United States of America eSeries: What we learned from NFL draft prospects' pro days

What we learned from NFL draft prospects' pro days

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Monday, April 5

BYU QB Zach Wilson throws during his pro day workout.

What we learned from NFL draft prospects' pro days

The NFL draft is 24 days away and the pro day circuit is nearly complete. What have we learned so far about this year's top prospects?

There are just 24 days until the 2021 NFL draft, and the college pro day circuit is nearly complete.

Without the NFL scouting combine this year, teams relied even more heavily than normal on workouts at college campuses around the country to evaluate draft prospects.

Pro days can generate a lot of hype around particular prospects - such as with blazing 40-yard dash times - but these workouts are just a part of the draft evaluation, usually to confirm a scouting report.

With all that in mind, USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has 32 things we learned from NFL draft prospects' pro days.

•	Mock draft: Latest first-round projection looks much different
•	New York Jets: What happened other times team had No. 2 pick?
•	Final Four: What if Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs had picked football over basketball?
•	Full 2021 NFL draft order: From pick No. 1 (Jaguars) to No. 259 (Buccaneers)

Ohio State QB Justin Fields ran a 4.44-second 40 at his pro day.

Paul Vernon, AP

NFL adds 17th game

For the first time since 1978, the NFL is expanding its regular season. In a totally expected move, the league announced last week that it would go to a 17-game season in 2021. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called it "a monumental moment in NFL history."

•	New schedule format: Ranking best 'bonus games'
•	Notable records could fall: Six famous NFL marks that are in jeopardy
•	Opinion: 17-game season leaves question of toll on players

Peyton Manning's passing yardage (5,477) and touchdowns (55) records from the 2013 season could be in jeopardy with a 17-game season.

Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

•	Every team's all-time passing yardage leader

5 NFL items to know

•	The Houston Police Department announced Friday that a police report has been filed against Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson.
•	The NFL is considering altering its onside kick and overtime rules ... again. The league also is considering a proposal that would allow single-digit numbers to be worn by defensive backs, linebackers, running backs and receivers.
•	The sister of Los Angeles Chargers chairman Dean Spanos is trying force the sale of the team because of mounting debt.
•	Nearly a month after a Tom Brady rookie card sold for $1.32 million, another of the QB's cards set a record at Lelands Sprint Classic Auction.
•	Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers' two-week stint as host of "Jeopardy!" begins Monday.