The National Scouting Combine is an annual invitation-only event where 300-plus prospects are put through a grueling job interview process that tests them both physically and mentally. The combine can be broken down into four separate categories: verified measurements, medical evaluations, interviews and on-field drills.
The combine was originally created as an organized event for participating teams to perform medical checks, instead of prospects having to travel from city to city, going through the same exams. Team interviews are also a crucial aspect of the combine as each franchise can schedule up to 60 15-minute formal interviews.
The medicals and interviews are the two most important steps at the combine, but the athletic tests allow NFL teams to match quantitative data with a player’s tape.