2012 NFL Scouting Combine: Circling the Biggest Medical Concerns

An important aspect of the NFL Scouting Combine is every team's ability to evaluate every prospect medically. When you're throwing the kind of money teams do at these players, you better be sure of your investment—especially from a medical standpoint.

As the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine draws closer, we take a look at some of the prospects who have medical concerns to downplay in Indianapolis.

Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Broyles tore his ACL in November of last season and is still on the comeback trail. He needs to run a reasonable time in the 40-yard dash to erase any major concerns about his availability. A number below 4.7 seconds would be a major accomplishment at this point.  

Peter Konz, Wisconsin

NFL doctors will certainly want to make sure Konz has no long-term worries about the blood clots in his lungs that he suffered in 2009. Konz also suffered an ankle injury in 2011 that kept him out of several games. 

Jared Crick, Nebraska

Crick was widely considered a first-round pick heading into 2011, but a torn pectoral muscle cost him the season. At the combine, Crick will need to show teams that he has the strength to be a first-day selection.

Andrew Datko, Florida State

Datko had shoulder problems throughout his career in Tallahassee. Before the 2011 season, Datko underwent surgery on both shoulders but neither did much to fix the problems. He ended up missing a large chunk of the season.

Chris Owusu, Stanford

Concussion awareness has been elevated in the pro game, and anyone coming into the NFL with three documented head injuries is going to get a long look at the doctor's table. Owusu will likely be put through a battery of tests at the combine to find out how long his shelf life will be at the next level.

Omar Bolden, Arizona State

Once a top cornerback prospect, Bolden missed the entire 2011 season after tearing his ACL in the spring. As he slowly makes his way back, Bolden can get his name back on the map by showing his knee is close to 100 percent.   

Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Tannehill's rise up draft boards was slowed by a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot. He missed the Senior Bowl and will likely miss the meat of the combine's workouts. Down the road, Tannehill will need to prove the foot is healthy.