BOULDER — Nate Landman’s NFL Combine didn’t go exactly according to plan.
When it was Landman’s turn to run the 40-yard dash, the combine’s most-anticipated event, Colorado’s All-American tweaked his hamstring about 15 yards in. He finished with a 4.86 time, which placed him second-to-last in his position group.
“I wish I was healthy for that 40 and I got a better time but it is what is is, it’s in the past,” Landman told reporters after Colorado’s pro timing day last week.
Scouts from about a dozen NFL teams descended on Boulder to watch Colorado’s draft-eligible athletes compete in a gauntlet of drills that are structured similarly to the combine. Landman had a chance to better his time from Indianapolis, but opted not to.
“At this point in my career, I have to make business decisions,” Landman said. “I want to be healthy for mini-camp. I don’t care what I run in the the 40. At the end of the day I can get to the ball faster than anyone can. I’m a football player, I’m not a track runner. I didn’t want to run it just to prove I’m faster than that time dictates—because I know I am—but like I said I have to be a professional about the decisions I make now.”
Landman structured his workout process similarly to many of the other linebacker prospects in this year’s class: he ran his 40 and did the jumping events at the combine but did the rest of the work at his pro day. His 36.5-inch vertical jump was ninth-best of the 26 linebackers who attempted it and his 9-foot-11-inch broad jump was 21st of 26.
“Having the combine under my belt and being able to do what I did there—I thought I jumped great at the combine—I thought I came out here and improved on what I needed to and showed scouts what they needed to see from me in the position drills, in the short shuttles,” Landman said.
Landman likely improved his stock with both of his shuttle runs. So far there isn’t much context within this draft class because so few linebackers competed in the shuttle events at the combine, but given the historical results it’s safe to say his 3-cone time will rank among the best in the class while the shuttle should be fairly average.
Seven linebackers tried the 3-cone drill in this year’s combine, with times ranging from 6.91 seconds to 7.47 seconds. Landman posted a 6.88.
The five linebackers at the combine ranged from 4.25 seconds to 4.55 seconds in the 20 yard shuttle. Landman posted a 4.32.
“It shows the lateral movements, lateral quickness and a shorter explosion that definitely matches up on tape,” Landman said. “I think I showed today that I can move in space, I can flip my hips and I’m not just a run linebacker, I’m one that can move in space and one that is pretty well-rounded. I can play all downs in the league.”
Mobility in general has been the biggest question mark surrounding Landman’s game throughout the draft process. Some scouts say Landman is best-suited to only play first and second downs to avoid putting him in pass coverage. Landman’s athleticism has never been his selling point as a player but an Achilles injury that ended his 2020 season and cut into his offseason created more concerns. A shoulder injury that ended his 2021 campaign also caused concern but his 20 reps on the bench press should quell any lingering doubts.
The key for Landman throughout this process has been to prove he has solid athletic ability—he doesn’t need to be a freak—because his on-field ability and football instincts speak for themselves. Outside of his 40 time, Landman checked every box and maybe even surprised scouts in a couple of drills.
Still, Landman thinks his best work came in meetings with teams.
“A lot of it’s board work and football talk,” Landman said. “I think speaking to me they match up what they’ve heard from around the program and people they speak to about my football intelligence. I don’t skip a beat getting on the board. I can draw up anything they need me to and I think that’s reassuring for them knowing that as the linebacker I’m the quarterback of the defense and I can go out there in mini camp and control the defense in my first couple of weeks.”
His first NFL mini-camp, with whichever team he winds up with, is only two months away. He’s excited to move his focus back to football.
“I’m done training for track stuff and I’ve gotta get my football feet back under me and get into the film room, watching film you know 3-4, 4-3, all those defenses,” Landman said. “Then I’ve got to get back to coming downhill and shuffling and backpedalling and breaking—just back to football. I’ve got to be a football player again and get ready for mini camp and whatever team decides to take a shot on me and give me a chance.”
