The Combine and NFL Draft process will undergo a much-needed change.
For the first time, teams may be forced to forfeit an NFL Draft pick between rounds 1-4 and be hit with fines of a minimum of $150,000 if franchise representatives showcase conduct considered to be “disrespectful, inappropriate or unprofessional” during pre-draft interviews with prospects, according to the Associated Press.
In a memo sent to all 32 teams Wednesday, this warning was highlighted as one of the numerous changes to begin once this year’s NFL Draft season rolls around.
“We aim for dignity, respect and professionalism,” current NFL Executive VP of Player Operations and former five-time Pro Bowler Troy Vincent expressed. “These student-athletes should be celebrated, not humiliated,” he added.
History shows occurrences of numerous incidents where prospects have faced invasive questions and rude treatment from interviewers while they were speaking with teams.
In 2010, Dez Bryant was asked by former GM Jeff Ireland whether or not his mother was a prostitute during a pre-draft visit with the Miami Dolphins.
Current Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple had been questioned by the Falcons staff about his sexual preferences during the 2016 pre-draft process.
Another example comes from 2018, with running back Derrius Guice being in a similar case as Bryant in 2010 as Guice was also requested to answer questions about if his mother was a prostitute and further conversations surrounding his sexuality were brought up.
The new ruling sent out to league officials will provide less bothersome situations for athletes who are simply looking for respectable meetings with teams prior to being drafted. These meetings should be held to standards that meet society’s ethical and moral expectations. With that being said, now we’ll see a reduction of all interrogation involving sexuality and parent backgrounds.
Further changes include the removal of Wonderlic testing for players’ cognitive and problem-solving intelligence due to decreases in overall scores over the years along with altering drills for offensive linemen and certain defensive positions. One of the major positional drill modifications highlighted is wide receivers and tight ends will do crossing routes as opposed to wheel routes and running backs will no longer participate in corner/post-corner routes in favor of option routes.
Following the 2022 scouting combine, the NFL could move the annual showcase to Arlington’s AT&T Stadium or Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium as both Dallas and Los Angeles have placed their bids to host for the next two years through 2023-24.