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Ramgator
I have been hearing more n more chatter from Sports Radio and NFL people, former and current, that maybe the Combine is starting to show more signs of being less n less relevant.
I'm not so sure that it's less n less relevant, but...
NIL rules have provided some players a little more leverage. Over the weekend, I caught a segment on NFLR with Ryan "cryin'" Leaf. He talked about his experience in terms of being a player coming from a family that didn't have a lot of financial means. He said that he would've done anything to change that, and thus, subjected himself to some crazy stuff in the combine interviews and medicals. He said that one team wanted to x-ray his hand (can't recall if it was his throwing hand or not) that he'd broken back in his Jr. year of HS. He said that, had he felt that he had ANY leverage in the process, he would've exercised it to say "no" to some of the stuff asked of him.
Fast forward to Caleb Williams. Because of NIL (where Williams is rumored to have already made $8 - $10M), the dynamic has shifted a bit. Yes, the Bears want to kick his tires. But he's in a position to kick their tires as well. Remember, they don't have the best history at developing QB's in that organization. I mean...they're about to blow-out a kid they provided absolutely NO HELP to over the past 3 years. Just as much as Williams needs to impress Bears, THEY HAVE TO IMPRESS HIM AS WELL. If Williams doesn't impress them, the Bears can select someone else (or trade the pick). If the Bears don't impress him (likely with FA decisions) Williams can sit out the 2024 draft as he's already a multi-millionaire. Now, both scenarios are highly unlikely, but this is what Leaf meant when he explained that there's a different dynamic with Williams who folks have known would be the #1 overall pick for a couple of seasons now.
I thought it was an interesting perspective from a former player.
