Drake Maye, NFL stars recall vivid mix reminiscences
If the 2025 NFL mix contributors really feel like this week is sort of a runaway practice, Quinnen Williams can empathize.
It was the night time earlier than the 2019 mix in Indianapolis, and Williams, a 6-foot-3, 303-pound defensive lineman out of Alabama, was attempting to get some sleep.
However there was one downside.
“The practice station resort,” Williams stated, referring to the downtown Indianapolis resort the place the gamers keep. The resort is linked to the Indianapolis Conference Middle, which hosts the mix, and it is also adjoining to Union Station. “All through the night time, trains would come by means of and so they’d wake you up in the course of the night time.
“One night time I heard a practice going by, and I truly thought that the mattress I used to be sleeping in was on a practice. I awakened freaking out, the night time earlier than the mix, and that is simply loopy. It saved me up all night time.”
.@QuinnenWilliams is MOVIN’ 👀
📺 #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/srraMgeaDf
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 3, 2019
This 12 months’s prospects will attempt to block out the distractions as they attempt to give attention to quite a lot of bodily exams, interviews and different elements of the mix, which is now underway. Those that excel might climb draft boards — as Williams did when the New York Jets drafted him No. 3 total after he ran a 4.83 within the 40-yard sprint, the fourth-fasted time for somebody over 300 kilos since 2003 — whereas others could also be left questioning what went mistaken.
“I did not have a mix due to COVID [in 2021],” Denver Broncos All-Professional cornerback Pat Surtain II stated. “I’d have undoubtedly appreciated to go for the expertise. I do know loads of guys had memorable experiences there.”
It is true gamers have had memorable experiences, however not all of them had been good. Listed below are some tales from mix week, some of the necessary elements of a prospect’s pre-draft course of.
Mix: 2014
The Detroit Lions drafted Van Noy No. 40 total. The Professional Bowler and two-time Tremendous Bowl winner simply concluded his seventh season.
Van Noy’s most vivid mix reminiscence is one that might have derailed his draft course of.
“I virtually broke my [left] arm on a digicam,” he stated. “I used to be doing linebacker drills, and I used to be within the catching phase and was coming throughout, and the ball was thrown somewhat out of attain.
“I went for it, missed it, after which slid on the turf into the digicam and jammed my arm. The digicam was moved after, after all.
“I saved going. I most likely ought to have stopped, however saved going.”
Mix: 2024
Whereas standout receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers opted to not take part within the testing portion of the mix final 12 months, Odunze made some extent of embracing each drill. In actual fact, regardless of being projected as a top-10 choose, Odunze did the three-cone drill 5 occasions as a result of he wasn’t happy along with his first 4. That dedication resulted in him being the final participant on the sector that day.
“My objective was simply to get the right time that I wished,” Odunze stated. “They stated I had cheated in a means or achieved the drill mistaken a few occasions, so I did not agree with that. However my objective was to go on the market and do every part within the mix, compete in each single occasion.
.@RomeOdunze will not depart the sector till he hits his goal of 6.6 on the three cone drill.
Whole dedication. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/vIxbd3V52k
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024
“I skilled for it, so I wished to go see what I can put on the market. After they saved not giving me a time, and I bought a time that I used to be like, that is not even near what I can do, I needed to proceed to maintain going.”
The Bears chosen Odunze No. 9 total, and he turned in a powerful rookie season with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns.
“[The combine is] a high-pressure state of affairs,” Odunze stated. “A number of completely different elements, loads of various things happening.
“It is enjoyable to have the ability to go on the market and compete towards generations of soccer gamers which have gone by means of the mix, however I additionally do not agree with it being the largest measure of what a participant’s potential is. The [idea] that in case you have an excellent mix efficiency, that you are the finest participant ever, I do not agree with that.”
Mix: 2014
The Browns drafted the seven-time Professional Bowler and two-time first-team All-Professional with the thirty fifth choose.
Bitonio has a idea as to why some prospects discover it exhausting to get their relaxation on the mix.
“My reminiscence of it was simply how busy it was,” he stated. “You are interviewing any person, drug exams, all kinds of — to me — loopy issues that do not actually relate to soccer that a lot, however they’d you doing so many interviews. After these 4 days, I used to be exhausted.
“I keep in mind going to mattress at 10 or 11 at night time and being woken up at 5 or 6 within the morning. And the humorous factor is you’ll assume that they’d need guys to be at their finest after they’re performing, however it’s virtually like they need you somewhat bit all the way down to see how you are going to carry out while you’re not fairly at your peak.”
Ryan Hoag, retired, vast receiver
Mix: 2003
Hoag performed at Division III Gustavus Adolphus Faculty in St. Peter, Minnesota. What he remembers essentially the most concerning the mix was being the “most wired I’ve ever felt in my complete life.”
“I used to be the primary ever Division III participant to be invited to the mix,” he stated, “so I really feel like whether or not I used to be cognizant of it on the time, I felt like all of Division III was sort of relying on me.
“I knew that velocity was the rationale that I used to be observed from a small faculty, and I ran 4.33 previous to the mix, so I had an expectation that I used to be going to do higher. I moved to New Orleans and skilled with Tom Shaw, the world famend velocity man, and I used to be like, alright, I’ll run 4.2 and I’ll flip everyone’s heads.”
However there was a giant downside.
“[I had] Asics marathon sneakers,” he stated. “Again then it was on the exhausting AstroTurf in Indy. I ought to have had little nubs virtually that you simply put on on an indoor floor, however I did not know in the event that they had been allowed. I bought these gentle sneakers, and I used to be like, oh, that is what is going on to separate me and I’ll run the quickest, after which I notice they don’t have any lateral help and there is not any grip as a result of they’re meant for a marathon, not sprinter sneakers. And I did not even take them out of the field till I bought to Indy.
“So I ran the primary 40 and I slipped and realized actually shortly that I am unable to dash with these. So I went to my buddy who was additionally on the mix and I borrowed his high-top Jordans and did the remainder of my drills with high-top Jordans. I ponder what I’d’ve bought had I truly had legit sneakers. I feel they had been round the correct dimension, however I did not care.”
Hoag truly turned in the very best three-cone time of any place at 6.72, however the 40-yard sprint didn’t go as deliberate.
“I keep in mind [former Vikings director of college scouting] Scott Studwell appears to be like at me and is like, ‘So what occurs while you run a 4.5?’ And I used to be like, ‘That is not going to occur,'” Hoag recalled. “And he appears to be like at me, he is like, ‘So what occurs while you run 4.5?’ I used to be like, ‘That is not even in my vocabulary.’ And he appears to be like at me once more, he is like, ‘So what occurs while you run 4.5?’ I used to be like, ‘I will do higher subsequent time’ or one thing like that. And I ran 4.5.”
The Oakland Raiders drafted Hoag with the final choose of the draft, however Mr. Irrelevant didn’t play in a regular-season sport. He did earn some acclaim by being a member of the fourth season of “The Bachelorette,” however he did not make it previous Week 2.
Mix: 2023
The Lions drafted the Professional Bowler with the forty fifth choose, however at the very least one among his mix outcomes was so dangerous he needs to run it again even two years later.
“It was tough,” he stated. “I assumed I used to be going to run at the very least a excessive 4.4 within the 40, after which I ended up operating means greater than that [4.58].
“Typically I nonetheless really feel like I wish to run it once more, however I do know every part occurred for a purpose.”
Mix: 2018
The Chargers drafted the four-time Professional Bowler and former first-team All-Professional with the seventeenth choose.
James remembers how the road of questioning at mix interviews did not all the time pertain to soccer.
“You have to be mentally locked in, as a result of it is loads of completely different questions,” he stated. “They might ask you about soccer, they might ask you about life. I had one crew asking me about an algebra equation. It is simply a part of the sport, although. They’re simply attempting to check your psychological fatigue and take a look at your psychological energy.”
Mix: 2024
With Caleb Williams a lock to go No. 1 to the Bears final season, the controversy was over who could be picked second: Jayden Daniels or Maye.
The Washington Commanders selected Daniels at No. 2, however one among Maye’s most vivid mix reminiscences was sitting in entrance of coaches like Washington’s Dan Quinn.
“Strolling right into a room and feeling like everyone’s you, seeing the way you act and simply being actually the elephant within the room,” Maye stated. “They’re all watching you and you and [you’re] simply answering questions.
“I used to be sitting in entrance of Sean Payton, Dan Quinn. I used to be sitting in entrance of head coaches all throughout the league. It is sort of surreal and it was sort of completely different and extra intimidating.”
DJ Moore, Bears, vast receiver
Mix: 2018
Moore had a stable mix, main receivers within the broad soar (11 toes) and ending with the second-best vertical soar (39½ inches).
The Carolina Panthers used their twenty fourth choose to draft Moore, who would turn into some of the prolific receivers in franchise historical past. Carolina traded him to the Bears in 2023.
“It was fairly simple,” Moore stated. “The longest half is the formal interviews, after which the practice station [where they do informal, speed-dating-type interactions with teams] is annoying, however it’s value it on the finish of the day.
“After which the Wonderlic Check, that is annoying, too. As a result of it’s important to sit there and take a take a look at. You simply bought out of school. No one needs to take one other take a look at, however I get what it is there for.”
ESPN NFL reporters Courtney Cronin, Michael DiRocco, Stephen Holder contributed to this report.
