2025 NFL Combine & Pro Days Open Thread

[*Synric*]

Bengals met with LB Ty Wise from Miami (Ohio) Pro Day. I don't know much about him other than he's 2 Time Second Team All-MAC and like thr LB they met at rhe Combine Collin Oliver he is a smaller LB/EDGE Tweener that probably fits the SAM role in both a 43 & 34 defenses.

[*ochocincos*]

I might be in the minority, but I really dislike someone skipping Combine workouts to do them instead at their Pro Day when they aren't injured.
With the way more and more players are skipping (certain) workouts at the Combine, the value of the Combine is declining more and more.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-05-2025, 03:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I might be in the minority, but I really dislike someone skipping Combine workouts to do them instead at their Pro Day when they aren't injured.
With the way more and more players are skipping (certain) workouts at the Combine, the value of the Combine is declining more and more.

So they are supposed to do the Combine when they are injured? This doesn't make sense to me, now if they aren't injured and 
are doing it because there is less pressure at a Pro Day and the numbers look better I can understand not liking it...

I know Synric and lots won't like me for saying this, but the Combine is a bit overrated IMO.

[*ochocincos*]

(03-05-2025, 04:08 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: So they are supposed to do the Combine when they are injured? This doesn't make sense to me, now if they aren't injured and 
are doing it because there is less pressure at a Pro Day and the numbers look better I can understand not liking it...

I know Synric and lots won't like me for saying this, but the Combine is a bit overrated IMO.

No, that's not what I was saying.

I am saying they should have to do the Combine unless they are physically unable to, not just because they choose to skip the workouts.

Combine is better than Pro Days because you're on a neutral field with a good number of your peers from other schools, making it better to compare across individuals in position groups.

[SunsetBengal]

(03-05-2025, 03:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I might be in the minority, but I really dislike someone skipping Combine workouts to do them instead at their Pro Day when they aren't injured.
With the way more and more players are skipping (certain) workouts at the Combine, the value of the Combine is declining more and more.

Funny you mention that. Jim and Pat were just discussing that on Movin' the Chains on my ride home. The opinion is that if they held the combine three weeks before the draft, most guys would perform most/all of the various activities.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-05-2025, 07:30 PM)ochocincos Wrote: No, that's not what I was saying.

I am saying they should have to do the Combine unless they are physically unable to, not just because they choose to skip the workouts.

Combine is better than Pro Days because you're on a neutral field with a good number of your peers from other schools, making it better to compare across individuals in position groups.

Okay, cool, cannot disagree with that. I don't really like a mandate that you HAVE to do the Combine, but it is better than Pro Days for sure.

Pro Days are not unbiased. The Combine is much more likely to be timed and measured accurately and everyone can see it.

[pulses]

I like the other Jailin Walker LB from Indiana. 6'1 around 220 and plays all over the place. This past year he had 82 tackles 8 PD's 2 sacks 3 FF's and 2 INT's. pff grade of 82.7. HE wasn't invited to the combine. At his pro day he had a 10'7 broad jump which would have been 2nd at the combine and he had a 35 inch vertical. No 40 time yet but I saw articles that say they clocked him at 22-23 mph in games so he's prob running 4.4's or 4.5's. He looked very explosive and alot of NFL personnel took notice. I like this kid alot.

As you can see they weren't afraid to move him around and let him make plays on their defense.

https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/Jailin-Walker/148369/draft-profile

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-06-2025, 12:57 AM)pulses Wrote: I like the other Jailin Walker LB from Indiana.  6'1 around 220 and plays all over the place. This past year he had 82 tackles 8 PD's  2 sacks 3 FF's and 2 INT's. pff grade of 82.7. HE wasn't invited to the combine. At his pro day he had a 10'7 broad jump which would have been 2nd at the combine and he had a 35 inch vertical. No 40 time yet but I saw articles that say they clocked him at 22-23 mph in games so he's prob running 4.4's or 4.5's. He looked very explosive and alot of NFL personnel took notice. I like this kid alot.

As you can see they weren't afraid to move him around and let him make plays on their defense.

https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/Jailin-Walker/148369/draft-profile

I watched Walker last season a few times. Was clearly the leader on that Hoosiers Defense and he was all over the place.

He is undersized, but I don't care as long as the guy can make plays. 

Need to go from a big, slow Pratt to a faster sure tackler and Jailin Walker fits this. Where is Walker supposed to go in this Draft again?

[*bfine32*]

(03-05-2025, 03:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I might be in the minority, but I really dislike someone skipping Combine workouts to do them instead at their Pro Day when they aren't injured.
With the way more and more players are skipping (certain) workouts at the Combine, the value of the Combine is declining more and more.

I could see moving forward in the NIL world a "bonus" for participating in the Combine. 

[Whatever]

(03-06-2025, 03:26 PM)bfine32 Wrote: I could see moving forward in the NIL world a "bonus" for participating in the Combine. 

Maybe.

Several people dropped out after a couple of days at the Senior Bowl, too.

Ultimately, it's on the teams.  If they're not going to drop guys for sitting out on the Combine, players will keep doing it.

[pulses]

(03-06-2025, 03:23 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I watched Walker last season a few times. Was clearly the leader on that Hoosiers Defense and he was all over the place.

He is undersized, but I don't care as long as the guy can make plays. 

Need to go from a big, slow Pratt to a faster sure tackler and Jailin Walker fits this. Where is Walker supposed to go in this Draft again?

6th or 7th round be a crazy steal.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-06-2025, 05:42 PM)pulses Wrote: 6th or 7th round be a crazy steal.

Alright, a no brainer that late. Must of been because he is undersized. On the field Walker was damn good for the Hoosiers.

Big, stack backers like Pratt are overrated now in the NFL.

[pulses]

(03-06-2025, 06:00 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Alright, a no brainer that late. Must of been because he is undersized. On the field Walker was damn good for the Hoosiers.

Big, stack backers like Pratt are overrated now in the NFL.

He might even be able to play some safety as well.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-06-2025, 06:22 PM)pulses Wrote: He might even be able to play some safety as well.

I could see that.

[*rfaulk34*]

(03-05-2025, 04:08 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: So they are supposed to do the Combine when they are injured? This doesn't make sense to me, now if they aren't injured and 
are doing it because there is less pressure at a Pro Day and the numbers look better I can understand not liking it...

I know Synric and lots won't like me for saying this, but the Combine is a bit overrated IMO.

Combine gets everyone under one roof, with their peers, being measured and timed at the same time under the same pressure. It also allows fans to watch it. If everyone decided to just skip it and do work at their pro day, every coach has to travel to them, deal with their 'home court' measurements. 

If the top guys start just doing pro day, i'd try to get together with other teams and just not show up. You can't let these little entitled bitches rule the roost. If you're the NFL, make these ***** do it your way or not at all. 

If they wanna do combine then pro day, sure. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-07-2025, 02:34 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Combine gets everyone under one roof, with their peers, being measured and timed at the same time under the same pressure. It also allows fans to watch it. If everyone decided to just skip it and do work at their pro day, every coach has to travel to them, deal with their 'home court' measurements. 

If the top guys start just doing pro day, i'd try to get together with other teams and just not show up. You can't let these little entitled bitches rule the roost. If you're the NFL, make these ***** do it your way or not at all. 

If they wanna do combine then pro day, sure. 

Cannot disagree with any of that Rfaulk. Players screw themselves if they are healthy, invited to the combine and refuse though.

Teams take notice of this. It raises eyebrows and lowers Draft stock.

There are a lot of good players every year that are NOT invited to the Combine which I don't like.

[*Synric*]

(03-05-2025, 04:08 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: So they are supposed to do the Combine when they are injured? This doesn't make sense to me, now if they aren't injured and 
are doing it because there is less pressure at a Pro Day and the numbers look better I can understand not liking it...

I know Synric and lots won't like me for saying this, but the Combine is a bit overrated IMO.

It's overrated and underrated.



The overrated  is that NFL gets alot of these power 5 prospect testing numbers a dozen or so times from rhe schools, training centers, and camps. Younger and small school prospects might not get those opportunities though. 

The underrated is the pure measureables, medicals, and meetings. Getting all these guys together seeing what they look like compared to each other and talking to them is important. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-07-2025, 04:44 PM)Synric Wrote: It's overrated and underrated.



The overrated  is that NFL gets alot of these power 5 prospect testing numbers a dozen or so times from rhe schools, training centers, and camps. Younger and small school prospects might not get those opportunities though. 

The underrated is the pure measureables, medicals, and meetings. Getting all these guys together seeing what they look like compared to each other and talking to them is important. 

All true, also some drills are underrated to others that are overrated like the forty. The Combine is definitely a lot better than the homer Pro Days
that is for damn sure.

[WrongVerb]

(03-05-2025, 07:30 PM)ochocincos Wrote: No, that's not what I was saying.

I am saying they should have to do the Combine unless they are physically unable to, not just because they choose to skip the workouts.

Combine is better than Pro Days because you're on a neutral field with a good number of your peers from other schools, making it better to compare across individuals in position groups.

You make some valid points, which I can get on board with.

However, I heard a couple days ago about one player who skipped combine workouts because he felt a number of his teammates should have been invited to the combine, but were not. Only performing at his pro day, when his non-combine-invite teammates are also there, gets them more exposure to team scouts, coaches, and execs. I don't know whether or not I agree with the reasoning, but I can see the validity in it. 

[*ochocincos*]

(03-08-2025, 12:01 PM)WrongVerb Wrote: You make some valid points, which I can get on board with.

However, I heard a couple days ago about one player who skipped combine workouts because he felt a number of his teammates should have been invited to the combine, but were not. Only performing at his pro day, when his non-combine-invite teammates are also there, gets them more exposure to team scouts, coaches, and execs. I don't know whether or not I agree with the reasoning, but I can see the validity in it. 

So maybe I need some education, but doesn't the Combine limit the number of invitees?

To me, if you're gonna accept the invite, you should work out.
Otherwise, you could be taking a spot for someone else who could have taken advantage of the larger exposure and really improved their chances to be drafted (earlier).