The 2019 NFL Combine is here and sportsbooks have released performance props. Our staff will be making official picks for prop bets, including edge defender Nick Bosa.
Here’s the workout schedule for the various position groups:
- Friday: Running backs, offensive linemen, kickers, special teams
- Saturday: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends
- Sunday: Defensive linemen, linebackers
- Monday: Defensive backs
Former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa racked up 77 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks in 29 games as a Buckeye from 2016-18 and could potentially be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
But after withdrawing from school last October to rehabilitate a core muscle injury, is he a good bet to outperform expectations at the 2019 NFL combine?
Will Nick Bosa Complete Over/Under 24 Bench Press Reps?
- Over 24 reps: -115
- Under 24 reps: -115
Bosa is listed at 6-foot-4 and 263 pounds. Since 2000, defensive linemen and edge rushers of similar size who have been drafted have, on average, completed 24.8 bench press reps at the combine.
However, Bosa is anything but the average player; you can't get far into a description of Bosa without seeing words like "explosive" and "powerful," and watching his tape it's not hard to see why.
By withdrawing from Ohio State and dedicating the rest of the season to rehab, Bosa showed just how much of a priority the combine is for him. Even coming off injury, there's almost no way a motivated Bosa walks away from the rack having completed four fewer reps than the 28 he pumped out as a 19-year-old in the summer of 2017.
THE PICK: Over 24 reps (up to -135)
Will Nick Bosa Run the 40-Yard Dash in Over/Under 4.65 Seconds?
- Over 4.65 seconds: -115
- Under 4.65 seconds: -115
While it's a no-brainer to bet on a motivated monster like Bosa to post at least average results in the bench press, his line for the 40-yard dash would put him in the 86th percentile among drafted players at his position of similar size since 2000. The average player at his size runs only a 4.76.
There has been a weak correlation (-0.28) between 40 time and bench press for those players, but even if we projected Bosa at 28 bench press reps, the resulting regression would yield a projected 40 time of 4.73 seconds.
Nick's brother is Chargers defensive lineman Joey Bosa, who is considered pretty explosive himself. But despite being of similar size and strength to his brother, Joey disappointed with a 4.86-second 40-yard dash time at the 2016 combine.
Nick should be able to beat his brother's clocked time, but this line is still a few ticks too high.
THE PICK: Over 4.65 seconds (up to -120)
More 2019 NFL Combine Props
- Kyler Murray NFL Combine Prop Bets: 40-Yard Time & Vertical Jump
- 2019 NFL Combine Props: What Will Be the Fastest 40-Yard Dash?
- 2019 NFL Combine Prop: Rich Eisen 40-Yard Dash
- Kyler Murray NFL Combine Prop Bets: 40-Yard Time and Vertical Jump
- Josh Jacobs NFL Combine Prop Bets: Over/Under 4.5 Seconds in 40-Yard Dash?
- Greedy Williams NFL Combine Prop Bet: Over/Under 4.36-Second 40 for Draft's Best Corner?
- 2019 NFL Combine Prop Bets: Dwayne Haskins 40-Yard Dash & Vertical Jump
Chris Raybon is a Senior Editor at the Action Network and a co-host of “I’ll Take That Bet” on ESPN+. He has watched every snap of every NFL game since 2010 — even the kneel downs. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRaybon and read about how he quit his accounting job and got paid to watch sports.
