What’s on Tap for Wednesday at NFL Combine?

By Alan Saunders

·Updated: March 1, 2023

INDIANAPOLIS — The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine will continue on Wednesday, with the first players taking to the podium at the Indiana Convention Center to speak to the media during the most important part of the pre-draft process.
Here’s what we’re watching for on Wednesday:

FIRST UP

The process of the combine in staggered, so that every day, a new group of prospects arrives in Indianapolis, ordered by position.
The defensive linemen and linebackers got here on Sunday or Monday, and went through orientation and their first day of team interviews on Monday. Tuesday, they had medical exams and more team interviews. Today, they’ll speak with the media, meet with the NFLPA and wrap up their final day of meeting with teams.

STEELERS TARGETS

The Steelers have many needs among Wednesday’s group, including nose tackle, defensive tackle, outside linebacker and inside linebacker, and as many as five players from the Steelers draft class could theoretically come from today’s speakers.

Some of the highlights include Iowa defensive lineman Luke Van Ness, Baylor nose tackle Siaki Ika, Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson, Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders, Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee.

MORE COACHSPEAK

About two-thirds of the NFL was represented by a head coach or a general manager that took to a podium to address the media on Tuesday, including the Pittsburgh Steelers with new GM Omar Khan.

On Wednesday, the rest of the league will go, including some of the Steelers divisional rivals. Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta will speak at 1 p.m., Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski at 1:45 p.m. and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh at 2 p.m.

LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Several people with local connections are expected to hit the podium on Wednesday, including Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis, defensive end Haba Baldonado and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, Penn State defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher, West Virginia defensive tackle Dante Still and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.

HOW TO WATCH

Both NFL Network and Sirius XM Radio will have live coverage from Indianapolis throughout the day, though the on-field events like the 40-yard dash don’t start until Thursday.