NFL Combine and Projected Top Picks

Jed Judkins, Sports Reporter

The NFL Combine is an annual event that serves as a showcase for college football players who are hoping to be selected in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Combine is held over several days and is attended by scouts, coaches, and executives from all 32 NFL teams.

During the Combine, players are put through a series of physical and mental tests designed to evaluate their skills and abilities. These tests include the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, the broad jump, the three-cone drill, and the bench press. In addition, players are also put through interviews and medical evaluations to assess their character, intelligence, and overall health.

Woodward Sports said, “The 40-yard dash is the most popular NFL Combine drill as it measures speed. Wide receivers and defensive backs need to have a solid 40 time to be considered top prospects.”

This test measures a player’s straight-line speed and is considered one of the most accurate indicators of a player’s overall athleticism. In addition to the 40-yard dash, the broad jump and vertical jump tests are also important measures of a player’s explosiveness and ability to jump and change direction quickly.

The bench press test, which measures a player’s upper body strength, is also a popular event at the Combine. Players are asked to lift as much weight as possible for as many repetitions as possible, with a weight of 225 pounds being the standard.

The three-cone drill is another important test at the Combine, as it measures a player’s ability to change direction quickly and run precise routes. This test is particularly important for wide receivers and defensive backs, who rely heavily on their ability to make quick cuts and change direction.

The top prospects for the 2023 NFL draft are looking to be players from big schools like Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia.

CBS sports said, “For the majority of the offseason, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was the favorite to be selected No. 1 overall.”

There have been a few mock drafts and everyone is Projecting quarterback, Bryce Hall, to be drafted 1st overall. And coming in 2nd and 3rd are two defensive line players, Jalen Carter and Will Anderson Jr.

Overall, the NFL Combine serves as a crucial evaluation tool for NFL teams as they prepare for the draft. The tests and evaluations performed at the Combine help teams identify players with the physical and mental abilities necessary to succeed at the professional level, and can ultimately determine the success or failure of a team’s draft class.