Look, I get it. The NFL Combine is a tradition. It’s a big event. It gets media attention. It fills the dead space in the offseason where fans are starving for something—anything—NFL-related. But let’s be real here: is it actually necessary anymore? Like, in 2025, are we really still pretending that a glorified high school gym test should determine a player’s draft stock?

I mean, come on. Do I really care how high a guy can jump—without pads, with no game situation, just standing there trying to smack the top of a measuring stick? Or how many times he can bench press a weight that he’ll never be lifting in an actual game? What does that tell me about whether he can get open against press coverage or read a defense in real-time? The answer: not a damn thing.

We’ve got tape. We’ve got entire college seasons of film on these guys. We’ve seen them in real games, under real pressure, against real competition. And yet, we’re still acting like running a 40-yard dash in spandex is gonna make or break a career. If you’re a GM and you can’t figure out if a guy can play football based on actual football, you probably shouldn’t be making those decisions.

The NFL Doesn’t Care If It’s Dumb—It Makes Money

Here’s the thing, though. The NFL isn’t getting rid of the Combine. Not because it’s useful, but because it’s big business. It’s content. It’s something to put on TV. It’s a way to get people talking about the draft long before it happens. And honestly, it works. Every year, somebody runs a crazy-fast 40, or jumps out of the gym, or shows off an absurd wingspan, and suddenly, they’re skyrocketing up draft boards. It’s all a show, a spectacle.

And for the players? Yeah, it matters. Because even if we all know the Combine is a joke, it still moves the needle. If you’re a projected top-10 pick, running a 40 that’s even a tenth of a second slower than expected could cost you millions. Imagine that—your whole career, your college tape, your actual ability to play football, and we’re out here acting like a stopwatch is the ultimate decider. That’s how the system works, and these guys know it. You train for the Combine. You don’t even train for football at that point—you train to beat the drills, to shave milliseconds off your time, to look the part under the bright lights.

Shedeur Sanders Should’ve Done It—Period

And this brings me to a guy like Shedeur Sanders. Look, I get it. Shedeur’s a star. He’s got presence, he’s got that it factor, and on top of that, he’s Deion’s son—so you know there’s hype built-in. But if you’re out here trying to be a franchise QB, you gotta do the Combine. Period.

This whole idea of sitting it out because “you don’t need to” is nonsense. If you’re a leader, you show up. If you’re supposed to be the guy, you do the work. You’re not gonna hurt your stock by throwing a few passes and running some drills. If anything, you could help it, especially when there’s already noise about you not interviewing well. And honestly? That’s not shocking.

Shedeur carries himself a certain way. Some people love it. Some people don’t. But when you’re trying to convince an NFL team to hand you the keys to their franchise, you don’t leave any doubt. You don’t give them a reason to hesitate. If you’re a team like the Titans, who are in desperate need of a long-term quarterback solution, maybe you take the risk. Maybe you bring in a guy like Shedeur to shake things up. But for a lot of teams, passing on a guy with questions about leadership and attitude is the safer bet. And that’s where the Combine could’ve helped him—just showing up and proving he’s willing to put in the work.

The Titans Should Trade the Number One Pick—And Set Up for Arch Manning

Speaking of draft strategy, let’s talk about Tennessee. Should the Titans trade the number one pick? Hell yes, they should. Let me lay it out:

• No player they draft at #1 is making them a contender this year.
• They need to fix their offensive line yesterday.
• They’re not just a QB away from being good—they need multiple pieces.

So why not think long-term? Trade that pick, get a haul in return, and start setting up for next year. Because let me tell you something—if Arch Manning looks like the guy this season, he’s gonna be the top pick in 2026. And if you’re Tennessee, why not position yourself to go get him?

Tanking works. People don’t like to say it out loud, but it does. And if you’re honest with your fanbase and build the right way, they’ll buy in. You stock up on linemen, get your pass rush right, and when the time comes, you plug in a young QB who’s walking into a situation built for success. Look at the Eagles—best offensive line in football, dominant pass rush, and suddenly, Jalen Hurts looks like a superstar. That’s not a coincidence. Build the trenches first. Everything else comes after.

At the end of the day, the Combine might be a joke, but the draft is real business. The teams that actually have a vision—those are the ones that win. The teams that just chase hype? They stay stuck in the cycle of mediocrity. So let’s see who actually plays it smart this offseason.