Calling into Question the Necessity of the NFL Combine

Elijah John writes about the NFL Combine and weighs the event's worth.

Combine Participant takes on the running challenge. Image Credit: Pride of Detroit

The necessity of the NFL combine has always been a question to the public. Many players who have competed in the combine have skyrocketed their draft stock by having great numbers in the combine for their position. This does not mean their skill will translate to the next level though because many of these players have been bust in the NFL. Questions to be asked include: are if they see the combine as beneficial, if it should affect someone’s draft stock, and of course if we should get rid of the combine. Ultimately the public’s opinion on this matter will not be put into fruition, but it is still valuable to see the public’s view on if the NFL combine should continue.

Varsity Bowler and FHS Baseball Player, Shayne Rooney says, “I think the combine can be good as it is a good way to see if the player is athletic. It should affect the draft stock but not as much. Players who did really badly have succeeded before,” He continues, “I think we should keep the combine as it is a good way to see if a player is athletic in a very athletic sport".

FHS Football Player, Caleb Miller says, “The combine is beneficial, yeah... it can help you know if a player has any lingering issues with health. Yeah it should affect a players draft stock if they have fishy combine results their draft stock should tank. They should definitely keep the combine. It is a good way to evaluate prospects in the draft.”

Varsity basketball player Aaden Mcgee had a very different opinion than Caleb and Shayne, “It’s definitely not, you saw what happened with John Ross and Anthony Richardson. They were both bust but weren’t going to be high picks until the combine when they had crazy numbers. It should affect their stock a bit but definitely not a lot like it has in the past. We should get rid of the combine; it doesn’t really have any beneficial results to the draft.”

Fans have many different opinions on if the combine should be discontinued. It is a good way to look for any athletic or health issues that a player might have. The combine can often be more official than a pro day and can be argued that it is more reliable. However, it should not dictate a player draft stock crazily though (unless it’s a crazy medical issue). Ultimately, it gives fans a chance to watch players break records and enjoy a fun event featuring their stars.