Episode Description
The NFL calendar never really stops — it just changes seasons.
With the Super Bowl behind us, the league now shifts into what Trey Wingo calls the player procurement season: free agency, trades, the draft, and the NFL Combine. And if you’re paying attention, this stretch of the calendar often determines who’s playing deep into January.
In this episode, Trey breaks down what really happens during Combine week — and why the most important parts of it aren’t the 40-yard dash or the bench press.
The NFL Combine has evolved into a made-for-TV event. Quarterbacks throw in prime time. Defensive linemen run timed drills in front of national audiences. Analysts debate hand size, vertical jump, and arm length. But for front offices, the real work looks very different.
This is negotiation season.
Top prospects are trying to maximize their draft position and long-term value. Teams, in many cases, are trying to manage that value — sometimes even suppress it. Information gets shared. Medical evaluations get flagged. Rumors surface. Reports are leaked. And very little of it happens by accident.
Trey explains:
Why Combine week is as much about leverage as it is about evaluation
Why top prospects often have more to lose than gain in on-field drills
The real value of the medical exams and team interviews
How smaller-school or under-the-radar players can use the Combine to change their careers
Why “competitiveness” debates often miss the point
How teams and agents use information strategically during draft season
There’s also perspective on recent roster-building decisions — including how the Kansas City Chiefs turned the Tyreek Hill trade into long-term draft capital and sustained success, while other franchises chased splashier moves with different results. It’s a reminder that the teams that win in April and May often set themselves up to win in December and January.
The Combine is a showcase. It’s great television. It’s a valuable opportunity for certain players. But it is not a definitive predictor of NFL success. Tape still matters. Context still matters. And understanding who benefits from each narrative matters most of all.
As draft season ramps up, this is a guide to reading the headlines, questioning the leaks, and recognizing the strategy behind the spectacle.
With the Super Bowl behind us, the league now shifts into what Trey Wingo calls the player procurement season: free agency, trades, the draft, and the NFL Combine. And if you’re paying attention, this stretch of the calendar often determines who’s playing deep into January.
In this episode, Trey breaks down what really happens during Combine week — and why the most important parts of it aren’t the 40-yard dash or the bench press.
The NFL Combine has evolved into a made-for-TV event. Quarterbacks throw in prime time. Defensive linemen run timed drills in front of national audiences. Analysts debate hand size, vertical jump, and arm length. But for front offices, the real work looks very different.
This is negotiation season.
Top prospects are trying to maximize their draft position and long-term value. Teams, in many cases, are trying to manage that value — sometimes even suppress it. Information gets shared. Medical evaluations get flagged. Rumors surface. Reports are leaked. And very little of it happens by accident.
Trey explains:
Why Combine week is as much about leverage as it is about evaluation
Why top prospects often have more to lose than gain in on-field drills
The real value of the medical exams and team interviews
How smaller-school or under-the-radar players can use the Combine to change their careers
Why “competitiveness” debates often miss the point
How teams and agents use information strategically during draft season
There’s also perspective on recent roster-building decisions — including how the Kansas City Chiefs turned the Tyreek Hill trade into long-term draft capital and sustained success, while other franchises chased splashier moves with different results. It’s a reminder that the teams that win in April and May often set themselves up to win in December and January.
The Combine is a showcase. It’s great television. It’s a valuable opportunity for certain players. But it is not a definitive predictor of NFL success. Tape still matters. Context still matters. And understanding who benefits from each narrative matters most of all.
As draft season ramps up, this is a guide to reading the headlines, questioning the leaks, and recognizing the strategy behind the spectacle.