PFT Live with Mike Florio NFL Scouting Combine preview + Is Alabama QB Ty Simpson a first-round pick? (2/23 Hour 1)
Feb 23, 2026
They react to USA hockey winning gold and what it means for the sport. They preview the NFL Scouting Combine and debate whether it still matters. They argue film versus workout metrics and break down the pros and cons of 40-yard times. They discuss Ty Simpson’s roller-coaster draft stock and teams skipping in-person combine meetings.
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Combine Losing Its Crown As Offseason Centerpiece
- The NFL Scouting Combine is losing its standing as a must-attend evaluative event for top prospects.
- Mike Florio and Chris Simms point to falling TV numbers, teams skipping Indy, and richer preexisting data making the Combine less essential.
Data Sharing Erodes Combine's Discovery Role
- The Combine's value is shrinking because teams already have abundant in-person scouting and college-tracked data.
- Simms notes schools now share detailed metrics and teams already visit games, reducing the Combine's discovery role.
Use Drills To Answer Targeted Athletic Questions
- Use specific Combine drills selectively to verify traits film doesn't reveal rather than as primary evidence.
- Simms cites the L-drill and 10-yard burst as useful checks on hip-turning, explosiveness, or short-area quickness.