Combine's most intriguing players
Remember Ryan Broyles? The NFL combine is a good place to get re-acquainted
By Mel Kiper
Ryan Broyles is one player who needs to show he's healthy this week at the combine.
Earlier this season, I had Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles on my Big Board. An excellent route-runner with good quickness, if not great speed and steady hands, he was a potential first-round pick. Good NFL scouts have long memories, and plenty of tape, which means good things for Broyles -- who tore his ACL in a game early in November -- but doesn't totally diminish the importance of this week.
Broyles is one of a few guys who will be able to give clear status updates on injuries during this week's NFL combine in Indianapolis. But to go beyond the guys coming in with injury questions, here's a list of players who fit a few categories when it comes to intrigue, and where I see them right now.
Intrigue factor
QB Robert Griffin III: Few quarterbacks listed under 6-foot-2 started NFL games this season. Only one NFL quarterback is shorter than 6 feet -- Seneca Wallace. Hey, there's no height that makes a guy great, but it's fair to say scouts and coaches take it into account. I have Griffin listed at 6-2, and my guess is he measures at that. But the combine gives us a lot of interesting measurements. Griffin seems like a lock to be a top-five pick, even more so if he's as tall as currently listed.
WR Alshon Jeffery: For Jeffery, it's weight, and how that correlates with speed. The former South Carolina star saw his production fall this year, but most of that had to do with erratic QB play. Still, if he's not south of 230 pounds, it won't help him if the speed isn't there. Lower weight and good quickness could keep him in the first round.
QB B.J. Coleman: I've said he has a fifth- or sixth-round grade, but the UT-Chattanooga star has good size and a big arm, and it's always important for the small-school guys to walk around and perform with the bigger names, just because it helps eliminate the idea they don't belong. I could see Coleman leapfrogging some better-known QBs if he shows a lot this week.
LB Lavonte David: The Nebraska linebacker has some games when he seems to be in on every tackle. Really, the tape just sings sometimes. But what do you do with a LB who could scale at 225 pounds soaking wet? Does he have the speed for strong safety? Is he more of a SAM linebacker in a creative system? Coaches may love David, but not all will be sure what to do with him.
The athlete factor
S Harrison Smith: I have the safety out of Notre Dame with a potential first-round grade, but he can secure it if he shows off adequate speed and size for the position. His tape is outstanding, with great instincts for the position. It helps when athleticism proves to be a part the equation.
DE Whitney Mercilus: The defensive end out of Illinois could go as early as the top 10, but teams want to see if he's the athlete he looked like in 2011. He has a great year, but no body of work beyond that, so good combine marks would help the case.
Scouts want to see if Coby Fleener has the speed to create separation at the NFL level.
TE Coby Fleener: Catching passes from Andrew Luck is a good and bad thing. Good because people saw Fleener could play and has great hands; bad because Luck was so accurate, you question how good Fleener had to be. He can get into the conversation as an early Round 2 pick if the speed is there because he has great hands. Scouts just need to see him as more of a weapon and less as a solid pass-catcher.
WR Mohamed Sanu: Scouts will be interested in Sanu's speed after his production simply exploded in 2011. If he runs and tests well, he won't be seen as a one-year wonder, just a guy coming into his own.
LB Vontaze Burfict: Because Burfict faces makeup questions, I think he needs a "wow" area for scouts, and I think the workouts could be it. He's had a reputation as a player, but also one carrying an attitude, since high school. He needs a new aspect to his track record, and I think coming in really prepared to impress as an athlete can help his stock.
The health factor
WR Ryan Broyles Not much more to say about Broyles. If he's progressing really well, you wouldn't be surprised to see him off the board before the third round. The question is whether a team feels he can help early.
DT Jared Crick: At one time, I had the DT out of Nebraska on my Big Board. I don't think the pectoral injury he suffered should hurt his performance as a player, but he has less tape playing without
Ndamukong Suh because of it. He's probably a second-round guy right now, but you never know.
OT Andrew Datko: The Florida State tackle has a lot of talent, but his shoulders (both) are a question mark. I can see him going in the third round if teams feel he's recovered fully.
S Mark Barron: I have a hard time thinking he falls out of Round 1 (maybe even the top half), but he did just have hernia surgery, so teams will check to make sure his recovery is on track.
A few more: CB Omar Bolden, DT Josh Chapman, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Chris Owusu