2018 NFL Draft: Five standout performers from Scouting Combine

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?

There’s a very good chance that Penn State Nittany Lions safety Troy Apke will go undrafted in 2018. His production lacks in a number of key areas, and his game film hasn’t yet shown that he’s a consistent enough player to thrive in the NFL.

After the Scouting Combine, however, scouts will be taking a much closer look at what Apke can either do or become in the NFL.

Apke blew viewers away by running a 4.34 40-yard dash—easily the fastest time posted by a safety in this draft class. Apke also did the 20-yard shuttle in 4.03 seconds, which was again the No. 1 mark by any participating safety.

He didn’t stop there, as the Penn State standout also produced a 41.0″ vertical jump—just shy of the 41.5″ mark that ranked No. 1.

The concern about Apke is that he’s not much of a playmaker in the secondary. That has some questioning if he can actually put these physical gifts to use, but that’s why his Scouting Combine performance is so important.

Apke was in danger of going undrafted before, but it’s beyond probable that a team will be willing to gamble on his potential in the later rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft now.

It’s as simple as this: The Penn State Nittany Lions dominated the Scouting Combine. Saquon Barkley justified the hype with downright absurd measurements and Troy Apke stunned scouts with a 4.34 40-yard dash and a 41.0″ vertical leap.

One of the other Nittany Lions stars who vastly improved his draft stock was Mike Gesicki, who ranks amongst the most athletically gifted tight ends ever.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/970096045890957314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwiththefirstpick.com%2F2018%2F03%2F06%2F2018-nfl-draft-mike-gesicki-grade%2F

Gesicki ranked No. 1 amongst tight ends in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle, vertical jump, broad jump, and three-cone drill. He ranked second in the bench press, putting up 22 reps to the 23 produced by Dallas Goedert.

By every stretch of the imagination, Gesicki proved to be a generational athlete at the tight end position—and that truth shouldn’t be overlooked.

Between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Gesicki produced 105 receptions, 1,242 receiving yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns. Beyond the numbers, he proved capable of making catches in traffic and fighting through contact after the catch.

Gesicki is still somewhat raw as a run blocker—and by that I mean he needs to try significantly harder—but there’s genuine All-Pro potential to go with his elite athleticism.

If you entered the Scouting Combine believing that Shaquem Griffin is nothing more than a feel-good story, you were proven wrong. Griffin, who had his left hand amputated due to amniotic band constriction, became something of a sympathetic figure amongst the uninitiated in 2017.

Griffin quickly rewrote the narrative in a more appropriate and fitting way by showing that he’s far more than just an inspirational story.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/970364000704675841

Griffin ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds—0.13 seconds faster than any other linebacker at the 2018 Scouting Combine. It was the fastest time by a linebacker in more than a decade, which is reason enough to be intrigued.

Griffin also did 20 reps in the bench press, which silenced some concerns about if he has the strength to play in the NFL.

With blazing speed at the linebacker position, some are beginning to hypothesize that Griffin could play safety in the NFL. He recorded three interceptions and 16 passes defended over the past three years, which could support that claim, although he still projects as a linebacker.

Regardless of where Griffin lines up, he proved at the Scouting Combine that he’s one of the most athletically gifted linebackers in the 2018 NFL Draft.

I’m not sure if Malik Jefferson has the instincts or ability to realize his All-Pro potential at linebacker in the NFL. What’s absolutely undeniable, however, is that Jefferson is one of the most gifted athletes in this draft class.

A 6’3″ and 236-pound linebacker who tested well in virtually every category, Jefferson flashed his significant upside at the Scouting Combine.

Jefferson ran a 4.52 40-yard dash, which ranked third amongst linebackers at the Scouting Combine. He also put up 27 reps in the bench press, which ranked second amongst linebackers behind just Christian Sam, who checked in with 28.

Jefferson rounded out his strong showing by ranking No. 4 amongst linebackers in the broad jump at 10’5″ and No. 7 in the vertical leap at 36.0″.

What this should mean is that Jefferson will have value against the run, in coverage, and in rushing the passer. The game film doesn’t quite show the necessary fundamental polish, but his upside is compelling—as are the 110 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks he recorded in 2017.

If a team is willing to work closely with Jefferson as a project player who has an All-Pro ceiling and bust potential, it could be worth it.

Vita Vea had a Round 1 grade entering the Scouting Combine, but he may have worked his way into Top 10 consideration. A physically dominating defensive tackle, Vea proved that he’s also an explosive athlete for an individual his size.

If teams meet with Vea and believe that he can play as well as his physical gifts enable him to, there’s reason to believe he’ll come off the board far earlier than expected.

Standing at 6’4″ and 347 pounds with 10″ hands and 32’5/8″ arms, Vea has all of the measurements that scouts were hoping to see. What made his performance at the Scouting Combine so remarkable, however, was his unique blend of size and speed.

A 5.10 40-yard dash is downright scary for a 347-pound interior lineman, while his 41 reps in the bench press were the second-most of any player at the Combine.

Vea’s primary appeal is the scheme versatility that his build, strength, and speed enable at defensive tackle. He can consume multiple blockers, create penetration with his quickness off the line, and impose his will on a game with his power in both 3-4 and 4-3 sets.

If Vea can convince coaches and executive that he has the mean streak that some believe he failed to show in college, he could be a top 10 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Must Read: 2018 NFL Draft: Mike Gesicki has earned a Round 1 grade

The question is: Which of these 2018 NFL Combine standouts will actually excel at the highest level?