The NFL Scouting Combine continued with quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends making their way through the media room Thursday.
A group of 19 heads coaches and general managers also took the podium, including the top talent evaluators for the Browns and Bengals.
Here are eight things we learned from the second day at Lucas Oil Stadium:
- The NFL has not provided the Browns with a timetable on when it will make a decision regarding the potential reinstatement of suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon. Cleveland's Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown said he does not expect to have a decision before free agency opens March 9. "It's a process we don't have a lot of insight into," Brown said.
- The Browns don't plan to use the franchise tag or transition tag on any of their pending free agents, Brown said. There had been speculation that the Browns could franchise safety Tashaun Gipson if they can't reach a long-term deal, but Brown said they don't have that in the plans.
- Quarterback hand size has been quite the topic of discussion at the combine. The topic is prevalent this year because California's Jared Goff might be the best quarterback in this year's class, but he has small hands. That has led to question after question to head coaches and general managers about whether hand size really matters for quarterbacks. Browns Coach Hue Jackson and Bengals Director fo Player Personnel Duke Tobin both believe it is important in the AFC North. "It matters because we play in a division where all of a sudden there's rain, there's snow and it's different," Jackson said. "I think guys that have big hands can grip the ball better in those environments."
- North Dakota State's Carson Wentz could be the top quarterback taken in this year's draft, and there have been a number of comparisons drawn between him and quarterback Joe Flacco. Both players came from small colleges, and Flacco's success in the NFL gives Wentz some confidence he could do the same. "There are a lot of talented individuals at the FCS level that can play," Wentz said. "Especially a guy like Flacco coming in early right away as a rookie and winning some ball games shows that adjustment can be made by special players for sure."
- Ohio State's wide receiver Braxton Miller has generated significant buzz during the pre-draft process starting with his strong showing at the Senior Bowl last month, and he's confident he'll be a top pick. When asked if he expects to go in the first round, Miller responded, "For sure."
- Wide receiver Laquan Treadwell explained what went into his decision to skip the 40-yard dash at the combine. "I switched facilities in the mid-training process, just wasn't getting the work I needed to run my best time," Treadwell said. "Now I'm just getting comfortable at the new spot and learning my techniques. I figured if I have enough time to work on it I'll get the time I want." Treadwell's speed is the biggest question around his game, and his 40-time could go a long way in deciding whether he's a top-10 pick.
- Houston Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien said he expects to see "more and more" trends from the college game trickle into the NFL. "I would say that when you look at these offenses, I do think that there is a certain amount that you are going to have to adapt to your offense depending on the type of player that you take," O'Brien said.
- The Broncos have not heard any word from quarterback Peyton Manning on whether he plans to return next year. "We're going to give him as much time as he needs and he still needs some more time, so we're going to afford him that time," Broncos Executive Vice President John Elway said. "He's deserved that after 18 years in this league."
