THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NFL COMBINE IN DETERMINING DRAFT POSITION AND FUTURE PERFORMANCE

• Main Author: Durkin, Bailey
• Format: Others
• Published: OpenSIUC 2020
• Subjects: economics; NFL
• Online Access: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2726; https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3740&context=theses

Every year the National Football League (NFL) holds a draft where teams that have the worst records in the previous season are given the first opportunity to acquire the most talented players from colleges all over the nation, in a reverse-order pick system. The team’s ability to correctly identify and select players from this pool is essential in determining the effectiveness of the draft. The goal then of the draft would be to increase the competitiveness of the league and increase the chances that a team with a bad record the previous year will have a better one in the following season. The NFL Combine is an event held before the draft where prospective athletes showcase their skills in a few areas to increase their chances of being drafted. Most players drafted are offered a four-year contract where they can choose to sign again with the same team or another after the contract is up. This paper uses data from the players’ collegiate performances and performance in the NFL Scouting Combine to determine what affects a NFL team executive in their decision making process on draft order.