As the NFL Draft approaches, the pro-day circuit ramps up this week with several expected first-round prospects performing for scouts around the country. The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills are both getting an up-close look at a top wide receiver, while the New England Patriots are honing in on a promising defensive end from South Carolina, setting the stage for a scouting showdown.

WASHINGTON

Receiver Denzel Boston, who participated in position drills at the combine while also running the short shuttle and completing the vertical jump, improved on those marks. His vertical jump reached 37.5 inches on pro day, and he timed 4.2 seconds in the short shuttle. Boston also timed a quick 6.8 seconds in the three-cone, but he chose not to run the 40.

He looked great in position drills, and as described to me, Boston “put on a clinic” catching the ball. Expected to land in the bottom third of Round 1, he has 10 official predraft visits with requests for another four that may not take place due to a tight schedule. Boston met with the Miami Dolphins at the workout, one day before they traded Jaylen Waddle, and he has workouts planned with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints.

SOUTH CAROLINA

There was a large crowd on hand for Gamecocks pro day, as the team has a pair of defensive backs expected to be selected on the draft’s second day.

Though there are no official times at pro day, I’m told that the consensus for cornerback Brandon Cisse in the 40 was 4.46 seconds and 4.42 seconds on his runs. Teams were also poking around about his health, as there were questions as to why Cisse was often on the sidelines during games. Though I’m told he looked good in position drills, this will all be a red flag for the underclassman.

Cisse was expected to run faster in the 40, as he’s viewed as more of an athlete than a football player to this point. The fact that he measured just under six feet tall at the combine and 189 pounds, coupled with speed that did not meet expectations, will likely result in Cisse being selected later than people presently predict.

Conversely, his teammate Jalon Kilgore is moving up draft boards. The former freshman All-American safety was forced to move to cornerback this season for the Gamecocks, who lacked talented bodies at the position, and he excelled. He stood on his terrific numbers from the combine, where he worked with the safeties, and just did position drills, and he looked terrific.

Kilgore has official 30 visits with the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks. Before the workout on Tuesday, he met with the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings, then met with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins after pro day.

The Washington Commanders are also showing Kilgore a lot of love, but he’s likely to be out of their reach, as the team’s second selection in the draft is the 71st pick, and the defensive back is expected to be off the board.

There is a real chance Kilgore is now drafted before Cisse.

Running back Rahsul Faison had a terrific workout, timing the 40 in an unofficial range of 4.50 to 4.49 seconds and timing 4.1 seconds in the short shuttle. He also hit 37.5 inches in the vertical jump, which matched his mark from the combine.

Faison looked smooth in position drills and caught the ball extremely well. The Minnesota Vikings ran position drills for Faison, then took him to lunch after the workout. Expect him to be drafted somewhere starting in Round 5.

Edge rusher Bryan Thomas, son of former New York Jets 2002 first-round pick Bryan Thomas, measured just under 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds. He timed 4.77 in the forty, 4.41 in the short shuttle, and completed 22 reps on the bench press. Among the teams Thomas met with at pro day were the New York Jets and New England Patriots.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

The day before the Gamecocks’ workout, scouts were on hand for the SCSU pro day, and cornerback Jarod Washington, who stood out during Shrine Bowl practices, was impressive. Washington measured six feet, 190 pounds, four more pounds than his weight from the Shrine. He timed 4.42 seconds in the 40 and looked good in position drills.

Washington met with the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and Green Bay Packers.

NORTHWESTERN

Offensive line coaches from the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Chargers were on hand for Northwestern’s pro day. The team has a pair of Day 3 draft prospects on the offensive line, Evan Beerntsen and Caleb Tiernan. Both met face-to-face with the Broncos and Saints.

Beerntsen sat on his 40 time and his jump results from the combine, but he completed 22 reps on the bench and ran a super-quick 7.65 seconds in the three-cone. Lining up primarily at guard in college, first for South Dakota State then Northwestern, Beerntsen is drawing projections to the center position from NFL teams.

Tiernan did the jumps at the combine, but he did not run. On Tuesday, he timed 4.77 seconds in the short shuttle and 8.05 seconds in the three-cone. He did not run the 40. There is some discussion about where Tiernan lines up on Sundays. After playing left tackle in college, I project him to the right side, yet at 6-foot-7 ½ with arms that measure under 32.5 inches, he could eventually kick into guard.

Defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard was a medical exclusion at the combine, but he completed most of the workout on Tuesday. He timed a best 4.80 in the 40 with a 1.67 10-yard split after measuring 6-foot-4, 259 pounds. Hubbard hit 38.5 inches in the vertical jump and 10 feet even in the broad jump, both outstanding marks.