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The Senior Bowl -- a way for teams to evaluate potential draftees in a game setting -- has come and gone, and now it's time for the NFL Combine, an entirely different beast. Prospects flock to Indianapolis hoping to prove themselves. It's all about measurables, baby. That being said, here's a look at some guys who might raise their profile and, therefore, their paychecks.Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback, Tennessee State - Leodis McKelvin appears to have claimed the role of best cornerback in the draft, and, a top athlete himself, shouldn't hurt his reputation this week. But Rodgers-Cromartie could push him. At the Senior Bowl he proved himself to be a gamer, and his measurables are damn good as well. Deion Sanders hand-picked him to train together this offseason, and Deion has a good eye for talent -- he also picked Devin Hester in 2006. Rodgers-Cromartie has helped himself more than anyone this offseason, by the time the Combine's done he might be considered in the top half of the first round.
Vernon Gholston, defensive end/linebacker, Ohio State - Even casual draftnicks have probably heard of Gholston (pictured at right), who will most likely be a top 10 pick as is, but the hybrid is currently stuck behind three defensive lineman at the front of the pack. That could very well change this week. Gholston's an absolute freak of nature -- as strong as he is fast -- and I wouldn't be surprised to see him run a 4.5 and shoot near the top of everybody's draft board. Miami runs a 3-4 defense perfect for him, and he'd make a nice eventual replacement for Jason Taylor. Nobody thought Mario Williams had a shot at first overall, and Gholston could very well wind up in the same position.
Dre' Moore, defensive tackle, Maryland - Moore had a good Senior Bowl and is bigger than most of the tackles in the draft. He's also faster. After the big two tackles, Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis, there's a logjam of second- and third-round talents at the position. A good workout this week could separate himself from that pack.
Tavares Gooden, outside linebacker, Miami - Some scouts think that Gooden is as good of an athlete as USC linebacker Keith Rivers, the consensus best outside linebacker and only surefire first-rounder at any traditional linebacker spots. The problem is that he doesn't have the same instincts and smarts for the game as Rivers, but that doesn't matter much in the Combine. He's reportedly run some 40s in the 4.5 range; if he can time that at the Combine he can go from the mid-to-late third round into a solid second round selection.
Chad Henne, quarterback, Michigan - It's been an impressive 2008 so far for Henne. He defeated Florida in the Outback Bowl, had a good showing at the Senior Bowl, and has surpassed players like Andre' Woodson and Joe Flacco as the third quarterback on many teams' lists. A strong-armed Combine can elevate him into the first round, joining Jason Campbell, J.P. Losman, and Jay Cutler as quarterbacks making a late jump into the opening frame.
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