Oklahoma LT Brown improves testing at Pro Day

Oklahoma left tackle Orlando Brown fizzled like no other at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, turning in an historically bad testing performance that left his draft stock in free-fall. He at least partially redeemed himself Wednesday at Oklahoma's Pro Day in Norman, Okla. The mammoth left tackle improved his testing across the board, adding seven inches in the broad jump (7 feet, 5 inches at Pro Day), six inches in his vertical jump (25 1/2 inches) and four reps of 225 pounds in the bench press (18). He also dropped his 40 time from a Combine-worst 5.85 seconds to 5.63, although the latter mark, reported by OU, was hand-timed and not electronically timed, as in Indianapolis at the Combine. What does it all mean for the 2017 first-team All-American? "There was a lot riding on Brown's on-campus workout," said NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Dane Brugler. "And he responded with improved numbers across the board, especially in the lower-body explosion drills. At the end of the day, NFL teams who consider drafting Brown will trust the tape over the workout numbers, but his improved times will help justify a team's willingness to believe in the player. "Brown will always be a heavy-footed tackle; that won't change. But with his wide base and wingspan, he is able to compensate. Brown is a tough evaluation because of his skill-set, which has scouts divided on his long-term projection. "While he likely won't be drafted in the top 50 picks, Brown still has a chance to hear his name called on day two of the NFL Draft." Brown was a solid second-rounder, at No. 42, on Brugler's pre-Combine Big Board but fell out of the Top 50 following the event. The consensus opinion at NFLDraftScout dropped Brown to the 10th-best tackle and a third- to fourth-round prospect. He gave scouts more to think about Wednesday. "Going to the Combine, I did horrible," Brown told reporters after Wednesday's workout. "I've been running the 5.6 consistently. I've been benching 18 to 20. This is before the Combine. ... When I went to the Combine, my bench press didn't go well because I got away from my breathing technique. And from there, it just kind of snowballed for me. My mentality was messed up. "And I'm not that type of person. I've had bad plays and bounced back and had a great game. And that shows up on film." Brown (6-9, 345) was never going to test well, but he needed to not be the worst to maintain his standing as one of the best at his position in a weak draft class for offensive tackles. Even if the 5.63 time in the 40 is legit, it would still be the slowest among offensive linemen who worked out at the Combine, and his improved testing is still below average at the position. "Hopefully, what happened at the Combine doesn't completely represent me with these scouts and coaches," Brown said. "Hopefully they look at Pro Day and they look at the film and understand what type of person I am." Other notes from Oklahoma Pro Day: --Heisman-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield participated only in throwing drills Wednesday, a day after having dinner with Miami Dolphins' brass. The Dolphins hold the No. 11 pick in the first round. NFLDraftScout.com's Brugler ranks Mayfield at No. 8 on his Big Board. "All I can do is focus on my game, focus on handling myself and put myself in good position for those meetings to show what I'm capable of mentality," Mayfield told reporters after his workout. As for his draft stock, Mayfield added: "I feel like I put myself in a good spot here to be considered the best quarterback in the draft, no matter the height question or the people questioning character. These meetings have been great for me, so I've put myself in a good spot." --Among those attending Oklahoma's Pro Day were Denver Broncos' general manager John Elway and head coach Vance Joseph, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Shula, New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. --Wide receiver Jeff Badet (5-11, 182) ran a hand-time 4.27-second 40 on Wednesday, putting him on the radar as a late-round developmental prospect. He also posted a 10-feet, 11-inch broad jump and a vertical jump of 39 1/2 inches. Badet, who transferred from Kentucky to Oklahoma before last season, caught 26 passes for 400 yards as a senior.