Coaches, front office executives and pundits alike routinely debate whether or not quarterbacks should throw at the combine. It used to be that if your were a lock to go in the top ten, you didn’t throw at the combine. You waited until your pro day. Times have changed however.

More quarterbacks are opting to throw in Indianapolis. Why? It is a chance to impress coaches, scouts and executives alike and enhance their draft stock. Why wait until your pro day when you can set the tone with an impressive performance at the combine. Here are three reasons why quarterbacks should throw at the combine.

1. Enhances Their Stock: For years, many quarterbacks and their agents believed that throwing at the combine could potentially hurt a quarterback’s stock. That is why for years, many of the top quarterbacks refused to throw. That is simply not true! Coaches and executives alike have dissected the quarterbacks in this draft class for the past two years. They know their strengths and weaknesses. Throwing at the combine is an opportunity to dispel some preconceived notions about your mechanics and improve your stock.

If the workout doesn’t go well, these quarterbacks have a chance to make amends and impress at their pro days. Either way you look at it, it makes no sense not to throw at the combine.

2. Less Pro Day Pressure: Strictly throwing on your pro day is risky. While the quarterback and quarterback coach control the environment, there is more pressure on the quarterback to perform at a higher level. You have to be flawless. If a quarterback throws at the combine and doesn’t perform well, they can use their pro day to make amends. If the quarterback performs well at the combine, the pro day is more of an affirmation of what the evaluators already know. Pro days should be about putting the finishing touches to the pre-draft process, not to determine whether someone can play at the next level or not.    

3. More Teams Develop An Interest: By throwing at the combine and performing well, a quarterback can generate more interest from teams around the NFL. There will be anywhere from 10-12 teams that will be looking for quarterbacks this off-season. Teams like the Browns, Jets, Broncos, Bills, Vikings and Cardinals are all in the market for starting quarterbacks but there will be a handful of other teams like the Giants, Patriots, Bengals, Dolphins and Chiefs that are in the market for developmental quarterbacks. If this year’s quarterback class performs well at the combine, the teams looking for developmental quarterbacks will invest more time in the position and focus more on individual workouts.

Most of the top quarterbacks in this draft with the exception of USC quarterback Sam Darnold are throwing this weekend. Darnold is making a mistake not throwing in my opinion however itt is his choice. Darnold and his people are obviously comfortable with where the quarterback is and where they think he will go. Either way, the quarterbacks will be the highlight of this year’s combine.