Which Workouts Matter Most for Each Position at the NFL Draft Scouting Combine?

It's been long enough since the Super Bowl where we're all starting to get a little itchy.

Thus, you put NFL draft prospects on the field and have them do something sporting-adjacent? Sign me up.

That's why the NFL Draft Scouting Combine matters from an entertainment perspective. But how much does it translate to predicting success in the NFL?

I ran the numbers on this for each position to try to get an answer. The process involved looking at each player at the combine from 2010 to 2021 in Pro Football Reference's database (though the 2021 numbers were from pro days after the combine was cancelled due to COVID-19). This gave each player at least four years in the league.

Then, I compared those workout metrics with the Approximate Value (AV, PFR's attempt to quantify the value a player provides to his team) for each player across his first four years in the league, the length of a rookie contract (minus the option for a first-rounder). AV is an imperfect metric as it's better at measuring playing time than top-end value. However, playing time does matter, and it can at least lead us down the right direction.

To see the results of this exercise, you can click the link below for the position of your choice:

• Most important workouts for quarterbacks at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for running backs at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for wide receivers at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for tight ends at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for offensive linemen at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for defensive linemen at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for linebackers at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for cornerbacks at the NFL combine
• Most important workouts for safeties at the NFL combine

As a little teaser, though, let's run through which workouts mattered most across each position.

The table below shows the highest R-squared values across all workouts for each position. R-squared measures the predictiveness between two data points with zero being no relationship and one being a perfect correlation.

A couple takeaways here:

• Adjusting for weight is important
• The 40-yard dash is typically the most predictive workout
  • It provided the highest R-squared value at 9 of 11 positions
• Workouts matter more for offensive tackles than you may think

There are more specific takeaways within each piece, so I'd recommend diving in there if you want a more full scope. But there's at least enough here for us to justify the amount of attention we give the combine each and every year.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.