The NFL combine provides important information about the top prospects who are selected to participate.
At that point in the evaluation process, nothing will affect a player's overall grade more than how his medical testing goes. I bring up this vital step in a player's evaluation because I want to highlight two first-round talents in the 2024 draft whose medical histories will factor heavily into where they are drafted: defensive lineman Laiatu Latu and quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
In late 2021, Latu sought the opinion of renowned orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed neck surgeries on Peyton Manning and Danielle Hunter, as well as back surgeries on Rob Gronkowski and Dwight Howard, among several other professional athletes. He's one of the most respected doctors in the field.
He appeared in three games as a true freshman in 2018 before suffering a season-ending Grade 3 ACL tear in his right knee in October. The following season, in November, Penix dislocated the sternoclavicular joint in his non-throwing shoulder — ending his season. In November 2020, Penix re-tore the same ACL in his right knee. His 2021 season ended after only five games after he suffered a dislocated joint in his throwing shoulder.