NFL exploring changes to scouting combine

The NFL is exploring changes to the annual NFL scouting combine to improve the professional and medical experience for draft prospects, a person familiar with those discussions said Wednesday.

The combine in Indianapolis was canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, so prospects displayed their talents for scouts, coaches and general managers at their college pro days instead.

Teams interviewed players virtually and most medical and psychological testing was done by video. About 150 draft prospects did in-person medical evaluations in Indianapolis earlier this month.

The league is seeking input from players who attended the combine previously and rookies who went through this year’s version. Teams and their medical staffs also will provide their assessment.

The league is evaluating all aspects of the combine, including the player experience. Calling players by their name instead of a number, limiting the number of medical personnel who examine guys and ensuring prospects aren’t asked humiliating questions are a point of emphasis.

New Eagles coach Nick Sirianni had a playful way to test the competitiveness of draft prospects. He played rock, paper, scissors virtually with a couple guys and one of his assistant coaches played Jeopardy with them.

“When you compete with somebody that’s competitive, they’re going to go at you no matter what game you’re playing,” Sirianni said.

Sirianni appreciated the virtual interview process.

“At the combine, you’re limited to how many times you can talk to them, how long you can talk to them for,” he said. “We were able to get meaningful conversations not under a time limit. ... In a lot of aspects, I think we got way more out of those meetings than we do out of Indy.”