NFL Draft: Ranking the most important combine drills

The NFL Draft Combine is the ultimate measure of a prospect from a physical standpoint, but some results are more important than others.

The most important combine drills are the ones that translate best to success on the field.

It's different for each position, but some of the drills are much more important than others.

Here are the picks for top five most important NFL Draft Combine drills for prospects:

5. Broad jump

Jumping might not always be relevant depending on the position but the broad jump is a good measure of explosive lower body strength in an NFL that is becoming more and more athletic with each passing year. This one edges out the vertical jump for fifth place on the list.

4. Shuttle run

A short-area running drill that tests lateral quickness and explosion, the shuttle run can be a good test for players of various positions. It doesn't get the attention of many other drills but it can be quite important.

3. Bench press

Strength is one of the most important attributes a player at just about any position can have and the bench press is the NFL combine's main way of measuring.

While bench can be an indicator of a player's strength, most coaches agree that the bench press is not the best one available. Maybe changes will come in the future but for now the bench press remains one of the most important NFL Draft Combine drills.

2. Three-cone drill

A test of a prospect's ability to change directions at high speed, the three-cone drill can be very important in determining a prospect's true playing speed on the football field.

But it still doesn't get as much attention as the number one drill on this list.

1. 40-yard-dash

Some feel that the 40-yard-dash is overrated and they just might be right but it's very important in the eyes of scouts. It still is the drill that makes or breaks many prospects.

Even with the success of guys who ran "slow" 40's like Jerry Rice and Anquan Boldin as receivers for instance, the 40-yard dash is still important because it gives scouts a chance to see prospects' overall running ability.

Sometimes the times can be higher or lower than they should be because of sprinting techniques that don't translate to the football field. But the 40-yard dash takes the top spot on the list of the most important NFL Draft Combine Drills because speed kills in football and this is the best way to judge it for now.

Sources: http://www.nfl.com/combine/workouts
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