The NFL’s annual Wonderlic test is supposed to be a measure of how intelligent an incoming draft prospect is. Only, that’s really not what it does. It’s an exam composed of random questions that have nothing to do with playing the game of football. It doesn’t test athletes on rules, coverages, truly nothing relating to their ability to compete with one another.
So it should come as no surprise that the league finally agreed to drop the Wonderlic from this year’s pre-draft process. At least that’s the word from Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press who obtained an official press release from the NFL.
Moving on from Wonderlic isn’t the only pre-draft process change
In addition to abandoning the Wonderlic test, the league is also expected to alter some of the NFL scouting combine drills in an effort to better reflect actual in-game scenarios. The announcement mentions “Wide receivers and tight ends will run crossing routes instead of wheel routes, and running backs will run option routes instead of corner and post-corner routes.
There are no additional details as to whether these are the only changes, but the announced revisions sound like welcome changes. Anything that helps scouts and evaluators get a better feel for what these athletes can do before they choose to select them in the draft should be seen as progress.
And that has nothing to do with the Wonderlic, which is a meaningless test that simply doesn’t exemplify one’s ability to process information. Some just aren’t good test-takers, what does that have to do with throwing, running, blocking catching, tackling, or kicking?
With Wonderlic scores not even being widely reported in recent seasons past, they have become somewhat obsolete. Props to the league for figuring this one out. We’re intrigued to see some of the other changes implemented to the pre-draft process. The 2022 NFL Draft takes place on April 28, 2022.
