Does the NFL Combine Really Matter

The NFL Combine measures a variety of physical abilities. This research questions the overall usefulness of the event by focusing on both current and past players of QB, WR, and RB positions, who have performed at NFL Scouting Combine from 2000 to 2010. Statistical methods using the idea of multilinear regression, random forest and hypothesis testing on correlations between one’s Combine measurements and draft order, and as well as his NFL performance are used to mark and order the importance of the Combine drills in terms of how well they predict one’s career. The study reveals that an outstanding performance at the NFL Combine is not sufficient to guarantee one’s success as a professional player. However, certain traits seem to indicate a positive attitude that is usually necessary to be drafted into the NFL. What the Combine data could imply about one’s potential also depends on his position; wide receivers and running backs are highly regarded for their speed, which means faster players are more likely to be drafted, while quarterbacks perform quite independently from all the Combine measurements. To conclude, the study offers suggestions on how one’s raw athleticism measured at the Combine could be effectively utilized to assess the chance of one’s being drafted by encouraging players in different positions to focus on different drills that could best demonstrate their potential based on statistical findings.