INDIANAPOLIS - The NFL Scouting Combine is often hyped as a whirlwind of draft-related drama, where prospects supposedly soar or plummet on draft boards. But let's break it down: the reality is a bit more grounded.
Sure, an MRI can sideline a prospect, and a standout or lackluster 15-minute interview might cause a ripple. But the Combine is more about procedure than upheaval. Within the walls of the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and nearby hotels, it’s a methodical process.
When asked if anything at the Combine could override game tape, Dan Campbell put it plainly: “Override tape? Never, I don’t think.
The tape is always going to speak louder than anything else. If the tape doesn’t speak, then it really doesn’t matter.”
This sentiment echoes across the league. Coaches and execs remind us annually that while the Combine is a marquee event, it's not the be-all and end-all. We get caught up in the spectacle of 40-yard dashes and shuttle runs, but the immediate impact isn’t as significant as we might think.
Raiders GM John Spytek summed it up well: “I don’t know that we are going to change the board very much coming out of this. It’s a big part of the process but it’s just a part of the process. Our only goal is to get the board right by late April.”
Some teams even opt out of the frenzy, skipping early interviews to avoid the performative phase. Brett Veach of the Chiefs noted, “Some of these guys are smart; they just don't articulate it well. It’s about seeing the whole puzzle come together.”
Many top personnel leave early, with Robert Saleh departing on Thursday and Mike Borgonzi following on Friday. The emphasis is shifting away from in-person workouts as game tape becomes more accessible.
Borgonzi emphasized caution: “You never want to make drastic changes from anything you see here. The only ones that can get altered on the board are due to medical grades. Really, when you come to the Combine, you’re confirming things, verifying certain things.”
In essence, the Combine serves as a checkpoint-a way to confirm and verify rather than overhaul draft strategies.