A pair of former UConn football players, Christian Haynes and Eric Watts, participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where they met with and worked out for NFL scouts, coaches and executives.
Haynes, a four-year starter and an AP All-American on the offensive line in each of the last two seasons, has seen his draft stock improve since UConn’s season ended as he put together an impressive performance in the February Senior Bowl. Measuring 6-foot-3, 317 pounds, Haynes ran the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds on Sunday, which tied for the fifth-fastest time of the 19 participating offensive guard prospects. His 33″ vertical was the fourth-best at his position, and he measured 8′ 6″ in the broad jump.
Watts, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end, worked out at the combine on Thursday, when he ran a middle-of-the-pack 4.67-second 40-yard dash, had a vertical jump of 36.5″ and a 9′ 9″ broad jump.
Christian Haynes 5.03 unofficial 40. 1.75 10 yard split pic.twitter.com/Rf03zvL0Gl
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 3, 2024
“It’s just two alpha dogs, me and Eric, we’ve been going at it since he came in (in 2019),” Haynes told reporters in Indianapolis on Saturday. “We were roommates at a time too, so it was just like, we always knew we needed to compete to get each other better… When we were on the field we were always competitors, but when we were off the field we were always brothers.”
Haynes is projected as a late second-round pick on multiple NFL Draft sites.
“Haynes plays with football intelligence and sees every snap as a mandate to move opponents and finish blocks. His draft slotting could be affected by a lack of length and being limited to one position, but his determined playing style counters those factors,” NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote on Haynes’ NFL.com prospect page. “He’s not overly rangy but wipes out targets on pulling blocks and is capable in space, and in pass protection. The hand usage can get sloppy, allowing opponents to slip away from him, and he has a tendency to do too much grabbing. All things considered, he might outplay his draft slotting and become a solid NFL starter.”
Christian Haynes wave drill pic.twitter.com/77JEnaFKaH
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 3, 2024
Watts is projected as a late-round pick on most mock draft sites, possibly in the seventh round.
“Watts is loaded with measurables that teams search for,” Zierlein’s report reads. “There might be upside to develop as a pass rusher, but it could come with even more weight on his frame and from an inside alignment. Watts’ traits will likely get him drafted but he might need a practice-squad year off the bat.”
UConn has produced eight NFL Draft picks in the last 10 years with New Britain native Byron Jones the only first round pick (27th overall) in that span. Haynes and Watts would be the first UConn alumni selected in the draft since defensive tackle Travis Jones was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round in 2022.
The draft, hosted in Detroit, begins with the first round on April 27, the second and third rounds on April 28 and rounds 4-7 on April 29.
