Carlson’s Stock Dropping?

After a disappointing performance at the combine this weekend, some reports are surfacing that former tight end John Carlson’s stock is dropping.

Former Litchfield, Minn., and Notre Dame star tight end John Carlson did well in positional drills at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, as expected. Not expected, though, were 40-yard dash speeds clocked at about 4.9 seconds. Scouts figured the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder to run 4.7s. Carlson, who a year ago was projected as a first-round pick in April’s draft, now is projected as a third-round pick.

Carlson had to pull out of last month’s Senior Bowl due to an illness and its possible he was still suffering from lingering affects. The illness had caused him to drop almost 20 pounds in a little over a week, but his 40 time was still surprising.

Mike Mayock, of NFL Network, still had Carlson listed as his #1 tight end on Sunday during the telecast of the NFL Combine, but it’s likely that will change if he doesn’t run a better 40 at Notre Dame’s Pro Day. Todd McShay, however, listed Carlson, along with fellow tight end Fred Davis, as two prospects who are dropping after the combine.

Notre Dame’s Pro Day is March 12, so Carlson will have a couple weeks to work on his 40 time and hopefully run a little better for the Scouts then. Should Carlson fall to the 3rd round as the Pioneer Press reported, some NFL team is going to get a hell of a bargain.