2018 NFL Draft: Five standout performers from Scouting Combine

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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 1: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers is sacked by Shaquem Griffin #18 of the Central Florida Knights during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The Scouting Combine has officially concluded. Which 2018 NFL Draft prospects did the most to validate the hype in Indianapolis?

The Scouting Combine has come and passed, but the smoke has yet to clear. Workout warriors and NFL-caliber players are far from synonymous, and general managers are in the process of attempting to determine the difference.

As the 2018 NFL Draft nears, however, there are a number of Scouting Combine standouts who deserve to be mentioned and discussed.

The obvious inclusions here are running backs Saquon Barkley and offensive guard Quenton Nelson, who did everything asked of them to validate the hype. They’re the top two players on my big board, as well as prototypes for their respective positions.

Due to the obvious nature of their standout performers, however, we’ll leave them as honorable mentions who are almost assumed as inclusions.

Beyond that dominant duo is a quintet of players who showed out and vastly improved their draft stock. There’s still work to be done between now and April, but every player on this list opened eyes in ways they may not have previously been able to.

The question is: Who were the standout performers from the 2018 Scouting Combine and how might that improve their projection in the 2018 NFL Draft?

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