Checking in from the NFL Combine

The importance of the Combine can’t be overstated

General Managers, scouts, and coaching staff from all 32 NFL teams have descended on Indianapolis this week for the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. On Sunday, players began arriving, and team interviews for defensive linemen, linebackers, and kickers already kicked off on Monday. Defensive backs, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers began interviews on Tuesday. The measurements and the on-field workouts will kick off with the first group on Thursday.

Of course, it's those workouts and measurements all fans seem to pay attention to. Every draft prospect working out at the combine puts on a short-sleeve compression shirt or tank top and compression shorts and goes through the many drills required of their position. Since they're being judged on their speed and strength in many aspects during this time, not wearing the usual pads and helmets, but only what they would often wear underneath those, it's been referred to as "The Underwear Olympics." Given that a full set of pads, a helmet, and a real football situation might change those drill results a bit, many have come to ask the question, is the Scouting Combine pointless?

Absolutely not. 

Why the NFL Combine is important

Yes, the NFL Combine has become a bit of a circus, but it's still important for plenty of reasons. Aaron Nagler and Tyler Brooke discussed during the latest Draft Industrial Complex

The Packers most at risk with positional additions

With NFL offseason activities looming and the NFL Combine underway, the Green Bay Packers have a few positional "situations" that they will need to address this offseason. No matter how the Packers choose to address areas that need improvement in 2025, this offseason has been heavily geared toward the Packers' need for upgrades across the defensive line and changes at cornerback. Being so could shake up the contributions for a couple of players in each spot, but some players find themselves in more precarious spots based on their situation, production, and tenure.

Decoding Brian Gutekunst with Matt Schneidman

Aaron welcomes in Packers beat reporter Matt Schneidman of The Athletic to discuss the press availabilities with Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst at the 2025 NFL Scouring Combine in Indianapolis.

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The Packers Should Trade Down In Round 1 To Maximize Value

The Green Bay Packers won’t enter the 2025 NFL Draft with the same wealth of picks they had in 2024. After starting last year's draft with 11 selections, they will have only eight this time, with just three inside the top 100—down from five in 2024. At pick 23, the Packers face a range of options. Their most pressing needs include cornerback, pass rush, and wide receiver. However, interior offensive line and off-ball linebacker are also sneaky needs that require attention.

Given these various directions, the first round could be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory for Green Bay. One factor contributing to the uncertainty is the lack of true first-round talent in this draft class. ESPN’s Matt Miller has graded only 12 players with a true first-round grade, and many players the Packers might target are likely to be off the board by pick 23. A potential name still available could be Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron, whose role is similar to that of Javon Bullard. If selected, it would be intriguing to see how Barron fits into Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme.

Given the draft landscape, trading down seems to make the most sense for the Packers. With fewer high-value picks and a deep draft pool between picks 20 and 60, Green Bay could gain significant value by moving down. The talent gap between pick 23 and the mid-second round isn’t as steep as in past years, meaning the Packers could acquire additional assets without sacrificing much in player quality. This move would also provide general manager Brian Gutekunst the flexibility to target a prospect he covets on Day 2 if one falls unexpectedly.

Packers Top Free Agent Priority Should be Keeping McManus

Stability at the kicker position has been one of the biggest strengths of the Green Bay Packers organization since Ron Wolf became general manager in 1992. Prior to 2023, in that time span the Packers had just four kickers over 32 seasons: Chris Jacke, Ryan Longwell, Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby. It took the Packers a year and a half of searching for the successor to Crosby, but after joining the team in Week 7 Brandon McManus brought stability back to the position going 20 of 21 in the regular season. McManus kicked two game-winning field goals in his first two games with the Packers.

McManus would be entering next season coming off his best season of his career. The 20 of 21 in field goals was 95 percent, his only season in the 90 percent range. He had three other seasons making over 85 percent of his field goals. McManus did go just 1 of 2 on his field goals in the Packers playoff loss against the Eagles, but that should not be a factor against his re-signing. McManus turned one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in Weeks 1 thru 6, into being one of the most reliable aspects of the team the remainder of the season. Keeping him should be one of the first things Gutekunst does when free agency starts in a few weeks.

Titletown Tech hosting first ever Startup Draft In Green Bay!

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler welcomes TitletownTech Managing Partner Craig Dickman to discuss the announcement of the first ever Startup Draft coming to Green Bay in April.

The Cheesehead TV draft guide is coming soon!