Todd Bowles Clarifies Combine Value
March 1st, 2026
“Jason, I need to see this guy in shorts.”
Don’t tell Todd Bowles the NFL Scouting Combine is of little worth. Bowles isn’t there to carouse in downtown Indianapolis at the NFL’s winter carnival.
Bowles values the Combine and it’s more than about meeting players.
Bowles feels it’s important to see players up close and out of pads.
“Obviously the tape has a lot to do with it earlier [at One Buc Palace,] as we put these [prospects] together, then it’s a position of need depending on what you want to draft, and things you look forward to. But coming to the Combine, you get a good feel for the body type,” Bowles told SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“You know, you see [players] in pads but because you don’t see ’em in person — you get to see’em in pads and then you get to interview them and get their personalities. So we get to see their personalities. We get to see what they’re like out of pads and you get to see then move around a little bit and you try to put the body with what’s on tape.”
The Bucs’ head coach emphasized he was not referring to receivers and defensive backs. Those bodies can be misleading in person, Bowles said, and they’re all about film study.
Joe heard how Bowles answered this player-evaluation question and immediately thought he sounded like a coach who’s been watching a lot of front-7 players.
Joe wouldn’t cry if the Bucs drafted a defensive tackle, assuming the Bucs address linebacker in free agency. At least a few solid ones should be there in Round 2.
Vita Vea is 31. Calijah Kancey is injury-prone, and Logan Hall might command too much cash in free agency.
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