tackle
With Lane Johnson getting older, tackle is definitely on Philadelphia’s radar. Grant currently projects as a second or third-rounder, right where the Eagles will be picking at the end of those rounds.
At exactly 6-4 and 300 pounds, Grant sits on the smaller side for NFL tackles. He’ll need impressive explosive measurements and smooth workout performances to overcome those size concerns — you simply can’t be both undersized and underpowered at tackle in the NFL.
His medical evaluation takes on extra importance since he missed the Senior Bowl with an injury. Teams will want to ensure that’s not a recurring issue.
2. Jihaad Campbell, Linebacker, Alabama
We know the Eagles traditionally don’t invest premium resources at linebacker, but this past season should have taught Howie Roseman how much a competent linebacker group improves the entire defense.
If they let Zack Baun walk in free agency, Campbell could be their target. He’s widely considered the draft’s top linebacker prospect and brings pass-rushing versatility that would be perfect in Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme.
For the Eagles to spend a first-round pick on a linebacker, though, Campbell would need an absolutely mind-blowing combine — we’re talking about a generational athletic performance that people reference for years to come.
3. The Entire Tight End Class
If Philly doesn’t address tight end in free agency, they’ll need to draft one. Dallas Goedert is still excellent but he’s approaching 30 and has struggled to stay healthy for complete seasons.
Tight end is perhaps the most diverse position group in terms of skill sets and team preferences. Some are glorified receivers, others primarily blockers, with various hybrids in between. That’s why this position group deserves your full attention during combine week.
Penn State’s Tyler Warren is this year’s Brock Bowers-type prospect — a dynamic receiving threat. But several other tight ends could be available when the Eagles pick at 32 or later in the draft.
Jackson Hawes, Elijah Arroyo, Harold Fannin Jr., and Gunnar Helm are names worth tracking, but honestly, every tight end’s performance could shift the entire group’s draft positioning.
Utah’s Brant Kuithe presents an interesting late-round option. He’ll be 26 as a rookie (ancient in draft terms) after missing significant time with injuries. If his medicals check out, he could be a value pick for Philadelphia in the later rounds.
4. Deone Walker, Defensive Tackle, Kentucky
When you’re watching the combine this week, don’t adjust your TV — that’s just Deone Walker making everyone else look tiny by comparison.
Standing 6-7 and weighing approximately 350 pounds, Walker is genuinely massive even by NFL standards.
The intrigue here is whether he can post Jordan Davis-type athletic numbers despite his enormous frame. If he shows surprising speed and explosiveness, Walker could easily leap from a second-round projection into the first round.
5. Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
It would take a catastrophic combine performance for All-American Abdul Carter’s draft stock to fall within the Eagles’ range — though interestingly, he’s made it clear he’d love to wear midnight green.
Philly native & Eagles fan Abdul Carter posted up with Jalen Carter & the Lombardi trophy, via his Instagram story pic.twitter.com/MnuNbAwtNS
— Dylan Dawson (@PSU_Dylan) February 10, 2025
When I say “catastrophic,” I mean he’d need to start doing somersaults instead of running the 40, blow cigarette smoke in executives’ faces during interviews, or pull an Elaine Benes by submitting someone else’s urine sample for the drug test.
The only realistic scenario where Carter drops into a range where the Eagles could trade up involves his medical evaluation. He played through a shoulder injury during the postseason that could raise flags. But even that’s unlikely to push him down far enough for Philly to grab him without mortgaging future assets.
There’s a better chance of Howie Roseman offering you a front office internship than Carter falling to the Eagles — but in the unpredictable world of the NFL Draft, stranger things have happened.
