Practices for the 2022 Senior Bowl are now in the books, and all that’s left is the game, which kicks off on Saturday. Yet, there’s still plenty of buzz in Mobile. Here’s the latest NFL rumors (Aaron Rodgers) and NFL Draft news — we’ll start with this year’s NFL Combine.
Drastic changes to player access at the NFL Scouting Combine?
Now that Senior Bowl practices are complete, everyone is off to the 2022 NFL Combine. Well, maybe not everyone.
Unless something drastic happens, the word in Mobile is players on hand for the NFL Combine workouts will be put in a bubble. That means they’ll be restricted to the players’ hotel, the Crowne Plaza, and Lucas Oil Stadium.
At the current moment, there are no plans to have player question-and-answer segments at podiums or any in-person interaction with the media, as has happened at previous NFL Combine events.
It will be interesting to see if trainers are allowed to have any contact with players during the combine. Many trainers rent conference rooms in Indianapolis during the Combine, and players come to get stretched or massaged and prepare for workouts.
As we previously reported, the NFLPA canceled their annual meeting, which takes place every year in Indianapolis during the Combine.
Latest Aaron Rodgers Rumors: QB controls his own destiny
I’ve been writing a lot about the possibility of Aaron Rodgers being traded to the Denver Broncos the past week. One thing I learned at the Senior Bowl was the obvious — the final decision rests with Rodgers.
If he wants to stay with the Packers, that’s what will happen. If he wants to be traded to a team such as the Broncos, that’s what will happen. Should he want to retire, that’s what will happen.
Sam Howell and Kenny Pickett most impressive quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl
Tomorrow (February 4), I’ll have a little more on how scouts stacked players at the Senior Bowl. But as far as the quarterbacks are concerned, the scouts I spoke with came away most impressed with Sam Howell and Kenny Pickett.
Howell was consistently the most accurate passer in practice and rarely had passes get away from him. Furthermore, scouts loved his compact delivery, arm strength, and ability to throw the deep pass.
Pickett played well, had some terrific interviews, and really impressed during quarterback meetings. There is some concern about Pickett’s hand size as it was obvious to many Pickett struggled to grip the ball during Wednesday’s rainy practice.
Scouts were not impressed with Bailey Zappe, pointing out the lack of size and arm strength. Those I spoke with say Zappe is a late-rounder who could fall out of the NFL Draft completely.