A number of high-profile prospects have opted against taking part in on-field drills during the annual NFL Combine. In the case of quarterbacks, that has become increasingly common over time. 
The trend of signal-callers electing not to throw during the Combine will see at least one of the 2025 class’ first-round talents follow suit. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Shedeur Sanders will not throw in the coming days, preferring only to meet with interested teams. Sanders will wait until Colorado’s Pro Day to take part in drills.
[RELATED: Sanders Schedules Visits With Browns, Giants]
This news comes as little surprise given recent trends amongst top quarterback prospects. Many passers have opted out of throwing in lieu of focusing on interviews during the Combine while waiting for Pro Days and individual workouts with teams to do so. Last year, eventual No. 1 pick Caleb Williams skipped the Combine altogether while Jayden Daniels (who went second overall) and Drake Maye (third) attended but did not take part in drills.
On the other hand, Sanders did not participate in the Shrine Bowl, taking the advice of several NFL teams to instead only take part in interviews. The Combine therefore would have provided him with the opportunity to perform in front of general managers and scouts in Indianapolis, but instead that will again not be the case. Sanders’ impression over the coming days and weeks will be key in establishing his draft stock, something which of course will supplement his statistical output during his four-year college tenure.
Working under his father Deion at Colorado for the past two seasons, Sanders racked up 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during that span. The 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year’s 74% completion percentage and 8.7 yards per attempt average indicate his floor as a passer at the NFL level, although many see fellow Day 1 lock Cam Ward as having a higher athletic ceiling. It will be interesting to see if Ward throws at the Combine or takes the same approach as Sanders, something which would open the door for the other (and much less acclaimed) passers in the 2025 class to showcase themselves.
Obviously he is going to the Raiders. Why bother working out.
Does the combine have such an outsized impact on draft status that it’s too risky to go and have a bad performance? It seems to me QBs are more popular first round picks because you have a built in, below market, 5th year option available if you get a serviceable NFL QB. One bad performance on combine day isn’t going dissuade teams from potentially reaping that benefit.
I believe if you do drop in the first round, each successive team down the draft is most likely set up for more success from their better win loss record the previous season. There are clear exceptions from trades, retirement or free agency losses but the concept is generally true… the later in the first round you go, the more talented the team that is drafting you will be.
Sanders has not been marketed thus far as a project QB in need of development. A more talented team serves him and the team better by providing him the opportunity to be successful right away.
If I was him, or his team or advisor, I would message out that I can play in any environment with any talent surrounding me. Combine, college campus or local high school, it doesn’t matter, my talent will shine through in any circumstance placed around me as a QB.
To me, the only way you skip the combine is because you are afraid of what people will see. He hasn’t been evaluated as a Caleb Williams surefire NFL prospect to my knowledge. He may not even be the first QB drafted. He or they must be aware of the shakiness in some aspect of his current evaluations, and is afraid of cementing those doubts in potential interested teams.
That’s why I don’t think in his individual case he has much to lose at the combine. Have a great day and work your way up the draft boards, or have a bad day and get drafted by a better team.
Most top quarterback prospects don’t throw at the combine anymore. They do it at their pro days.
basically there is NO upside to throwing at the combine for the top QBs
Because he doesn’t want to be a bust too soon in his NFL career!
The combine is nothing but a money grab farce. The NFL went decades without needing this irrelevant circus. I applaud players who boycott this charade.
The combine may not be needed for performance evaluations, but I believe it is needed for a team to interview players and see where their head is at. I also believe that the performance part of the combine may help marginal players, those who may not have tape or supposedly have a flaw like being slow, or not having the right instincts.
In my opinion Shedeur Sanders is marginal at best. Dad, who is trying to get his son drafted incidentally, is going to call plays that he’s sure his son can execute. NFL coaches won’t, if he can’t perform in their system he’s SOL. He also won’t have Hunter to bail him out and catch passes that a normal player couldn’t. Shedeur needs to keep quiet, keep his head down and play, but he’s a Sanders, so we know that won’t happen. Is Neon Deion becoming the Lavar Ball of football?
It honestly probably cost them way more money than it makes them
The combine is great for prospects who are at smaller programs or don’t get a pro day. Also just makes it easier to have everyone in the same place at once
40-time is extremely important for certain positions like cb
I think most of the drills are pretty important for influencing picks
Basing a draft strategy on those absurd combine drills is probably just as stupid as using Madden ratings. A 40 time of a player who is rested and in shorts is rather meaningless. Let’s see what the 40 time looks like when the player is in full uniform and has seen some game contact.
I still believe it helps somewhat. Some teams may find a diamond in the rough, or avoid a certified nut like Todd Marinovich or Ryan Leaf.
Speaking of 40 yard times, I’m here to say mine has not changed. I’m still at 4.9, it’s just minutes instead of seconds now. Always was a bulldozer not a cheetah.
I’m a senior citizen so 40 times now refers to the number of washroom visits I may have to make through the night 🙂
I think it’s really important to get accurate measurements on guys height and wingspan that colleges may lie about or not have updated.
And a corner who runs a 4.3 is going to have more upside than a corner who runs a 4.5 that’s just a fact
Most veteran players have lost a step or two since their rookie days but they survive over younger speedsters because they have excellent football instincts. Smarts trump speed.
I feel bad for the fans of whoever drafts him. Daddy constantly looking over your shoulder. Sad