Thomas solidifies spot in top three

OT Joe Thomas likely solidified his spot in the top three of the draft with an impressive performance at the combine, writes Todd McShay.

Originally Published: February 21, 2007
By Todd McShay | ESPN.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas stole the show during the first full day of workouts at the combine on Saturday. It was widely speculated that Thomas would skip the majority of the drills but he surprised NFL brass inside the RCA dome by completing a full workout. At 6-foot-6 and 311 pounds, Thomas showcased his speed by running both 40-yard dash attempts in under five seconds (4.92 and 4.95). Thomas locked out 28 reps on the 225-pound bench press, while also finishing with the second-best broad jump and vertical jump of all the offensive linemen in attendance. It's safe to say Thomas erased any doubt regarding his projection as a top-three overall pick in the 2007 draft.

• Miami TE Greg Olsen joined Thomas as the big winner emerging from Saturday's workout. Olsen showed up in excellent shape at nearly 6-foot-6 and 254 pounds. More importantly, he ran far-and-away the best 40-time of all the tight ends. While his official electronic time was a 4.51, two different scouts I spoke with said they clocked him at 4.45. Olsen had a 35½ vertical jump, a 9-6 broad jump, 23 reps on the bench press and showed great consistency catching the ball during positional drills. Olsen's sensational showing should land him a spot in the mid-to-late first-round range of the upcoming draft.

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Todd McShay

Scouts Inc.
  • ESPN College Football and NFL Draft Analyst
  • Joined ESPN in 2006
  • Played quarterback in high school and was a backup QB for the University of Richmond.

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