NFL Draft season is upon us as many of the highly-touted prospects from the 2024 draft class head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the league’s annual scouting combine this week.
The event showcases college football stars as they work out in front of scouts and interview with team executives across the league in hopes of increasing their draft stock over the course of the week.
Here is what you should know ahead of the festivities:
Big Names Opting Out
Several top prospects — including USC quarterback Caleb Williams, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels — have decided not to take part in the on-field portion of the week-long event and will only be in Indianapolis for interviews and to meet with teams.
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Overreactions
Every year, someone comes out of an excellent Combine performance with their draft stock skyrocketing. Sometimes it works out, but sometimes overreactions to a Combine performance can skew the perception of the player. The same is true of players who don’t have great workouts and see their stock plummet. While the Combine can serve as a good barometer for overall strength and athleticism, it’s important to remember it’s still just a workout. The players will not be in a game setting or wearing any pads, and teams will continue to do their homework on all the prospects through April’s draft.
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Dallas Cowboys
According to ESPN, head coach Mike McCarthy and new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will not be in Indianapolis this week as they adjust their defensive scheme, opting instead to interview prospects virtually. McCarthy followed a similar protocol last year as he went through the same process on the offensive side of the ball. Dallas has the 24th overall selection in April.
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Local Prospects
As relayed by The Dallas Express earlier this month, 31 of the 321 prospects invited to the Combine come from Texas-based universities, including DFW natives Ryan Watts, JT Sanders, and Tyler Owens.
Schedule
Players begin arriving on Monday when they will register and meet with teams. The first few days are filled with meetings, media opportunities, and procedural fulfillments. Workouts begin on Thursday, and the defensive linemen and linebackers will be the first groups to take the field.
Here is a complete breakdown:
Tuesday, February 27
Media availability (9 a.m. CT): Coaches and GMs
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Wednesday, February 28
Media availability (7 a.m. CT): Defensive Linemen and Linebackers
Media availability (12 p.m. CT): Coaches and GMs
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Thursday, February 29
Media availability (7 a.m. CT): Defensive Backs and Tight Ends
On-field workouts (2 p.m. CT): Defensive Linemen and Linebackers
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Friday, March 1
Media availability (7 a.m. CT): Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers
On-field workouts (2 p.m. CT): Defensive Backs and Tight Ends
Bench press: Defensive Linemen and Linebackers
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Saturday, March 2
Media availability (7 a.m. CT): Offensive Linemen & Specialists
On-field workouts (12 p.m. CT): Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers
Bench press: Defensive Backs and Tight Ends
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Sunday, March 3
On-field workouts (12 p.m. CT): Offensive Linemen & Specialists
Bench press: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers
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Monday, March 4
Bench press: Offensive Linemen & Specialists