The NFL is making some big changes this offseason to the NFL Combine, including reducing the number of interviews teams are allowed to have with prospective players. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, instead of the normal 15-minute interviews of 60 players, teams are allowed to have 18 minutes to interview but can only talk to 45 players.
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
Three more minutes for each player probably won't have that big of an impact, but not being able to talk to as many definitely hurts. All these changes are happening because the NFL is trying to move the on-field workouts into prime time. Traditionally, the on-field workouts have happened during the morning and early afternoon. The night was reserved for teams to interview with players.
This year, the interviews are being moved to afternoon and night so more eyes can be focused on the prospects who are the future of the NFL. With the changes, it's going to push the interviews to the morning, which is the reason for the NFL cutting the number of players being interviewed.
With the changes, it makes all the interviews that happen at the Senior Bowl with players and bringing players in the facility before the draft even more important.
Even with the negative effects on the teams, having the combine during primetime is going to be a lot of fun for the fans. Watching Joe Burrow and the rest of the quarterbacks throw during primetime is going to put extra scrutiny on every pass. The NFL is all about TV ratings and this is another example of that.
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