NFL changes interview number, length for combine

The NFL is making some changes to its yearly scouting combine this year. One of the most important parts of the combine is the opportunity teams have to sit down and interview draft prospects.

Teams will get to interview fewer players than in years past.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, teams will only get to interview 45 prospects, a reduction from 60 in previous years. However, the interview lengths increase. They will get to interview players for 18 minutes instead of 15.

One reason interviewing draft prospects at the @SeniorBowl is important this year: NFL teams were informed recently they’ll have 45 18-minute formal interviews at the combine, rather than 60 15-minute interviews. It’s related to schedule changes that move drills to primetime.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 23, 2020

Teams will have to be more selective and will have to make more of an effort to interview those participating in the Senior Bowl so they can potentially focus on underclassmen at the combine.

Pelissero notes the change is due to scheduling, as the athletic drills will now become a prime-time event so more fans can see them.

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