4 Reasons Why NFL Draft Prospects Skip The Combine For Pro Day Workouts

Every year, the top NFL Draft prospects meet in Indianapolis for the annual NFL Combine, which tests the skills, intellect, and character of the next generation of football stars. 

In 2025, some of college football’s top athletes have elected to skip working out at the combine in favor of working out at their pro day. Shedeur Sanders and Ashton Jeany have weathered criticism following their decision to skip their workouts in front of NFL executives. 

This isn’t an uncommon phenomenon and many top prospects have skipped the NFL Combine over the years. Instead of working out at the combine, NFL Draft prospects opt to work out at their college pro day. Pro days allow for a few distinct advantages, including more control over the environment, more time to prepare, and more familiarity. 

Below, we’ll explore why some NFL Draft prospects opt to skip the combine in favor of their pro day workouts.

More Control Over The Environment

Players will perform in a familiar setting at their college facilities with their own trainers, teammates, and schedule. They also have more control over the conditions, like time measuring techniques, which can give them more favorable times in drills like the 40-yard dash and shuttle drills. This helps players perform their best and improve their measurables.

More Time To Prepare 

Pro days are also typically a few weeks after the combine, giving prospects more time to train and fine-tune their workouts. This is especially important for players whose stock relies on performing well in certain drills, like the 40-yard dash. Players can get in a few extra weeks of training to help them improve on their scores. Some players who are recovering from minor injuries may also prefer to wait until they are fully healthy before performing in front of NFL executives.

Maximize Their Draft Stock

In a league where every inch matters, every aspect of an NFL prospect’s physique and intangibles is put to the test at the combine. Everything is scrutinized, from a player’s intelligence to their height, weight, and hand size to their speed, acceleration and overall athleticism. Players and their agents carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of performing in these drills in order to maximize their draft stock. 

Sometimes players choose to perform in only certain drills or medical examinations to help show off their skills or ease injury concerns. Other times, a player may skip events if they think that they have little to gain and more to lose from a bad performance. 

Injury Recovery

Another common reason that players skip the combine is to continue to recover from injuries. Some players are coming off of injuries during the college football season and are still recovering or haven’t had enough time to fully prepare for workouts. Skipping the combine in favor of their pro day workouts gives them additional time to get their bodies in peak physical condition before being put under the microscope in front of NFL coaches and front office executives.