Before the NFL draft even takes place the NFL draft combine occurs. During this combine players are examined on both a physical and mental level. This allows NFL teams to make a better informed decision as to which players they should look at more carefully in the months leading up to the draft.

But not every player gets to attend the NFL combine. Only the best players from each team get invited. There is not enough room for every player that is coming out of college, so the NFL goes through a selection process when determining which players will attend.

The players that are lucky enough to get an invite will go through a rigorous couple of days of testing. During physical testing the players are brought out in front of the teams so they can see what they look like physically. From there, players are then weighed and measured. These dimensions are then called out for all of the NFL clubs to here. It is during this stage that the truth comes out on a lot of players. Some players who claimed to be 6 tall end up measuring out at 510. This can make or break where they get drafted.

After the height and weight players will go through a variety of different drills. Some of the drills include the 40 yard dash and the vertical leap. Quarterbacks are also given the chance to show off their passing skills.

If the physical part was not demanding enough, players also take written exams which are graded. The effect of these exams has been highly scrutinized over the years. Players will also participate in oral interviews with any teams that are interested.

Overall, the NFL combine is the first step that takes place before the NFL draft. Without the combine, the draft could not be as successful as it is.