The NFL combine this year didn't deliver what I'd call any out-of-left-field performances, the kind you simply couldn't fathom going in. And the physical testing gets a little bit overrated to the extent it helps create a profile. The profile is already there -- the combine provides a series of indicators. See something you didn't think was there, well, you go back to the tape to see where you missed it. And sometimes, other numbers matter more. For instance, people will talk about Robert Griffin III's great run in the 40, but this is what we expected from of a track-level athlete. The biggest number that came out of the combine for RG3 was actually the confirmation of his height, at 6-2⅜. There are magic numbers for QBs, but the 40 isn't one of them.
That said, there are certainly some notable players whose stock rose and fell. So let's take a look at both sides of the ball. I'll also put in where their current draft grade (or projection) is. And remember, if I didn't mention someone you're looking for, this is more about guys who may have changed a perception, or a grade, not simply did well or struggled.
More Kiper NFL draft content:
Combine winners | Mock Draft 2.0 | Latest Big Board | Top 5 by position
Winners
Offense:
Robert Griffin III, QB: Height was the question, not athleticism, and Griffin measured up. Now solidly locked in as the likely No. 2 pick if the Rams can work out a deal. They'll want to get that done before free agency for leverage purposes.
Kirk Cousins, QB: Not great in any one area, but solid across all of them, and Cousins has intangibles that evaluators love. I can see him safely into the second round now, where before a third-round grade was a better bet. A good week for him.
LaMichael James, RB: He'll want to brand himself as a Darren Sproles-type, and he has the measurables to do that. The 4.45 40 is actually an important number for James, who needs the "explosive" credentials at his size (194 pounds). Second-round grade for me.
David Wilson, RB: Showed off explosive creds with a 41.0-inch vertical, and his 4.49 at 206 pounds is plenty good. He'll battle similarly impressive Lamar Miller to be the second RB off the board, likely in the late first or early second.
Stephen Hill, WR: He averaged more than 29 yards per catch in 2011, but a wacky total like that can happen in Georgia Tech's offense when you have an explosive deep threat. Well, we have a better sense of Hill's explosiveness now. A 4.36 while measuring 6-4, 215, could get him into the late first-round mix. The 49ers could be a fit there.
Tommy Streeter, WR: He didn't play as fast as the 4.40 he ran in Indy, but at 6-5, 219, that speed gets him into the Round 2 discussion and will certainly have a lot of scouts going back to the tape.
Coby Fleener, TE: If Fleener runs in the 4.5 range at his pro day, he could be in the first round. The Giants make sense. He is now an option as the first tight end off the board.
Cordy Glenn, OG: Considering I have Glenn as a mid-first-round pick best suited for guard, it's hard to say he could move up, but some teams could probably see him at right tackle, too. Workouts confirmed what we believe -- powerful yet plenty nimble for his huge frame.
Matt Kalil, LT: Claimed rightful place as top tackle in the draft. A good bet for No. 3 to Minnesota.
Defense:
Dontari Poe, DT: His workouts were better almost across the board than Haloti Ngata, who currently carries the lead in the "Guys that big shouldn't be able to move like that" clubhouse. I could see him as the surprise name to jump into the top 10. Part of that is he could probably be equally dominant in a 4-3 at DT, though we always link him to the 3-4.
Kendall Reyes, DT: I had him as a Round 1 guy in my last mock and got some questions, but I still see him as a good fit late in the first.
Fletcher Cox, DT: Solidified a mid-first grade. It won't say a lot about what he does on the field, but a 4.79 at 298 pounds is a pretty freaky number for a DT. Good week for Cox.
Luke Kuechly, LB: I had him at No. 12 in my latest mock, already high praise for an interior linebacker. Question was his size, but Kuechly came in at 242, and didn't lose a step, and in fact, probably surprised people with how athletic he is. Good story, great player. Safe mid- to high-first grade.
Bruce Irvin, OLB: His year was just average given his skill set, but at least the athleticism isn't in question. I see him as an early Day 2 pick.
Lavonte David, LB: Really encouraging for David's stock that he got his weight to 233 and still showed off plenty of athleticism, including a 4.56. He could be a solid second-rounder now and is a tackling machine.
Josh Robinson, CB: Had a mid-round grade coming in, but a 4.33 tends to change that. Evaluators heading back to the tape. He could be in the third round now.
Dwight Bentley, CB: Another late-round guy who moved up, he was quick and fluid in drills and could be a mid-round pick now.
Question marks
Offense:
I had fewer players that I thought really stumbled, starting at QB. Year after year we'll see good QBs go out and throw to wide receivers they've never played with, in an environment where they are all pumped up, and not look their best -- just look at Cam Newton last year. You really have to wait for the pro days.
Marc Tyler, RB: He had an up-and-down career with USC, but he'll really need to fashion himself as a power back, given the lack of explosiveness he showed. Problem is, he checked in at 219, so he's a tweener with a falling late-round grade now.
Dan Herron, RB: I like Herron, but thought he needed to make a splash here given the missed time in 2011. That didn't happen, confirming a late-round grade.
Kendall Wright, WR: I don't think he's out of the first-round discussion, but I'd like to see Wright get closer to the 4.43 range at his pro day. He's considered explosive, and the tape confirms that, but teams will obviously want to cross-check.
Alshon Jeffery, WR: He checked in at 216 following three years of being listed about 13 pounds heavier. If he doesn't run at about 4.5, we'll certainly wonder if he has enough athleticism to separate. He's a big target and it'd be hard to see him falling past the second round, but he has work to do.
Mohamed Sanu, WR: Very good and very productive, but didn't run a great time and might be likelier to settle late in Round 2. Pro day is important.
Dwayne Allen, TE: He's still right there as one of the top two tight ends in this draft, but he was running for a first-round grade, and that didn't happen. Looks more like a second-round grade now, but could jump at pro day.
Defense:
Michael Brockers, DT: Up to 322 pounds, Brockers is still seen as a 3-technique tackle in a 4-3. But the weight seemed to drag on his explosiveness, and the strength numbers were also less than average. He may want to drop a little weight before his pro day. Still a safe Round 1 guy, but needs to find that comfort zone.
Devon Still, DT: He derives a lot of value from being able to jump into a 3-4 or 4-3, but still has been sliding on my board. He needs to show more explosiveness, because he's not a great penetrator.
Courtney Upshaw, OLB: He's a high-motor guy who can rush the quarterback, but he didn't run in Indy and will need to show enough explosiveness that teams think he won't get engulfed by NFL tackles.
Vontaze Burfict, LB: He already carries attitude questions, and Burfict needed to turn heads with workouts. Heads were turned, but for the wrong reason. He looked sluggish, to put it mildly. Once a first-round guy, he could be in the middle rounds if he doesn't recover.
Cliff Harris, CB: Disappointing performances in the drills (ran a 4.58) combined with some off-field questions make Harris likelier to fall to the middle rounds.
Alfonzo Dennard, CB: Solid everywhere, but not great in any one area, Dennard is a good prospect who didn't test great, limiting the chances he goes in Round 1.
Mel Kiper has been the premier name in NFL draft prospect evaluations for more than three decades. He started putting out his annual draft guides in 1978 and started contributing to ESPN as an analyst in 1984. For more from Mel, check out his annual draft publications or his home page. He also can be found on Twitter here.