The NFL scouting combine involves various physical tests and drills designed to evaluate prospects' athleticism, speed, strength, agility, and explosiveness. These tests include the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, and shuttle run.
In addition to standardized physical tests, prospects participate in position-specific drills that assess their football skills and positional proficiency. Quarterbacks showcase accuracy and arm strength in passing drills, while defensive backs demonstrate coverage techniques and ball skills in coverage drills.
Prospects undergo comprehensive medical evaluations at the scouting combine to assess their overall health, injury history, and potential red flags. Team medical staff review players' medical records, conduct physical examinations, and perform diagnostic tests to identify any existing injuries or health concerns.
Teams have the opportunity to interview prospects at the scouting combine to assess their football IQ, personality, character, and mental toughness. Some prospects also undergo psychological testing to evaluate their cognitive abilities, decision-making skills, and emotional stability.
Prospects' physical measurements, such as height, weight, arm length, and hand size, are recorded at the scouting combine and compared against positional norms and team preferences. Body composition analysis may also be conducted to assess prospects' muscle mass, body fat percentage, and overall physique.
Data collected from the scouting combine, including physical measurements, athletic testing results, and positional drill performances, are analyzed by teams using advanced analytics and statistical modeling techniques. These analytics help teams identify prospects with desirable physical traits and performance metrics that align with their scouting criteria and team needs.
Teams use the scouting combine as an opportunity to gather additional information on prospects by conducting interviews with coaches, scouts, and other personnel familiar with the players. These interviews provide insights into prospects' work ethic, coachability, leadership qualities, and off-field behavior.
The information gathered from the scouting combine, along with game film analysis, college production, and other scouting reports, is used by NFL teams to finalize their draft boards and rankings. Teams prioritize prospects based on their evaluations, needs, and draft strategies leading up to the NFL Draft.