We're halfway through day four of the NFL combine with most of the position groups already completing their drills. The defense will be finished by tomorrow and that's including the linebackers.
On Saturday, day one started with the offensive lineman and tight ends. With the impending doom of current tackle Mike Gandy, the Cardinals scouts and staff had certainly had their eyes on draft prospects that could fill the inevitable void.
Gandy is set to become a free agent and the Cardinals reportedly won't look to re-sign him, meaning they can fill his shoes with their own players(Brandon Keith, Herman Johnson, Jeremy Bridges) or they can find a replacement in the draft. It all starts with the combine and Maryland's Bruce Campbell was one of the top performers.
Campbell has been projected to land somewhere towards the end of round one and many mock drafts already have him heading to the Cardinals. You'd have to wonder however, that after his combine results he's boosted his draft positioning.
Campbell's experience at Maryland was short-lived due to a year and a half of starts, but he was the only consistent player on the offensive line and was the primary reason running back Da'Rel Scott eclipsed 1,000 yards for the first time since 2002. Campbell has the ideal size and frame to be an NFL tackle and proved to be a workout machine at the combine. He has great footwork and recovery speed and excels with pass-blocking. His durability could be a concern and he doesn't have the experience that you'd expect for a potential first round draft pick.
| Drill | 40-Yard | Bench Press | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | 3-Cone | 20-Yard |
| Result | 4.85 | 34 | 32.0 | 8'05 | 7.58 | 4.69 |
On Saturday though, Campbell proved to scouts that he wasn't just a one trick pony when he was one of the top performers at several drills. He led all lineman with an amazing 40-yard dash time of 4.85. He also completed 34 bench reps and recorded a vertical jump of 32 inches. He's built like a machine, showing little to no body fat and has potential through the roof. It's only a matter of time to determine whether or not Campbell will enjoy success in the NFL.
With his successfull combine appearance, Campbell may have propelled himself to a mid-round pick and away from the Cardinals' grasp. If Campbell is available at 26, should the Cardinals draft him?