NFL Draft 2011: 5 Players Who Helped Their Draft Stock at the Combine

With the NFL Combine coming to a close today, it's time to look back and see how the participants fared.

Some players hurt their draft status. 

Cam Newton was ineffective throwing the ball, and there are now some questions that need to be answered at his Pro Day on March 8th.

Newton's teammate, Nick Fairley, showed up two inches shorter than initially reported.  Nothing he can really do about that one, but the inaccuracy in the Auburn Football Media Guide hurts his chances at being drafted first overall.

Likewise, there were several players who helped their draft status at the NFL Combine.  Here are five of those players.

5. Jake Locker

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Quarterback Jake Locker of Washington runs a passing drill during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Locker's draft stock has been plummeting ever since September.  He helped move it in the right direction last weekend.

Locker ran a 4.59 in the 40 yard dash, and impressed scouts with his accuracy in the passing drills.

After his performance, his stock should stop dropping and he will be a mid-to-low first round pick.

4. Von Miller

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Von Miller of Texas A&M works out during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Already considered the top linebacker in the draft, Miller created even more separation between himself and every other linebacker.

Miller's freak athletic ability was on display, recording a broad jump of 10'6" and running the 40 in 4.46.

The Butkus Award winner now looks like a lock to be a top ten pick, and could possibly sneak into the top five.

3. Julio Jones

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a long reception against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jones ran a 4.39 in the 40, and recorded the longest broad jump score since 2009. And he did all of this with a broken foot.

Jones definitely closed the gap between himself and A.J. Green, though the foot injury hurts him a little bit.

He still could go to the Rams at no. 14, but his performance in Indianapolis could vault him into the top ten.

2. Stephen Paea

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Defensive tackle Stephen Paea #54 of the Oregon State Beavers during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Wildcats 29-27. (Pho

Stephen Paea was a fringe first round pick before the he sat down for his bench press.  When he stood back up, he affirmed his spot in the mid-to-low-first round.

Paea set a combine record for the bench press, putting up 225 lbs. a whopping 49 times.

In the best measuring stick for lineman at the draft, Paea was the star, and drastically improved his draft stock.

1. Marcell Dareus

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Marcell Dareus put up similar numbers to Nick Fairley at the NFL Combine.  The main difference was that Dareus weighs about 25 pounds more than Fairley.

Fairley entered the weekend slightly ahead of Dareus, but Dareus proved he is a bigger version of Fairley—helping him leapfrog Fairley in many mock drafts.

Dareus is now one of the favorites to be the first overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.