2023 NFL Combine sleepers who shined: These 10 had awesome workouts, but are they actually good prospects?

What a tremendous 2023 NFL Combine. We had the the most explosive quarterback in event history (Anthony Richardson), a 282-pound defensive linemen run a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash (Adetomiwa Adebawore), an awesomely athletic group of tight ends, and Calijah Kancey having an Aaron Donald-ian workout.

The combine has widespread buzz-generating powers. So if you’re pumped about this draft class now, I get it. Believe me, I’m a combine advocate. 

But as you come down from your combine-induced high, I’ve found it’s vital to ask yourself: Are the obscure combine winners actually good prospects? I’ll answer for you below as we look at 10 sleepers who stood out. 

Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion

Notable workout figures

• 40-yard dash: 4.55 seconds (second among TE)
• Vertical jump: 40 inches (first)
• Broad jump: 10-foot-8 (first)
• Three-cone: 6.87 seconds (first)

Is he good?: Yes | New projected round range: Round 3-4

Kuntz turns 24 in June, so he’s one of the older prospects who stayed in school for their extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. That’s the only real knock on him as a receiving tight end. At 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, Kuntz’ combine was almost identical to Mike Gesicki’s back in 2018. And when utilized as a focal part of the offense, Gesicki’s been a dynamic weapon. Kuntz is a similar-type: a vertical seam stretcher who aggressively attacks the ball in the air. What’s interesting, in this loaded tight end class, is that Kuntz being available on Day 3 would not be crazy.

Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia

Notable workout figures

• 40-yard dash: 4.38 seconds (tied fourth among WR)
• Vertical jump: 41 inches (first)
• Three-cone: 6.97 seconds (seventh — but at 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds)

Is he good?: In a niche role | New projected round range: Round 3-4

Ford-Wheaton is exactly what you’re probably thinking given his height, weight, and combine performance: outside, combat-catch specialist who wins after the catch simply due to how large and explosive he is. Will Ford-Wheaton run ultra-crisp routes to generate space against hyper-athletic cornerbacks? No. But in many cases, that’s fine. He’ll win at the catch point. As a vertical-only option as I will say, he did a lot for his stock at the combine. Before it, he was widely considered a mid-to-late Day 3 pick. Now he could even sneak into Day 2.

Daniel Scott, FS, California

Notable workout figures

• 40-yard dash: 4.45 seconds (second…