NFL Combine Tests: What tests are done at the NFL Combine?

The end of February and the beginning of March is once again an exciting time in the NFL. As the previous season comes to an end with the Super Bowl getting over around mid-February, it is now time to look forward to the next season. The NFL Draft is just a couple of months away at the end of April, but before that, the most important event leading up to the draft is the NFL Combine.

The NFL Combine is where all the draft-eligible players gather to take physical and mental aptitude tests. It is not open for everyone though, and only about 300-odd participants from all position groups are invited to give it their best shot as scouts, coaches, general managers, and owners take a look at the talent at their disposal.

The NFL Combine serves as a metric through which the teams can measure each player individually against other players in the same position group. Teams can then find out the strengths and weaknesses and what abilities they like from the available pool of players in a direct comparison of both the physical and mental sides of the game. This, in turn, helps teams to narrow down their choices before draft day.

What test do NFL players take at the Combine?

The NFL Combine is meant for college players who are ready and eligible to take the next step toward joining the NFL. For that, teams scout and evaluate players via a number of physical tests and even a mental aptitude test to get an understanding of the players' various abilities. There is also medical testing that is done to check for any drug use or injuries. The table below shows all the NFL Combine drills and NFL Combine tests that players undergo during the Combine.

Who will be at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine?

In general, there are around 300-odd participants at the NFL Scouting Combine. This year, in 2024, there will be a total of 321 collegiate athletes appearing for the NFL Combine.

As usual, the NFL Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana which is where the Combine has been held every year since 1987. The dates for the 2024 NFL Combine are from February 26 to March 4, 2024. Let us take a look at some of the drills and tests conducted at the NFL Combine.

NFL Combine 40 yard dash

The NFL Combine 40 yard dash is a speed test that judges the speed of players from a 3-point stance to 40 yards on the field. The two main components tested in this NFL Combine drill are speed and acceleration. Although this test is best for wide receivers, defensive backs, and running backs, other position players are also required to take the test as teams like to check the 10-yard and 10-20-yard accelerations of players in other positions.

NFL Combine bench press

The NFL Combine bench press test is all about the brute strength and stamina of players. Players are required to bench press a 225-pound barbell with as many repetitions they can do as possible. This drill is mostly useful to check the strength and stamina of positions such as the offensive line, defensive line, and tight ends and linebackers to a degree.

NFL Combine vertical jump

The NFL Combine vertical jump is a drill that tests the athletic abilities of players and especially their reach after jumping. This drill is mostly targeted at wide receivers and defensive backs as many times they are going up in the air for contested catches.

NFL Combine Wonderlic test

The NFL Combine Wonderlic test is a mental aptitude test that players have to take to test their decision-making and problem-solving skills. There have been some questions raised about the genuine use of this test for NFL players as a written test with mathematical questions is probably not the best way to judge how a player will react to situations on the field. Nevertheless, the test continues to exist.