ESPN NFL

Hitting or missing on a draft pick can be the difference between making the playoffs and playing golf in January for NFL teams, so it should come as no surprise that scouts leave no stone unturned when evaluating players' skill sets. It's a grueling process that involves seemingly endless film sessions, but there are games that can make scouts sit up and pay particular attention.

These are the games that feature a prospect lining up against one of the best units or players in the nation and/or playing in a game with substantial implications for his team.

Here are five such matchups that caught my eye over the weekend and what I took from each performance, as well as notes on contributions from younger players:

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