Syracuse Football: Chris Slayton made an impact at NFL Combine

Former Syracuse football defensive star Chris Slayton made a huge impact at the NFL Combine. Here are the results, highlights, and more!

Former Syracuse football stud Chris Slayton completed his work at the NFL Combine on Sunday in Indianapolis.

There’s good news and bad news for Slayton. The bad news is Slayton is an interior defensive lineman. Which means he doesn’t have many sexy highlights or big gaudy stats to show off, so the perception among the national media is he’s an underachiever.

But hopefully, the good news is that NFL teams don’t just buy the hype and they do their own homework. Based on scouts I spoke with it sure seems like they have. The scouts also did some more homework at the NFL Combine after Slayton’s huge performance, here’s how it all unfolded:

https://twitter.com/BoyGreen25/status/1102212998956044288

Slayton started off the day with a 5.13 on his first 40-yard dash attempt and per The Draft Network posted a 10-yard time of 1.81. The point of knowing the speed of the first 10 yards is because that shows you the player’s burst and explosiveness.

Let’s be honest, how often are you going to see a defensive lineman run 40 yards ever on a football field?

https://twitter.com/BoyGreen25/status/1102217229200961536

On his second and final attempt, Slayton registered a 5.16 40-yard dash. Pretty solid for an interior defensive lineman. His better first 40-yard dash time was the ninth slowest time among all defensive linemen. Although in fairness that includes interior and outside defensive linemen.

https://twitter.com/BoyGreen25/status/1102220891851841536

While some of these drills aren’t as sexy or tangible as a 40-yard dash time, they still hold significance for talent evaluators.

Slayton appeared a little awkward in the drill above. Footwork wasn’t quite as fluid as you’d like to see, but finished strong.

New England Patriots Hall of Famer Willie McGinest was not a fan of Chris Slayton in this drill:

"“There’s no power, look at his hands on the bottom of the bag, also trying to prevent the cut block here, you aren’t stopping someone full speed diving at your legs with that.”"

Former Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Kyle Williams provided some insight on what you should be looking for in this drill:

"“These guys are anxious and trying to make a good impression. But they have to hone in on what they’re doing. This drill is for guys sticking their foot in the ground and getting out of a stack. What I mean by that is screens are such a big part of this league and playing in space you’ve got to be able to move. Stick your foot in the ground and make a play all over the field.”"

Some other highlights from the NFL Combine experience for Slayton include: 

• 28 bench press reps of 225 pounds (ninth most among defensive linemen)
• 29-inch vertical jump (21st among defensive linemen)
• 101 inches on the broad jump (third worst among defensive linemen who participated)
• 20-yard shuttle time: 4.73 seconds (eighth slowest time among defensive linemen)
• Slayton didn’t participate in the three-cone drill or 60-yard shuttle

Speaking with NFL Draft Analyst Paul Perdichizzi he had this to say about Slayton in his premium notebook:

• Lack of production for a three-year starter.
• Shows the ability to get into the backfield as a disruptor in both the run and pass game.
• Must refine his technique to take advantage of his athleticism and first step more often.
• Projects him as a day three pick in the 2019 NFL Draft (specifically in the round five-seven range).

Among all the NFL Draft experts I’ve spoken with they share a similar sentiment: he’s got great traits but why didn’t it translate into massive production?

The counterpoint to that would be Slayton has been double-teamed essentially his entire career.  Watch the tape and it should become evident. Take this for what you will: several people inside the building have shared with me that they believe Chris Slayton is the best Syracuse prospect entering the 2019 NFL Draft. The next step is the Syracuse Pro Day on Monday, March 18th.