Importance of Medical Testing in NFL Draft Process
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:03 Here's the number one thing is medical testing.
00:05 Working out is fine,
00:06 but they also have a pro day and private workout.
00:08 So that's minor compared to medical testing.
00:11 So let's say a player had a surgery in the fall.
00:14 They want updated medical testing.
00:16 The medical testing, by the way,
00:17 the players have to get there as early as 4.35 AM
00:21 and they go, they gotta be there
00:22 and they gotta wait till it's their turn
00:24 and they go through all sorts of testing.
00:26 And if they had a surgery,
00:27 they might need an MRI or whatever kind of testing is needed
00:31 and then they have what's called a combine recheck.
00:33 Let's say the guy did an ACL injury, right?
00:36 He had the surgery in the fall.
00:38 They got an update here.
00:39 They have another MRI
00:41 and then they'll have for the combine recheck in April.
00:43 They wanna see even additional before the draft.
00:45 And then of course, by the way,
00:46 when a player visits a team,
00:48 they could actually have updated medical testing.
00:50 You can't work them out there,
00:51 but you get to have testing.
00:52 So that's very important.
00:54 The medical testing is probably number one.
00:56 Number two, getting those meetings are only 15 minutes,
00:59 but getting in front of a player.
01:01 Yes, I know these players are coached.
01:03 The agents will hire coaches to work with them,
01:06 but the bottom line is getting in front of these players
01:08 is really paramount because if you're spending
01:11 a first or second round pick on a guy
01:12 you believe is gonna start,
01:13 and if you're doing that,
01:14 you certainly think they're gonna start.
01:16 You wanna feel comfortable with these players.
01:18 And yes, some of these players met with these players,
01:20 these teams at the combine,
01:21 but here, the head coach, the general manager,
01:24 by the way, these interviews are taped.
01:26 The teams film teams,
01:29 they come in and they film these interviews.
01:31 So those are really important.
01:33 And then of course, the timing and the workouts.
01:35 Now, what you want though, this is important.
01:37 Yes, a 40 time is sometimes overrated,
01:41 but for receivers or skilled position players
01:44 or corners or safeties,
01:46 you wanna get updated 40 times
01:48 because sometimes these guys have not run
01:50 or been timed officially for two or three years.
01:53 You wanna get that updated time.
01:54 Now, you mentioned players not working out in Indy, right?
01:58 If Marvin Harrison Jr., it doesn't matter.
02:00 He's not gonna go past number four
02:03 because he's basically the best player for this draft.
02:06 He won't go at number one,
02:07 but he's gonna be a quarterback.
02:08 He is by far the best player for this draft.
02:10 He's special like his father.
02:12 He's an incredible football player, high character guy.
02:15 He doesn't need any of this stuff,
02:17 but the bottom line is medical testing,
02:21 meetings also, and getting in front of these players,
02:24 but the medical testing is number one
02:26 because here's another thing that happens,
02:27 and I hate to bring this up, but it happens.
02:29 Every couple of years, a player will show up
02:31 for medical testing, something he didn't know about.
02:34 And every once in a while,
02:35 the guy will actually be taken off boards
02:37 because medical staffs won't pass the player.
02:40 Could be a knee injury, could be a kidney problem,
02:42 could be something very serious,
02:44 but at least that they find it, Scott.
02:46 But the bottom line is it's very important,
02:48 this medical testing.
02:49 Again, medical grades are also given out here
02:53 by clubs or updated once we get through this week.
02:56 (upbeat music)
02:59 (upbeat music)