The NFL Scouting Combine means far less than you think.
Last week, NFL teams and 300-odd college players arrived in Indianapolis. College players in overly tight-fitting sportswear competed in drills with the eyes of pro-scouting teams watching.
Teams including the New York Jets will have the combine with a wealth of new information on prospects. Is this data useful though? The answer isn’t so simple.
Let’s take the 40-yard dash – how often do we see any position run 40 yards, unobstructed, down the field as fast as they can? Many drills at the combine do not translate to on-field production. Want another example? A QB broad jump – how does that help evaluations of a QB? Perhaps you could argue it shows explosiveness. For context, the top five QB combine broad jumps of all time are Trey Lance, Adrian McPherson, Seneca Wallace, Garrett Safron and Tyrod Taylor – a meaningless list that has no relation to the quality of the QB.
So if combine drills aren’t important, what is at the combine?
Medicals and interviews stand out as what matters at the combine. Medical evaluations can make or break a prospect. NFL teams get up close with prospects to ensure their health checks out against their metrics. Georgia WR George Pickens medicals will go a long way in determining where he’s selected this year.
Interviews will vary based on the team but all will have certain boxes they feel the need to check off. With QBs, teams will want to see their intelligence recalling plays on a whiteboard or if they’re unflappable when showed an interception they threw during the season. These interviews can help piece the puzzle of the prospect together and help arrange draft boards across the league.
It seems the Jets also value the combine differently to other teams with Robert Saleh, not in attendance. He will sit in on interviews virtually – something which the Jets are accustomed to due to COVID.
So with all the being said, remember this year to not be swayed by a 4.30 dash or a 40 inch vertical. The combine is perfect for sorting tight battles at positions – if a team has two players ranked 1A and 1B, the combine will be a handy tool to split them. But it should not drastically change anyone’s player rankings. The players true colours are still on the tape.
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