5 NY Jets draft prospects who helped (or hurt) their stock on Day 1 of NFL Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine often marks the official start of draft season around the NFL. This year's draft may not be as loaded with high-end talent as previous classes, but the NY Jets and other teams should still be able to uncover plenty of future playmakers at the professional level.

The Combine can serve as an important evaluation tool, helping teams identify hidden gems and confirm their scouting reports on top prospects. It shouldn't be considered the be-all, end-all for prospective NFL players, but it does often have a direct impact on draft stock.

Day 1 of the Combine on Thursday featured workouts for many of the draft's top edge rushers, interior defensive linemen, and linebackers. Which prospects came away as the biggest winners and losers of the event? Let's take a look.

NY Jets draft prospect stock report after Day 1 of the NFL Combine

Stock Up: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

Perhaps no prospect helped their stock more on Thursday than Shemar Stewart. Seen as a fringe first-round prospect as recently as a month ago, Stewart had steadily climbed up draft boards over the last month, and after his performance at the Combine, he's looking at a potential top-10 pick.

Stewart's 10’11” broad jump was the best among all edge rushers, while his 40-inch vertical was second-best among players at his position. He also posted a blazing 4.59-second 40-yard dash with a 1.58-second 10-yard split at 267 pounds.

There will be concerns about Stewart's lack of production at Texas A&M — he only had 4.5 sacks in 37 career games — but the tape and athletic traits paint the picture of a potential game-wrecker at the next level. He's legitimately in play for the Jets with the seventh overall pick.

Stock Down: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Mason Graham isn't on this list as a result of poor testing numbers. In fact, Graham opted not to participate in any of the testing on Thursday, instead choosing to only take part in the bench press on Friday.

Graham is on this list solely for his underwhelming measurements. The Michigan star was listed at 320 pounds on his team's website but measured in at just 296 pounds, placing him in the 26th percentile of all interior defensive linemen.

Graham also measured in at just the 12th percentile of players at his position with 32-inch arms. The 2024 Unanimous All-American is a special talent, but there isn't an extensive track record of success for sub-300-pound defensive tackles with shorter arms at the NFL level. It'll be interesting to see whether his measurements cause any NFL teams to hesitate.

Stock Up: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Alabama's Jihaad Campbell has a chance to be the first linebacker off the board in April's draft, and his performance on Thursday certainly helped his case. Campbell's athleticism was on full display.

The New Jersey native ran a blistering 4.52 40-yard dash, which ranked third-best among all linebackers. He followed that up with a 10’7” broad jump and a 9.85 overall RAS (Relative Athletic Score).

Linebacker might not seem like an obvious need for the Jets, but with Jamien Sherwood entering free agency, the team might need to search for a replacement. Campbell not only has the traits to play off-ball linebacker but is also seen by many teams as a potential edge rusher hybrid at the next level.

Stock Down: Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa

While Campbell shined as arguably the most impressive linebacker of the day, the same can't be said about Iowa's Jay Higgins. Seen as a fringe Day 2/Day 3 prospect going into the event, Higgins did little to help his draft stock in Indianapolis.

The Iowa product recorded a sluggish 4.82 40-yard dash time, the slowest among all linebackers who tested. His abysmal 1.87 (out of 10.0) RAS ranked 2,353 out of 2,893 linebackers from 1987 to 2025.

Higgins thrived as a downhill run defender at Iowa, but you won’t find many modern NFL linebackers with athletic testing numbers this poor. Unfortunately, this performance may have cost Higgins some money.

Stock Up: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Derrick Harmon is emerging as an early candidate for one of the biggest athletic "freaks" in this draft class. His performance on Thursday likely solidified his status as a first-round pick come April

Harmon clocked a 4.95-second 40-yard dash (with a 1.74 10-yard split) while weighing 313 pounds. A man standing 6-foot-4 and over 310 pounds should not be able to move like that.

Harmon's measurements and athletic testing numbers also compare eerily favorably to those of Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones. He likely won't be a target at pick No. 7, but Harmon could make some sense as a trade-down option for the Jets in the first round.