The first major step of the NFL draft process is complete. Here's who "won" at this year's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
1. Teams in need of speed: Not only were the typically fast prospects running extremely fast, but the typically slow, fat dudes were even setting new benchmarks. Maybe it was the cleats, or maybe this guys truly are getting bigger, stronger and faster. Regardless, Dri Archer, Jadeveon Clowney and Kevin Pierre-Louis were pretty much off the charts this year in Indy.
2. Jadeveon Clowney: Had a 266-pound man ever run a 4.53 40-yard dash? And he was also a top-five performer in the vertical and broad jump. It might have been enough to cause critics to forget about the fact he had only three sacks during his final year at South Carolina.
3. Justin Gilbert: According to ESPN, he became only the eighth defensive back taller than 6 feet in the last nine years to run a 40 in 4.37 seconds or less. Gilbert also performed well at the bench and the broad jump, which may be enough to cause scouts to overlook questionable technique and cover skills.
4. Jerick McKinnon: He may not have a defined position at the next level, but the Swiss army knife placed in the top five among running backs in all six workouts he participated in.
5. Aaron Donald: Dude is 22 pounds heavier than Clowney and still managed to run a 4.68 40. He also did 35 reps at the bench press, which was the second most among players at that position.
6. AJ McCarron: He had the balls to throw despite having to work with unfamiliar receivers, and he came through with strike after strike. That could be enough to make the Alabama signal caller a second-round pick, at least.
7. Greg Robinson: Despite weighing 24 pounds less than his rival Jake Matthews, Robinson was able to crush 32 reps at the bench press, besting Matthews' mark of 24. He also finished in the top three in the 40-yard dash and the broad jump, which might have pushed him ahead of Matthews as the best offensive tackle in this class.
8. Russell Bodine: The North Carolina center dominated the bench press with 42 reps of 225 pounds. No other combine participant had more than 36.
9. Brandin Cooks: He reached Combine records in the 20- and 60-yard shuttles while running a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash. Sixteen bench reps ain't bad either.
10. Dri Archer: That 4.26 40 came just two one hundredths of a second back of Chris Johnson's all-time record, and he also finished in the top five in the vertical jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle.
For more on the winners and losers from Indy, check out Brad Gagnon's in-depth breakdown at Bleacher Report.
