Diehard fans should get that easy chair ready and stock the fridge. The first major offseason event, the NFL Combine, begins on the last day of February.
The NFL Combine runs from Tuesday, February 28 through Monday, March 6. The event is annually held at Lucas Oil Stadium, the indoor home of the Colts. The fun part, the on-field workouts and testing, follows this schedule:
- Friday, March 3: RB, OL, ST
- Saturday, March 4: QB, WR, TE
- Sunday, March 5: DL, LB
- Monday, March 6: DB
Invitees by Position
Last Wednesday, the NFL announced the list of invitees, which numbers 330. Their positional breakdown is as follows:
- QB – 14
- RB – 31
- WR – 58
- TE – 19
- OL – 47
- DL – 53
- LB – 33
- CB – 35
- S – 26
- Specialists – 11
The conventional wisdom is that the Packers’ greatest draft needs are for defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and maybe a running back or receiver.
Non-Combine Draftees of 2016
For prospects who did not receive an invitation, it’s not the end for them. Last year, 38 players were drafted who did not participate in the 2016 Combine, including one player in the third round – safety Kevin Byard – and two fourth-rounders – defensive tackle David Onyemata and tight end Seth DeValve.
All seven of the Packers’ 2016 selections were conventional choices and all participated in last year’s Combine. Of the non-drafted rookies who played in 2016, only Geronimo Allison was a participant at the Combine. Kentrell Brice, Marwin Evans, Josh Hawkins and Joe Kerridge, however, did perform similar tests at various Pro Day events held at college campuses around the country.
Meanwhile, 117 players (35.2 percent) who were invited to the Combine were not selected in last year’s draft.
Criminals Not Wanted
New this year, is a rule that prevents players with some past criminal issues to attend the event. All invited players are subjected to a background check. Those who are shown to have been convicted of any of the following will not be allowed to participate: misdemeanor or felony involving violence or use of a weapon, domestic violence, sexual offense or sexual assault.
2017: Most Invites by College
- Michigan – 14
- Alabama, LSU – 10
- Clemson, Miami, Texas A&M – 9
- Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, USC, Utah – 8
- Louisville, North Carolina, Washington – 7 each
- Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin – 6
Packers’ Draftees by College Since 2005
- UCLA – 5
- California – 4
- Iowa – 4
- Stanford – 3
- Arizona State – 3
- Colorado – 3
- Texas A&M – 3
- Louisville – 3
2017: Most Invitees by Conference
- SEC – 66
- ACC – 60
- Big Ten – 51
- Pac-12 – 46
- Big 12 – 19
- AAC – 18
- Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West – 11
- Independents, Sun Belt – 5
Packers’ Draftees by Conference Since 2005
- Pac-12 – 20
- SEC – 17
- Big 10 – 12
- ACC – 9
We’ll have some more information and viewpoints about the NFL Combine in the days to come.