On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the 2026 NFL Combine will kick off the on-field drills portion of the week. Starting around 3 p.m. ET, defensive linemen, anda linebackerswill participate in a myriad of drills—all televised live on NFL Network or via the NFL+ app. Before that, measurements will start rolling in for the group, giving the public a baseline of size, weight, arm length, and the like.
Of course, the NFL Combine has already been well underway for nearly a full week already. The first group of players
arrived in Indianapolis on Sunday, and most position groups have already started (and finished) their meetings with teams looking to draft them. Team coaches and general managers have already spoken to the media—and many have already left (or never came in the first place). Player media sessions will continue through Saturday.
That’s all to say there is a ton that has already happened in Indianapolis, and plenty more to come through Monday. So today’s Question of the Day is:
What is your favorite part of the NFL Combine?
My answer: It’s still the player interviews.
Personally, I don’t get all that excited watching athletic drills. I do understand the importance of seeing how fluid a player can move, how fast they are, and their body configuration, but much of that information can be had on a spreadsheet, and everything else can be just as much derived from their actual game tape.
What can’t be replicated on tape is character. And my primary reason for going to this event in back-to-back years is to try and get my own character evaluation through these short media sessions. It certainly isn’t easy when these prospect are going through a high-stress situation, and I’m elbow to elbow with reporters from every inch of the media landscape. But when it comes to evaluating prospect, the character element is so important when trying to project which players the Lions will vibe with. Which is why that is my focus on coverage of this year’s draft class thus far.
Obviously, fans aren’t always privy to that information, so I’m curious to hear what you all get out of the NFL Combine. What is your favorite part of the week-long event? Share your answers in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
