We’re all pretty sure that the NFL Combine is just a promotional activity for the NFL Draft right?

I have difficulty wrapping my head around the idea that NFL teams put significant real stock into players performing isolated drills.

Why on Earth do so many people care about how fast a prospect can run 40 yards without wearing a helmet or pads, while not carrying a football?

It doesn’t make any sense to me.

The Bengals fell for it when John Ross broke the 40-yard dash record before the 2017 NFL Draft and they selected him 9th overall.

At least a bunch of really talented NFL players didn’t get drafted right after they selected Ross right? Wrong…

Within the following 11 Picks, players selected included:

I don’t think the entire NFL Combine is pointless though…

Nowadays, a lot of the top-tier prospects won’t participate in the Combine in favor of participating in pro days - events eerily similar to the NFL Combine that are held at the player’s school, where they can focus on their strengths and still get personally introduced to NFL Teams.

For the players at smaller schools, as well as the players who didn’t put up insane numbers but possess an NFL skill set, I see lots of value in their participation in the NFL Combine. Their stock is already pretty low, so there’s not much for them to lose - but there’s a ton to gain with a good performance. (P.S. I’m rooting for Ted Hurst to go off.)

NFL Teams have very specific goals in mind when going to the Combine. Sure, they’ll watch the players participate in these “drills.” But, they want to get to know the players as much as possible.

Some teams won’t send their Head Coach or GM to this event, relying solely on their scouts to analyze the prospects’ talents. The Jaguars are on of the teams that do this, stating that Liam Coen and James Gladstone don’t want to have any bias about the players.

Every player has their official height, weight, wingspan, arm length, and hand size measured. NFL teams care deeply about this crucial information. Pro Days can sometimes skew this info in favor of the players - the Combine does not.

The teams in attendance also want to garner as much information as possible about players with injuries or an “injury history”. Team physicians are able to do extensive orthopedic and internal health assessments to identify current issues and future injury risks.

Teams use interviews to get a grasp on player’s personalities, intelligence, health, work ethic, and many other topics. I believe that teams care more about interviews than anything else at this event.

Every position has specific drills that they do - and they’re far more entertaining than watching someone shuffle their feet around some cones for a few seconds.

Whether it’s quarterbacks throwing deep passes, wide receivers running routes, or running backs showing off their shiftiness - the individual positional drills are the most entertaining, and I recommend locking in on those if you’re looking entertainment value.

In regards to the drills that everyone does, the broad jump and vertical jump are the ones I find most impressive and exciting. Those drills are the ones that showcase just how insanely athletic all these prospects are.

If you’re looking to watch the Combine for fun, watching the WRs will be your best bet. It’s the deepest offensive skill position in this class, and some of the later-round guys have high ceilings. Doing this will also help you know the names of the players in our upcoming Rookie Guide!

I’m the primary author for the upcoming WalterPicks Rookie Guide, and the Combine presents a unique opportunity to learn more about the 2026 rookies.

Be on the lookout for its initial release in late March. The guide will be a living document that will be updated regularly, especially as the Draft approaches and concludes.

Make sure to have your notifications turned on for the WalterPicks app so you don’t miss any important information regarding the guide!

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