Nfl Schedule This Week: Combine drills, prospect tests and quarterback questions

More than 300 players have been invited to this week's NFL Scouting Combine in preparation for the NFL Draft this spring, and the nfl schedule this week is dominated by interviews and news conferences ahead of the players' drills, which begin tomorrow. Organizers and teams have posted a live schedule for the week while coverage from NFL experts continues around the event.

Nfl Schedule This Week: interviews, news conferences and the start of drills

The action is underway with interviews and news conferences, and the players' drills begin tomorrow. More than 300 players were invited to this week's Combine as part of pre-draft preparation for the NFL Draft this spring. A live schedule for workouts and news programming has been made available for the week.

Panthers tell Andy Dalton there will be competition for backup QB job

The Carolina Panthers have made backup quarterback Andy Dalton aware of their intentions to bring in another quarterback to compete with him for the backup role to Bryce Young. Dalton, a 38-year-old quarterback, has played in Carolina for the past three seasons and could be a trade candidate. Joe Person has the details on the Panthers' backup quarterback situation as teams assess options at the position.

Todd Monken frames Browns’ quarterback picture with Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson

The Browns might be setting themselves up for a move to acquire a clear-cut starting quarterback in early March. If that doesn't happen, new Cleveland coach Todd Monken seems fine with a potential spring and early-summer competition involving second-year player Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. During his combine meeting with reporters Wednesday, Monken praised both Sanders and Watson, saying Watson has "demonstrated a skill set at an elite level" and that Sanders showed "elite playmaking ability" both at times during his rookie season and during his college career.

Sanders started the final seven games of his rookie year, and Watson is returning from major injury, so Monken isn't ready to declare a leader or share the Browns' potential level of interest in finding an external upgrade. He said he is prepared to let what he sees on the practice field dictate his first starting quarterback if necessary. "I think it's an open competition, " Monken said. "I mean, I don't why it wouldn't be an open competition. I don't mean that harshly, but I don't think there's enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, 'Boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet' -- whether internally or externally. "

Deshaun Watson’s contract, cap moves and roster implications

At some point soon, the Browns will again restructure Watson's contract to take his current salary-cap number of $80. 7 million to around $39 million for 2026. The Browns traded three first-round picks for the right to give Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million deal in 2022, but Watson has played in just 19 games for the Browns and hasn't played since Oct. 2024 due to a twice-torn Achilles tendon that kept him on the physically unable to perform list in 2025.

Through that restructure and other moves, the Browns will have enough cap space to address several offensive areas. Six veteran offensive linemen are eligible for free agency, and the Browns also need upgrades at wide receiver. As for whether they'll pursue Malik Willis in free agency or potentially another veteran trade, we will know in two weeks. Monken is not sharing the team's strategy for March or April's draft right now.

Coaches, evaluators and sidelines: Carroll, Macdonald, Canales, Harbaugh and Bears notes

Charlotte Carroll relays what former Ravens coordinators Mike Macdonald and Todd Monken, as well as Panthers head coach Dave Canales, had to say about qualities that make the Giants’ John Harbaugh a good head coach. Even with Caleb Williams' strong 2025 season, Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent remains a fan favorite. Bears head coach Ben Johnson is also a strong Bagent supporter, calling him "probably one of the best 32 of the"

Scouting on the ground from Cincinnati: travel, attendance and players to watch

CINCINNATI was the dateline for one on-site account after a storm that hit the writer’s town brought with it over three feet of snow. Getting a flight to the Midwest proved challenging: the writer's 1: 15 p. m. ET Tuesday flight was canceled, the third canceled flight that week, so he flew to Northern Kentucky instead and will make the 90-minute drive North to arrive. He will make it to his 18th NFL combine.

He and others noted a key caveat for workout coverage: one team told him that more than three-quarters of the players they did formal interviews with on Monday night said they planned to bow out of the athletic testing. Whether these players take the field is a moving target until they’re actually out there.

Prospect spotlights: Sadiq, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles

Sadiq could be a physical outlier if he goes through the physical testing, a prospect compared to what Nick Emmanwori was a year ago. Some expect Sadiq, at about 6' 3" and 240 pounds, will run in the 4. 3s and jump 40", which would be outstanding numbers for a receiver half his size. Sadiq did have a little issue with drops, but he offers a Shannon Sharpe-type skill set and a willingness to block.

Some view Arvell Reese as the draft’s best prospect, with size, length and freakish range that would be confirmed if he decides to run and jump; Reese's 40 time could be pretty eye-opening. Sonny Styles, a 6' 4", 250-pound converted safety who doesn’t have the pass-rush value that Reese does, is believed to have the potential to test like Tremaine Edmunds in 2018 and to show as the class’s most well-rounded athlete. For additional context on Styles, look up his high school hoops highlights.