Players with the most to gain at the 2024 NFL combine

The 2024 NFL scouting combine begins on Feb. 29 and runs through March 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and serves as a first-look event for some of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Here are five players with the most go gain from the four-day prospect showcase:

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

It’s well evident who the top three quarterbacks in the class are, but some scouts believe McCarthy could be well-positioned to not only up his draft stock but also work his way into the draft’s QB4 spot with a strong showing at the combine.

The knock on McCarthy was he played on such a loaded Michigan team that he was never asked to be “the guy.” Throwing at the combine and working through passing-specific drills will give teams a better platform to evaluate whether he can be more than a game manager in the NFL.

Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame

No running back is expected to go in the first round, and there’s not even a consensus on who the top RB in the 2024 class even is. While Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, Florida State’s Trey Benson and Michigan’s Blake Corum all have strong cases to be that player, Estime can advocate for himself with a strong time in the 40-yard dash and an excellent showing during the speed and agility drills.

Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

Some scouts are torn on whether Legette is a true Round 1 talent or if he’s better suited to be a second-rounder. While Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze are the consensus top three wideouts in the class, there’s room for Legette to work his way up draft boards with a strong combine performance.

At 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, Legette is one of the bigger, more physical WRs in the draft. He has the speed to outrun most defenses and he excels at gaining yards after the catch. He was a late bloomer in college, but he can use the combine to show that he is, in fact, the real deal.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

The 2024 draft is top-heavy when it comes to offensive tackles. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga get all the attention at the top of the draft, but there’s room for second-tier players like Suamataia to shine at the combine and up their draft stock.

In addition to showcasing his strength and blocking prowess, Suamataia can also win scouts and coaches over during the interview process as well. Sure, there may be other more talented players, but don’t discount the impact a good interview can have on a scout.

Adisa Isaac, Edge-rusher, Penn State

Much like wide receiver and offensive tackle, edge-rusher is another position that’s top heavy this year. Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu are perceived as sure-fire first-rounders, and Isaac is in that next grouping that also contains Penn State’s Chop Robinson, Alabama’s Chris Braswell and Missouri’s Darius Robinson that are considered to be Round 2 guys with an outside shot at the first round.

Isaac had his most productive season this year (33 pressures, 20 hurries, 7.5 sacks), and the combine is tailor-made for a player like him to showcase his strength, quickness, technique and burst off the edge. He could easily work his way into the back half of Round 1.