NFL Combine 2023 drills schedule, events, bench press record and records list

The NFL is all set to host the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, check out the full list of drills that the NFL prospects will take part in along with their current standings and bench press record

The NFL Combine will be held at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, which is the home of the Indianapolis Colts.

NFL Combine 2023 drills schedule, events, bench press record, records list

.@TristanWirfs78 2020 Combine workout was INSANE 😱

🔸 40-yard dash of 4.85 seconds
🔸10-foot-1 broad jump
🔸36.5-inch vertical jump

📺: 2023 #NFLCombine begins March 2nd on @nflnetworkpic.twitter.com/qg8U02FnYh

— NFL (@NFL) February 25, 2023

6'5"
239 pounds
4.4 40-yard dash@calvinjohnsonjr was literally built different. 🤖

📺: 2023 #NFLCombine begins Thursday on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/elFZi3kybO

— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2023

49 reps at 225 pounds. @PAEA_90's 2011 bench press Combine record is still holding strong. 💪

📺: 2023 #NFLCombine begins Thursday on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/aiPCgxz2LQ

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2023

The NFL Combine 2023 will take place from Thursday, March 2^nd 3pm ET up until Sunday, March 5^th 1pm ET.

NFL Combine 2023 full list of drills

Given below is a list of all the NFL Combine 2023 drills along with their brief descriptions:

40-yard dash

The 40-yard dash is the most popular NFL Combine drill among fans and will continue to be so. Fans often observe how fast players can run the 40-yard dash even when judging professional players.

The NFL uses the 40-yard dash to judge a player’s speed as it is the best way to measure which prospects have the top straight-line speed. Wide receivers in particular will find this drill important, as they will need to be playmakers and field stretchers, in today’s NFL games. Faster players get more chances behind the defense.

Defensive backs also need to clock good 40 times. Cornerbacks often have to run fast to keep up with the fastest receivers and eventually develop into high-end starters. Meanwhile, the 40-yard dash time gives a general idea of how well safeties can react quickly, and accelerate toward the ball to break up passes

Although the 10-yard splits run has gained more popularity among fans as it helps show burst and acceleration more clearly. It helps determine which players have the explosiveness to become playmakers at receiver and in the secondary.

Bench press

Another notable NFL Combine is the bench press which has continued to impress fans over the years. The bench Press helps officials to test the functional, upper-body strength of players. It involves players lifting up a 225-pound barbell. Although it helps teams determine a player’s strength, its importance has dwindled over the years.

This is because a lot of players now rely on technique over strength to become solid blockers and stay upright. However, players still need a certain amount of baseline strength to play as successful defence players. As such, the Bench press is an important drill for offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and tight ends.

The Bench press drill also slightly matters for receivers and cornerbacks, who have to fight for contested catches. Having elite strength however, doesn’t necessarily guarantee success as a great NFL player.

Stephen Paea was an Oregon State defensive tackle who holds the record with 49 reps on the bench press in 2011. This led to Paea becoming the second-round pick for that year’s NFL Draft. However, he never quite lived up to his draft status and only played a serviceable rotational player for seven years.

Three-cone drill

The three-cone drill is an all-time favorite drill of the NFL teams. The drill involves players running around three cones as officials use it to measure a player’s agility.

It is a very simple drill and follows a player making a straight line between the first and second cone. The players then loop around the second and third cones as fast as possible.

Colts defensive end Kwity Paye shared his description of the drill as:

The purpose of this drill is to see exactly how quickly players can change directions, accelerate in and out of breaks and bend while rounding each cone. This helps to demonstrate which players have the quickest feet, which often is important in determining which receivers have the best release off the line and are better route runners.”

This drill in particular shows how edge rusher prospects perform as they need to quickly get around offensive tackles. That particular skill shows up when players round the cones. However, any sub-7 second time in this drill is considered an elite record.

20-yard shuttle

The 20-yard shuttle also involves cones but it is not as complex as the three-cone drill. In this drill, players stand at a cone and sprint five yards forward, change directions and go back 10 yards. The players then change directions again and sprint five yards back to their starting point.

Most players clock in at the four-second range. The 20-yard shuttle also helps to test the agility and explosiveness of players, particularly defensive players. Defensive players often find themselves with minimal time to make plays in cramped space. As such, they need a certain amount of reaction abilities to change directions and get close to their top speeds.

The drill in particular is most important for linebackers and cornerbacks among defensive players. Linebackers often make split-second decisions about coming up and stopping runs or staying back in coverage. Meanwhile, cornerbacks, have to react quickly to the receivers’ movements and be on guard for double moves.

Vertical jump

The vertical jump is also another important drill for receivers, cornerbacks, and tight ends. Using this drill, talent evaluators assess which players can get up and fight for contested catches.

Players who record jump higher jumps have more lower body strength and explosiveness. As such, players who can pair a good jumping number with a solid bench press score, display great overall strength. Therefore, the vertical jump drill is very important for offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and running backs.

Linemen often need to be quick and powerful off the snap, and having great leg strength helps them achieve that. Meanwhile, running backs need to quickly power through holes and creases in the scrimmage line. This is when having good leg strength makes it easier for them and also allows room for extra yardage.

Broad jump

The broad jump shares a similar importance to the vertical jump, and mainly helps measure lower-body strength and explosiveness. However, it requires more flexibility and balance than the vertical jump. As such, it is an important drill for offensive linemen.

Linemen that can perform good broad jumps have the ability to play tackle. Meanwhile, linemen that record an average or below-average jump often struggle with quicker and more explosive edge rushers. Those type of players end up at guard, which makes this drill important in separating the tackles from interior linemen.

Meanwhile, the broad jump is another good way to measure the explosiveness of offensive playmakers like running backs and receivers.

Full list of NFL Combine records for each drill

Given below is a full list of standing records for all the drills in the NFL Combine:

40-yard dash

Bench press

Vertical jump

Broad jump

*Unofficial world record

Three-cone drill

20-yard shuttle

60-yard shuttle

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