General Managers, scouts, and coaching staff from all 32 NFL teams will descend on Indianapolis this week for the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. On Sunday, players began arriving, and team interviews for defensive linemen, linebackers, and kickers already kicked off on Monday. Today, defensive backs, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers will begin interviews. The measurements and the on-field workouts will kick off with the first group on Thursday. Of course, it's those workouts and measurements all fans seem to pay attention to. Or as many have grown to call those workouts, "The Underwear Olympics."

That's right, essentially every draft prospect working out at the combine puts on a short-sleeve compression shirt or tank top and compression shorts and goes through the many drills required of their position. Since they're being judged on their speed and strength in many aspects during this time, not wearing the usual pads and helmets, but only what they would often wear underneath those, it's been referred to as "The Underwear Olympics." Given that a full set of pads, a helmet, and a real football situation might change those drill results a bit, many have come to ask the question, is the Scouting Combine pointless?

To truly answer that question, you need to evaluate everything that goes on at the Combine. Sure, there are the workouts that many General Managers and Scouts will be attending. But there are also the team interviews, the media interviews, medical exams, and the discussions between teams as well as player agents. When a team like the Green Bay Packers is interviewing a player, they aren't just asking about a player's experiences on the field. They're asking questions to evaluate whether or not a player fits their team culture or how they might fit the community. Only an inexperienced staff drafts players based on skill alone. If a player has the skill a team is looking for, they then have to judge how that player fits in with the rest of the locker room. Players looking out for themselves only, preferring individual accolades over team success, or those that only pay attention to their job over helping those around them, may not fit very well into a tight-knit locker room. If the player being interviewed may need a bit of time to develop, it's important to evaluate how they learn. Would they respond well to the teaching philosophies of the coaching staff currently available or not? If not, the team may take a pass on them on draft day regardless of talent. 

Media interviews. You may think of this as nothing but sensationalism, but it actually might matter a bit in the draft process. Prospects may think that these are nothing more than Q&As to help fans learn more about them, but teams are watching. They want to see how players react to many of the bland questions that can be asked in a media session, and also some of the completely ridiculous questions. Not only does a team want a player that can easily handle the media hoopla, but they also want one that isn't phased by the outside talk. If a player seems visibly irritated or flustered with questions in media interviews, that may raise a red flag in the books of some GMs. 

Medical Exams. Teams are investing millions of dollars in each player they draft. Even if it's "Mr. Irrelevant" the final player picked in the draft, they are expected to land a rookie deal of just above $4 million. They want to make sure there are no medical concerns with their picks. And if there are, they want the opportunity to judge if they can live with it or not, or get it corrected before the next season starts. The thing about the Combine is that all of these players are taking these exams in one place and it's all quickly available to each NFL team. It isn't like having to track down an exam from a doctor in a city they can't pronounce the name of let alone trust if it's accurate or not.  Of course, some prospects will decline the exam, and teams will need to track them down, but for the majority of eligible players, it's all there. 

Team-to-team discussions. This can be where alliances are forged and strengthened. You hear about GMs having connections around the league. Sometimes it's from working with other staff members over the years but others it's friendships made at the Scouting Combine. GMs will compare notes and explore trade options early. This can also be handy when it comes to running a smokescreen. Say two friendly GMs have their eyes on different specific prospects in the first round. They may agree to interview each other's targets and then swap notes so that the overall consensus doesn't show they were interested in that prospect. The Packers did not interview Jordan Morgan predraft in 2024 before selecting him in the first round, but six other teams did interview him. Perhaps there's a chance there's an unknown alliance between Gutekunst and one of those six GMs. 

Agent talks. These can be interesting. Of course, many of these NFL draft prospects are represented by the same agencies as players currently in the NFL. And you bet those agents are in attendance at the Combine. Just before the draft is free agency and the Combine is often a favorite origin for planting the seed of negotiations. Agents will inform teams of a player's interest in talking to them and likewise. This can also assist with trades evaluating whether or not a player will want to play for a team they are traded to. 

Lots of value is had outside of the workouts, but are the workouts still necessary?

The Drills Still Matter

Believe it or not, poor performance at the Combine can still impact a player's draft stock. Hence why we see top prospects elect not to take part in the workout portions of the combine. They know that their game film speaks for itself and places them high in the ranks and they don't want anything to jeopardize those chances. Some think it raises a red flag that they have something to hide, but in reality, it's mainly a business decision to protect their interest. They don't believe they have anything to gain by working out but have everything to lose, so they opt out. 

Combine workouts shouldn't be viewed as evaluations of a player's capabilities but more of a validation of what scouts have already seen. If a receiver's route cuts are easily beating defenders and they're running right by the secondary on tape, teams may want to see if they really are as quick and agile as they appear. If they're not making cuts very quickly in drills and their 40-time is lacking, then perhaps they've benefited from some slower defenders in their college career and they aren't truly that fast. But if an Edge rusher is turning the corner quickly in drills, then perhaps they really are as quick as advertised. Drills just serve as confirmation of skill. There shouldn't be too many headline-making surprises in the workouts. If there are, then perhaps scouts weren't paying attention to some prospects. 

So while the Combine and the "Underwear Olympics" may seem like the NFL just trying to grab your attention for another week, it does serve a purpose. That purpose is to plant the seed for the future of your franchise. Through future prospects, future free agents, trade targets, coaches, all of it matters in the grand scheme of it all. The next NFL season and possibly several others after starts with the Scouting Combine.