NFL Scouting Combine Top Prospects: What to Watch For

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By Dave Doyle

With hype like that, the biggest thing to keep an eye on is whether the presumptive No. 1 pick in waiting underperforms anywhere along the way. If Luck, who threw for 3,517 yards and 37 touchdowns in 13 games in 2011, simply does what he’s supposed to do, the No. 1 slot is sealed. If he stumbles, however, the next guy on our list will get a closer look from the Indianapolis Colts, who own the top pick. Which brings us to …

Something to watch when Griffin hits the field in Indianapolis: His 40-yard dash speed. Can he hit the magical 4.4-second mark that makes scouts swoon? If so, expect QB-starved teams like Seattle, Miami and Washington to burn up St. Louis GM Jay Zygmunt’s phone line looking to make a deal for the Rams’ number-two pick.

We don’t need the NFL Scouting Combine to tell us that Claiborne can run fast or catch the ball. But how does his strength measure up, given that he’s somewhat undersized at 6-1 and 185 pounds? A strong performance in the bench press should seal Claiborne’s top-five draft status.