Lucas Oil Stadium hosts the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine from February 27th through March 2nd, giving NFL decision-makers their first standardized look at this year's draft class.
Unlike previous drafts that sparkled with skill position talent, the 2025 class brings a distinctly different flavor. This year's group features power over flash – a draft dominated by hulking linemen and defensive stalwarts rather than highlight-reel quarterbacks and receivers. For teams looking to fortify their foundations, this draft offers plenty of building blocks.
DAILY BREAKDOWN: WHO TAKES THE STAGE WHEN
The combine unfolds like a four-act play, with different position groups performing on consecutive days:
The defensive trenches kick things off Thursday with defensive linemen and linebackers putting their explosiveness on display. For these behemoths, the short shuttle and first ten yards of the 40 typically reveal more than any bench press numbers.
Friday shifts focus to the secondary and tight ends – prospects who make their living either preventing completions or hauling them in. The fluidity displayed in positional drills often matters more than raw speed for these groups.
Saturday brings the marquee attractions – quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers take their turn under the spotlight. Expect this day to dominate social media as passes fly and 40-yard dash times flash across screens.
Sunday wraps things up with offensive linemen, whose agility drills occasionally resemble dancing bears – surprisingly nimble despite their massive frames.
QUARTERBACK CONUNDRUM: NO CLEAR-CUT KING
This quarterback class lacks the royal pedigree of recent drafts. No Trevor Lawrence. No Caleb Williams. Not even a Bryce Young. Instead, we're looking at a group where the difference between QB1 and QB6 feels remarkably thin.
Shedeur Sanders brings the famous surname and impressive Colorado tape, while Miami's
Cam Ward skyrocketed from Incarnate Word to potential first-rounder through the transfer portal. Both will face intense scrutiny over arm strength and processing speed during throwing sessions.
The second tier creates genuine intrigue.
Jaxson Dart turned heads at the Senior Bowl with his gunslinger mentality. National championship game participants
Will Howard and
Riley Leonard bring contrasting styles – Howard the prototypical pocket passer, Leonard the dynamic dual-threat. Then there's
Jalen Milroe, whose athletic ceiling might surpass them all despite inconsistent passing mechanics.
Watch for how teams cluster around specific quarterback throwing sessions. Their attendance speaks volumes about genuine interest versus media smokescreens.
THE MEASURING TAPE MOMENT
No single measurement at this combine carries more weight than LSU tackle
Will Campbell's arm length. The difference between 32⅞ inches and 33 inches might seem insignificant to casual observers, but that fraction could determine whether Campbell remains at tackle or moves inside to guard – potentially costing him millions in contract value.
NFL teams traditionally view 33 inches as the cutoff for tackle viability. Anyone falling short typically receives the dreaded "kick inside to guard" label, regardless of college performance. Campbell's measurement will trigger immediate ripple effects through draft boards league-wide, especially for tackle-hungry teams selecting early.
THE TWO-WAY WONDER
Travis Hunter arrives in Indianapolis as perhaps the most fascinating prospect in decades. The Colorado star dominated on both sides of the ball for the Buffaloes, excelling as both lockdown corner and dynamic receiver – sometimes playing 120+ snaps in a single game.
Hunter's combine classification as a defensive back offers the first hint of his professional trajectory, but don't be surprised if he participates in receiver drills as well. His interviews may generate more interest than his testing numbers, as teams will probe his positional preferences and willingness to maintain the two-way role at the next level.
For a league constantly seeking versatility, Hunter represents the ultimate chess piece. His combine performance could cement his status as a top-five selection regardless of which position he ultimately prioritizes.
EDGE RUSHER EXTRAVAGANZA
No position group offers more first-round talent than edge rusher, where at least a dozen prospects carry legitimate Day 1 grades from various teams.
Penn State's
Abdul Carter enters Indianapolis as the consensus top edge defender, with his combination of size, explosiveness, and production making him a potential top-three selection. The former running back's athletic testing could resemble that of Micah Parsons – another Nittany Lion who blew up the combine.
Marshall's Mike Green brings eye-popping production (17 sacks) from a smaller program, making his testing critical to validate his dominance against higher competition. Tennessee's
James Pearce Jr. might possess the highest ceiling with his blend of length and twitch, while national champion
Jack Sawyer offers technical refinement over raw athletic traits.
For teams picking in the 20-50 range, distinguishing between this clustered group of pass rushers makes the combine particularly significant. A standout performance from Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku or Ole Miss's Princely Umanmielen could vault either into first-round consideration.
SPEED DEMONS READY TO BURN
The 40-yard dash record (4.21 seconds by Xavier Worthy last year) faces legitimate threat from multiple prospects this week. Oregon's Tez Johnson has reportedly clocked sub-4.3 times in training, while Texas transfer
Isaiah Bond brings similar rocket-propelled acceleration.
However, this receiver class lacks the clear hierarchy of recent drafts. Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan currently holds WR1 status on most boards, but questions about his separation ability make his testing particularly consequential.
Luther Burden III dominated the SEC with after-catch explosiveness that should translate well to standardized testing.
Keep an eye on Tennessee's
Dont'e Thornton as a potential combine riser. Despite modest production, his 6-foot-5 frame combined with track background (high jump, long jump, 100m) suggests testing numbers that could launch him up draft boards. Similarly, Virginia Tech's Da'Quan Felton brings a mouth-watering combination of size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) and reported 4.4 speed that could make him this year's surprise vertical threat.
RUNNING BACK REVELATIONS
Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten embodies the modern NFL running back – compact, explosive, and versatile. After beginning his career at North Carolina A&T, Tuten transferred to the ACC and maintained his production against higher competition. His reported 40-inch vertical and sub-4.4 speed could make him this combine's biggest riser at the position.
For a league increasingly devaluing early-round running backs, exceptional athletic testing remains one path to Day 2 consideration. Tuten's performance in explosion drills and receiving routes could separate him from a crowded backfield class.
MICHIGAN MEN MAKING MOVES
The defending national champions send several intriguing prospects to Indianapolis, headlined by cornerback
Will Johnson and defensive tackle
Mason Graham.
Johnson's injury-plagued junior season limited him to just six games, making his combine performance crucial for reestablishing first-round status. When healthy, he allowed a microscopic 49.8 passer rating against him throughout his Michigan career – elite production that testing should validate.
Graham enters as the consensus top interior defensive lineman, combining rare quickness with power at the point of attack. His teammate
Kenneth Grant brings similar disruption potential in an even larger frame, giving teams multiple Michigan options for strengthening their defensive tackle rotation.
THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES
While stopwatches capture headlines, team medical staffs wield enormous influence behind the scenes. Several high-profile prospects face crucial medical evaluations that will impact their draft stock more than any athletic testing.
Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons (torn patellar tendon), East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel (ACL), Notre Dame cornerback
Benjamin Morrison (hip), and North Carolina tight end
Bryson Nesbit (wrist) all enter Indianapolis with medical red flags. Their examination results rarely become public immediately but shape draft boards significantly.
For these players, the private medical checks hold million-dollar implications. Teams weighing early selections must carefully balance talent against injury risk, especially for positions demanding durability.
TEAM SPOTLIGHT: PATRIOTS AND SEAHAWKS
New England's draft strategy hinges heavily on combine performances. Selecting fourth overall, the Patriots face a pivotal decision between addressing quarterback needs or selecting the best overall talent. Should Sanders or Ward excel in throwing sessions, it could create quarterback-hungry trade partners eager to move up.
Meanwhile, Seattle experiences their first combine under head coach Mike Macdonald after a promising debut season. The foundational 2024 draft class featuring Byron Murphy II and Tyrice Knight gives Seattle flexibility to target best available rather than reaching for need.
The expanded Seahawks staff, now including offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and his experienced assistants, brings specific evaluation criteria to Indianapolis. Look for their interest in receivers who excel in Kubiak's precision-based passing game and defensive front seven prospects who complement Macdonald's versatile scheme.
BEYOND THE NUMBERS
While athletic testing dominates combine coverage, the private team interviews often prove more consequential for draft positioning. Over four days, prospects will engage in rapid-fire 15-minute meetings with interested teams, facing whiteboard sessions, personality assessments, and pointed questions about both on-field and off-field concerns.
These interviews rarely make headlines unless something goes spectacularly wrong, but they significantly impact team draft boards. A prospect who demonstrates exceptional football intelligence or leadership qualities during these sessions can overcome mediocre testing numbers.
Conversely, red flags raised during interviews – whether about football comprehension, maturity, or character – can torpedo even the most athletic prospect's draft stock. Remember, NFL teams invest millions in these decisions; the complete evaluation extends far beyond physical measurements.
FINAL COUNTDOWN TO DRAFT SEASON
When the last 40-yard dash concludes Sunday afternoon, the combine results will reshape draft narratives across all 32 teams. Some previously unheralded prospects will rise dramatically after stellar performances, while others will face increased scrutiny after disappointing showings.
For NFL fans suffering through the post-Super Bowl doldrums, the combine provides perfect nourishment – substantive football content without actual games. The performance metrics generated this week will fuel draft discussions for months, creating endless debate about how athletic testing translates to on-field success.
As the road to the 2025 NFL Draft runs through Indianapolis, one certainly remains: by Sunday evening, the landscape will look dramatically different than when testing began Thursday morning. Which prospects will seize their opportunity? Which will stumble under pressure? The answers begin unfolding this week at Lucas Oil Stadium.
