NFL Scouting Combine: Worth It?

The annual NFL Scouting Combine is the the most important job interview you’ll ever have.

A culmination of each year’s collective scouting efforts, the NFL Scouting Combine is an invitation-only event wherein recruits are given the chance to show off their physical and mental abilities one last time before the draft. The televised event has become a massive affair in recent years and with plenty of eyes on each player every time he makes a move or answers a question, it is crucial that participants avoid mistakes at all costs. Sometimes people wonder, “can the Combine really hurt a player’s draft stock?”, and the answer is yes, a big enough mistake can knock you down several pegs on teams’ draft boards.

Is skipping the NFL Scouting Combine worth it?

The potential for a bad performance has led to discussions on whether players such as Jamies Winston or Marcus Mariota should participate in the Combine consuming the media landscape in the weeks leading up to this year’s event. Up until the Thursday before the event, held on a Saturday, questions were still being asked: the day Mariota confirmed he would be throwing, while questions about Winston’s intentions continued to whirl.

History doesn’t exactly provide a clear answer on whether skipping the Combine can actually hurt someone’s draft prospects and the discussions on the subject are old news. For example, in 1998 a coveted passer named Peyton Manning decided to skip the scouting spectacle, while the other top quarterback in the draft, Ryan Leaf, chose to participate. Manning still went first overall in the draft and is now a lock to get into the Hall of Fame. Leaf was chosen second, and is considered one of the more large-scale draft busts in recent history.

The general manager of Manning’s current team, the Denver Broncos, told Fox News he wouldn’t lower someone on his draft board just because the player skipped the Combine. John Elway, the Hall of Famer and former quarterback for the team he now manages, skipped a regional combine due to a knee injury prior to being drafted first overall in 1983. He added that if he were entering the Combine today, he still wouldn’t throw.

Still, turning in a bad performance at the NFL scouting combine can be a killer.

Others believe the Combine should be avoided. If you have a bad day at the scouting event, there is a chance you could tumble down teams’ boards and never get the chance to properly show what you’re made of. Schools’ Pro Days or individual workouts are often urged as the places to show-off skills due to the more lax atmosphere they offer. Manti Te’o, Mohamed Sanu, Vontaze Burfict and Damontre Moore are all examples of players who were drafted later than the pre-Combine discussion would have indicated due to poor performances at the scouting event.

Dropping even one round in the draft can significantly affect a player’s future pay and opportunities. The annual average pay for a first round pick is $4.4 million, while the yearly wage for a second round draft choice is $1.4 million, The Motley Fool noted. A few bad throws, an ugly sprint time or a botched interview could end up costing a player $3 million dollars.

However, at the same time, a player who is questioned can see his draft stock improve after a solid combine. Winston, for example, has long been considered a player who can make an impact in the NFL immediately but questions have swirled surrounding his character and maturity.

The controversial quarterback prospect was able to turn in an impressive performance at the Combine despite being crushed by Mariota in the sprint. Winston’s interview performance, ability to break down plays and physical play at the scouting event were enough to keep his name in the top spot on draft boards despite his controversial past behavior and the NFL’s recent image issues.

The NFL Scouting Combine isn’t an exact science, but as far as job interviews go, this is the one you’re going to want an all-time great performance at. Skipping it won’t really hurt your prospects much but make a mistake and you can watch your name tumble down mock drafts in the following weeks.

With that said, you may need the help of an NFLPA certified contract adviser in this area.