Shaquem Griffin's story took center stage at the NFL combine last week. Griffin lost his left hand due to a rare prenatal condition, which didn't stop him from being named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and a two-time All-AAC selection. Playing (and dominating) with one hand, Griffin still had his doubters heading into the combine.

How did Griffin respond? He recorded 20 bench press reps of 225 pounds while wearing a prosthetic left hand and ran a 4.33 40-yard dash time, one of the fastest recorded times for a linebacker in NFL Combine history.

The Philadelphia Eagles need a linebacker, and had a formal meeting with Griffin last week.

"It was amazing," Griffin said to Zach Rosenblatt of NJ Advance Media. "They're the Super Bowl champions so when they tweeting about me, they looking at me, I mean obviously that's more motivation in itself. It hypes me up even more. I'm excited to see how everything goes.

"They had a winning season. I had a winning season. I think it's only right if we keep winning together."

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Griffin had 74 tackles (13.5 for loss), seven sacks, one interception, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 2017. His athleticism led to 13 pass deflections last seaosn, making Griffin one of the best coverage linebackers in this draft,but also has a quick burst off the edge when rushing the passer. Griffin plays fast with upper body power that wears down offensive tackles and tight ends at the point of attack.

Shaquem Griffin is a two-time first-team All-AAC selection.

Griffin does need to improve his tackling, but is an athletic freak at the position. He's projected as a third or fourth-round draft pick.

NFL.com evaluation: Griffin's physical limitation should be discussed as it pertains to areas like tackle disengagement and consistency of finishing, but his instincts, play speed and technique have all been major factors in helping him thrive at his position. His upfield burst as an edge blitzer and his range as a tackler are two strengths that NFL teams could capitalize on. Griffin could hear his name on day three of the draft, but if not, his competitive spirit and playmaking talent give him a shot to make a roster at some point in his career.

To follow Eagles reporter Jeff Kerr on Twitter: @JeffKerr247