2025 NFL combine winners and losers: Which defensive backs and tight ends stood out?

Posted by author March 1, 2025 Football

The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine continued Friday in Indianapolis, offering defensive backs and tight ends the chance to make or break their draft position.

Projected first-round WR/CB Travis Hunter, CB Will Johnson and TE Tyler Warren were among the players who opted out of participating in drills on Friday, but there was no shortage of standout performers who took advantage of the spotlight. Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston turned in the top 40-yard dash time of the combine so far (4.28 seconds), while Texas TE Gunnar Helm recorded a shaky 4.84 second run. (More on that later.)

Which players helped or their hurt draft stock? Here are USA TODAY Sports’ winners and losers from Day 2 of the 2025 NFL combine:

2025 NFL COMBINE 40-YARD DASH TRACKER: Who ran the fastest this year?

Winners

Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Hairston quickly established the top 40-yard dash time, clocking in at 4.3 seconds. Despite turning in the best time of the combine so far, the 5-foot-11, 183-pound cornerback shook his head as he walked off the sideline and said his time “isn’t enough.” Hairston proceeded to run a 4.28 on his second attempt and hit a top speed of 24.25 mph, which marked the fifth-fastest recorded time over the past three combines. Hairston coincidentally trains at Exos in Phoenix, the same sports performance training facility where Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy works out. Worthy set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash last year at 4.21 seconds and his performance boosted him; he was a first-round pick. The same could happen for Hairston.

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Emmanwori may stand at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, but that didn’t stop him from flying. The South Carolina safety recorded a 43-inch vertical jump, tying the third-best vertical for a safety since tracking began in 2003. His show of athleticism didn’t stop there. Emmanwori turned in an 11 foot, 6 inch broad jump and a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, both highs for his position. Emmanwori was projected to be the No. 31 overall pick in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft, but he’s sure to rise following his dazzling performance.

Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. gave a shout-out to Emmanwori on X.

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon

Ferguson turned in the top 40-yard dash time (4.63 seconds) at the tight end position and highlighted his explosiveness with a vertical jump (39 inches), another high at the position. The 6-foot-5, 247-pound tight end finished with a 10 foot, 2 inch broad jump.

Losers

Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

Helm didn’t do himself any favors at the combine. The 6-foot-5, 241-pounder’s 30-inch vertical ranked the worst among his position and a 4.84-second 40-yard dash attempt was the third-worst among tight ends.

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Entering Friday, Starks was projected to be the first safety off the board, with USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft having him selected with the 14th overall pick. Starks didn’t necessarily have a bad showing at the combine. He excelled during on-field drills and showcased his versatilely, recording the fastest top speed among safeties in five different drills. But Starks was outperformed by his main competitor at the safety position. Starks was out-jumped and outrun by South Carolina’s Emmanwori, the second safety projected off the board. Starks’ 33-inch vertical jump tied for the third-worst at his position, compared to Emmanwori (43 inches) and Starks’ 4.5-second 40-yard dash was noticeably slower than Emmanwori’s (4.38 seconds).

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