NFL won’t hold combine in 2021 amid pandemic

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The NFL is three games away from the end of its schedule, which at times seemed like a long way off in 2020. But there’s still a pandemic going on, and the annual scouting won’t happen as a result.

Tom Pelissero, of NFL Media, said the league told teams in a memo that the scout combine would change formats, but in practice the combination would not happen. The memo, which Pelissero tweeted, said there would be no in-person workouts, as prospects will still be working on campus work days. Virtual interviews and psychological tests will take place and medical examinations for some prospects will take place at one or more locations in early April.

One of the biggest events of the NFL offseason is not going to happen (the NFL referred to the event taking place in a ‘different format’, which is one way of spinning it), another fit for COVID-19.

Teams informed of changes to the pre-draft process

The memo explained how the typical pre-draft process with prospects will work.

Pro Day workouts aren’t new. It is a key part of the process. This is usually in addition to what NFL staff see in Indianapolis, and this year will be the only way to test the outlook.

Interviews and medicals are just as important to some teams as 40 times and bench press reps in Indianapolis, and that will happen in modified ways as well.

It’ll be a strange pre-draft preparation for the teams, but last year was also unusual.

Justin Jefferson, who would be the Vikings' first-round pick, leads the 40-yard scorecard at the NFL Reconnaissance Combine. (Photo by Joe Robbins / Getty Images)
Justin Jefferson, who would be the Vikings’ first-round pick, leads the 40-yard scorecard during the NFL Reconnaissance Combine. (Photo by Joe Robbins / Getty Images)

The NFL got the combine last year

The NFL competed in the combine last year. It happens at the end of February and ended shortly before the world was shut down due to the coronavirus.

After that, the in-person meetings were canceled, and the project took place remotely. Despite seemingly all the coaches, scouts and executives in the NFL fearful of an apocalyptic scenario in the draft, the remote draft has gone very well.

Ahead of the draft, we’re sure to hear plenty of complaints about how the combine’s cancellation threw the teams into their preparations. It will take some adjustments. The best teams will understand this, as usual.

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