The NFL scouting combine has its biggest day on Sunday, as the skill position players are working out on the field for executives and scouts, including quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers like Geno Smith and Mike Glennon.
The quarterback class is not expected to be as well regarded as last years with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin, but names like Smith, Glennon, Tyler Wilson, EJ Manuel and Ryan Nassib will be trying to improve their draft stock with solid workouts. The payers go under all types of testing during the week, including medical tests, physicals tests, mental tests and team interviews.
Some of the workouts given include the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3 cone drill, shuttle run and more. A player who shines at these events can really help their draft stock, much like Chris Johnson did a few years ago for the Titans when he blazed the fastest 40-yard dash recorded at the combine.
This year so far, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Alan Bonner all put in solid 40 times, while the quarterbacks have been showing off their arms on the field for scouts with deep passing drills, intermediate throws, target throws and more. All the workouts players do can help teams move them up or down their draft boards and players like Nassib and Manuel will have the chance to impress.
Last year Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins were able to greatly improve their draft stocks by performing for scouts and Wilson eventually led his team to the playoffs, while Cousins was brought in to start for Griffin when he got injured.
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Here are the official workouts from NFL.com:
-40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. It's kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It's all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.
-Bench press
The bench press is a test of strength -- 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.
-Vertical jump
The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.
-Broad jump
The broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.
-3 cone drill
The 3 cone drill tests an athlete's ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.
-Shuttle run
The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodes out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.