SportsMap's Cody Stoots details what he saw and heard that will stick with him from the 2019 NFL Combine
Stoots: 11 favorite things from the NFL Combine
Mar 5, 2019, 7:29 am
SportsMap's Cody Stoots details what he saw and heard that will stick with him from the 2019 NFL Combine
It was my first trip to Indianapolis and my first trip to cover the combine. These are my 11 favorite things from the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.
1. Washington tackle Kaleb McGary has one of the best journeys to the combine and one of the best personalities.
"Fair warning – it's basically a country song, so get ready," said McGary.
His family lost their farm. His father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Girlfriend leaves him. Dog dies. His family lives in an RV in his grandparent's yard. Get second RV to have some space. Get room cleaned in grandparent's house. Second RV catches fire. Burns house. Parents almost die. Jump through hoops to get GoFundMe cleared with NCAA. Use all of the money quickly. House work stops. He has a heart arrhythmia that requires surgeries in college.
All of that plus the heartbreak of multiple Huskies seasons not going their way. Then he did this at the combine.
.@KalebMcgary big day for him! Measuring in at a chiseled 6-7 317 and having top 5 performances in the Vertical, 40yd dash, Top 10 in Pro-Agility, 3Cone and Broad Jump! Great day!! #FSPDraftClass19 pic.twitter.com/6AtJuWQVxZ
— Tracy Ford (@TFordFSP) March 2, 2019
And he did it all with a smile. Great perspective. Great dude. Easy to root for Kaleb McGary.
2. Big people aren't supposed to move like Andre Dillard did.
"He's the best pass protector in the entire draft."@WSUCougFB OT @AndreDillard_ runs a 4.99u 40-yard dash.
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/019z4flLW6
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2019
Read more about Dillard and his fit with the Texans.
3. Justice for all, or at least one team in a couple of months. The Oklahoma State Cowboys back was a freak. He came in without a lot of buzz and left with almost all of it.
Fastest 40. Highest vertical. Longest broad jump.@CowboyFB's Justice Hill dominated the running backs at the #NFLCombine! pic.twitter.com/b8uS1LvuH4
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2019
4. It ain't the luck of the Irish when you have these skills. Notre Dame wideout Miles Boykin found himself with the same type of combine Justice Hill had. Showed up, was a freak, left with the hype.
This kid can jump.
11' 8" broad jump for @NDFootball's @MBoykin814 😳 #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/And3O23UNM
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2019
He can go up too.
.@NDFootball WR @MBoykin814 just jumped 43.5" in the vertical! 🔥 #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/FApROwQdCg
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2019
Oh, and he ripped off a 4.42 40-yard dash as well.
5. Speaking of really impressive athletes, how about D.K. Metcalf? At 6 feet 3 inches, 228 pounds and 1.6% body fat he did this
.@dkmetcalf14's first 40-yard dash attempt: 4.33 (unofficial)#NFLCombine | @OleMissFB pic.twitter.com/sw7XPDzbJv
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2019
And this.
D.K. Metcalf, who looks like Hercules and had 27 reps on the bench press just did a 40.5 vertical jump.
He is 6-3, 228 pounds. pic.twitter.com/yCaDtQZ7fF
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 2, 2019
And most impressively to me, this.
🎥 @OleMissFB WR D.K. Metcalf puts up a mind-boggling 27 reps on the bench press.
😵
h/t @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/uVTfF57Sy9
— Dion Caputi (@nfldraftupdate) March 1, 2019
Oh and he called his family after that blazing fast run and despite looking like a monster had a very human moment.
An emotional @dkmetcalf14 calls his family after running a 4.33 and dominating the #NFLCombine 💯 pic.twitter.com/ZVvgoI1vgR
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2019
6. Washington Redskins strength coach Chad Englehart deserves props. He oversaw the bench press for I believe every player. His energy was the same for every guy. He encouraged them. Gave them tips. He even got them hype when they wanted it or needed it.
Taking #MotivationMonday to a whole other level.
Chad Englehart, #Redskins head strength and conditioning coach, hypes up Ed Oliver: pic.twitter.com/BA8SQNKLdW
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) March 4, 2019
It was awesome watching the bench press. It was even more awesome watching these athletes root each other on, with some directing from Englehart in the process. They're all competing against each other essentially but they were sure to root for each other here. Made me want to get out there and lift.
7. The Millionaire Mouth. Hakeem Butler was the best draft prospect on the microphone at their media availability. Here are some of his highlights.
His favorite route? "I guess just 'go' because like a lot of people here, ya'll gonna sleep on my speed. Once I get up on ya, it's too late."
What does he make of the buzz around him? "You think there's been a lot of buzz about me? I disagree with that. I don't think there's been enough buzz. But we're gonna fix that soon."
What makes you the best wideout prospect? "I'm 6-6, first of all. Nobody here is 6-6. I'm the biggest. I'm gonna run good. So … I just know me. It's up to you to believe who you are. I believe I'm the best."
What advice did he get from Calvin Johnson? "That the man across from you is trying to take your head off so you have to take his head off first."
The he did this the next day.
Iowa St. WR Hakeem Butler, who is 6-5, 227 pounds ran a sub 4.5 40 time.
4.49pic.twitter.com/BuLrhv9FUl
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 2, 2019
8. Ed Oliver is ready to invest his NFL money. The Houston defensive lineman grew up with horses but he might have other livestock in mind when he has NFL money.
[ia_video https://s3.amazonaws.com/roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/runner%2F9340-IMG_9661%2B%25281%2529.MOV source="https://s3.amazonaws.com/roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/runner%2F9340-IMG_9661%2B%25281%2529.MOV" caption="Ed Oliver on bulls" videoControls=true shortcode_id=1551766450075 expand=1 ]Maybe if he gets some of those wagyu cows and turns them into steaks maybe he could pass them along to...
9. I believe I have found football Ron Swanson. Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew was awesome talking to the media. He has quite the reputation as a rambunctious character but he was a cool customer at the podium. The mustache is here to stay. Outside of football he does woodworking and likes to cook.
"Man, throw me on the grill, that's my specialty. Steaks, burgers, however you like it, I'll make it for you."
Washington State QB Gardner Minshew aka Football Ron SwansonCody Stoots of SportsMap
He also had maybe one of the best answers about his ability playing quarterback.
"I'd say elevating the guys around you," he said. "That's what it's all about playing this position. Taking this team, going 11-2, 11 wins for the first time in school history. That's what it's all about, making the guys around you better, that's how you come to work every day and how you lead."
10. "Do you have both your testicles?" That was the question asked to Texas cornerback Kris Boyd.
I have no idea why they would ask him that but that was one of the only out there questions I heard about all week.
11. The best tacos in the world? They are in Indianapolis according to one of my drivers at the combine.
My Uber driver swears the “best tacos in the world" are right down the street from where I am staying in Indianapolis. Should I try the tacos?
— Cody Stoots (@Cody_Stoots) March 1, 2019
Unfortunately I didn't get to try them. Maybe next year.
I did try the local favorite. Indianapolis is famous for this shrimp cocktail.
In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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