The NFL Combine may not have the same level of punch and excitement that it once did when the best players from college all competed to show off for NFL Scouts. There was a time when a Combine performance could literally make or break someone’s NFL Draft stock and could be the difference between a player getting drafted or looking for a different job.
That is no longer the case.
Today, the NFL Combine is just one of many ways a player can try to impress NFL Scouts. In a way, it has become a bigger event for players who are on the fence about being drafted, as opposed to watching the best players in the game all in one event.
Regardless, the NFL Combine is still a really big event, and there are plenty of storylines to watch out for. Here are three that aren’t being talked about that much.
Which Player Will Rise From Nowhere
As mentioned before, the NFL Combine has become more of an event for the less-known players or players who are fringe 5th and 6th-round draft picks. However, every year, there is at least one or two players who completely shock the NFL Scouts and shoot up in the NFL Draft projections. Last year, one of those players was current rookie and NFL star receiver Puka Nacua.
Prior to the NFL Combine, Nacua was viewed as a fringe late 7th round/UDFA. However, with an impressive NFL Combine performance, he shot up to the point of getting drafted in the 5th round where he went on to have a spectacular season with the Rams.
Another player who really improved their stock last year was Darnel Wright from Tennessee. Wright was viewed as a middle-of-the-third-round kind of player; however, after a nice performance, he moved all the way up to being drafted tenth overall.
Opt-Outs, How Many, and Who?
There was a time when opting out of a bowl game was considered extreme. Since everyone is doing that now, it seems like the top players are looking for another way to prove their worth, and it seems to be the NFL Combine. This is especially true for quarterbacks.
This year, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Marvin Harrison Jr. are all projected to be Top 10 picks, and they are either completely opting out or opting out of the workout portion. Additionally, the firm representing C.J. Daniels has advised all of their prospects to opt out of taking the S2 test, which tests game knowledge and situational awareness.
If all four of these players get drafted in the Top 10 still (which they will), watch more players in the future opt out of the NFL Combine completely as they are “above it”.
Little Details That Get Overlooked at the NFL Combine
At the NFL Combine, there are always huge stories coming out from coaches and players about the future. Will the number one overall draft pick be traded away? Will Justin Fields be the QB of the Bears next year? How does a player feel about going to a bad team? These are all questions that we expect to be addressed (although often not answered).
But what about the other questions that get overlooked? How do teams feel about the new salary cap, and how do they plan on spending that money? What about the overall feel for this year’s draft class? Which positions are having a strong year vs a weaker year?
These are all questions that will likely be addressed but be drowned out by the biggest two or three storylines that are already dominating the headlines.
Conclusion
The NFL Combine is still a huge event despite some of the top names opting out. In fact, outside of the NFL Draft itself, it is probably the biggest event between now and the first preseason games in August.
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