Mason Foster and Jake Locker took the field at the NFL Combine this week and put together strong performances ahead of the 2011 NFL Draft. Locker came to the Combine with questions about his footwork and accuracy, but showed improvement in the throwing drills while displaying the athleticism he's been known for at Washington. Foster had stellar tackling numbers with the Huskies and has seen his stock slowly rise ahead of the draft. A the Combine, he picked up where he left off at the Senior Bowl, impressing with solid, consistent workouts.
Locker ran a 4.59 second 40-yard dash, third-fastest among all quarterbacks and tied with Heisman winner Cam Newton. He added a 35-inch vertical and 10-foot broad jump, both of which were top-five measurements. His three cone drill time -- 6.77 seconds -- was the fastest among quarterbacks, and his 20-yard shuttle time -- 4.12 seconds -- was third-fastest. Add in a strong throwing performance and Locker boosted his draft stock at the Combine after struggling through the Senior Bowl.
Foster had a solid workout, though his numbers don't jump off the page like Locker's do. In the 40-yard dash, Foster turned in a 4.75 second time, 13th-best among his position group. His 22 repetitions on the bench press and 7.14 second three cone drill time were each 13th-best, as well. Though his measurables aren't off the charts, Foster may sneak into the third round after continuing to string together solid workouts at the Senior Bowl and Combine.
Locker projects as a late-first or early-second round pick while Foster is on the border between the third- and fourth-rounds as of now. Both have room for improvement, and Locker is fighting to answer the questions about his ability to play the quarterback position at the NFL after regressing in his senior year. Foster, on the other hand, is a bit of an under-the-radar prospect that could be a steady contributor in the NFL, giving whichever team drafts him good value as a mid-round pick.
For more results from the workouts, check out the rest of our 2011 NFL Combine StoryStream. To connect with Washington fans, check out SB Nation's UW Dawg Pound.