Why the MLS combine still matters, even as draft becomes increasingly unnecessary

ORLANDO, Fla. -- DeJuan Jones and Camden Riley were leaning against a wall in a tunnel underneath Orlando City Stadium, a look of satisfaction on their faces. Riley scored in Team X's 2-1 win over Team Nemeziz at the MLS Player Combine. His teammate Jones capped off a week in which he graded off the charts in terms of his athleticism and impressed with his end product on the field as well. Both were content in the knowledge that they had each increased their stock, in what could be the last ever combine, ahead of Friday's MLS SuperDraft in Chicago.

"I can't think of any better experience in my life, getting to go out there and play and train with the best players in the country out of…