The 2025 NFL Combine takes place this weekend, but some key players will not be participating.
This year, an increasing amount of top prospects are opting out of the NFL Combine. This trend has been building over the past few seasons, as more players are choosing to work out at their University’s Pro Day instead. Last year, five of the top six picks in the NFL Draft opted out of the Combine, so there doesn’t seem to be a negative to skipping the event if you are already a top prospect.
Players seem more comfortable working out at their own school’s Pro Day, working out with their own college teammates, with their own coaches and trainers facilitating the drills. That way the Pro Day can be set up to maximize their talents and make them look good in front of scouts. Also, the amount of scouts employed by each NFL team allows them to travel to many different Pro Days rather than just the Combine.
2025 NFL Scouting Combine Opt Outs
Here is a list of players not participating in this year’s NFL Combine either because of injury or to focus on their pro day:
- Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
- Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
- Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
- Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
- Mason Graham, DL, Michigan (will participate in bench press only)
- Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
- Shavon Revel, CB, ECU
- Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
- Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
