Nfl Combine Schedule Drives High-Stakes QB Chatter: Willis, Cousins and Rodgers Loom Large in Indianapolis
The nfl combine schedule has become the focal point for executives and agents negotiating next steps in a tight quarterback market, where every hallway conversation can shift leverage. What matters now is that confirmed comments and roster decisions emerging around Indianapolis are already shaping likely destinations and price points for several veteran and ascending quarterbacks.
Nfl Combine Schedule and the Malik Willis Valuation
Among the names dominating meetings is Malik Willis, identified as the Tennessee Titans’ 2022 third-round selection who has logged two seasons in Green Bay. That background has positioned Willis as the most discussed free-agent passer at the combine, in part because demand for quarterbacks currently outstrips supply. Executives remain split on what Willis can command: one evaluator said Willis is unlikely to see an average annual salary reach $30 million, while another said they would be surprised if he does not hit that threshold.
Those divergent price expectations are driving concrete recruiting strategies on the hotel floors. Teams weighing their offers are balancing pure financial upside against fit; one front-office figure framed the choice as between signing for the highest bid and choosing an organization with the surrounding structure that maximizes a quarterback’s chance to succeed. What makes this notable is that conversations at this stage can quickly translate into contract parameters over the next several weeks as franchises move from scouting to negotiation.
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons' March 11 Roster Decision
In a confirmed team move, Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham announced that the club will release Kirk Cousins on March 11 and will not re-sign him. That official action immediately turns Cousins into a marketable veteran option, and evaluators at the combine noted several teams that could express interest. One coach who faced Cousins this past season judged his recent play improved from 2024 to 2025, citing a more functional offense during a four-game win streak that included a victory over the Rams.
The effect of Atlanta’s timing is clear: making the release decision public and dated focuses other clubs’ planning windows and creates a compressed period for suitors to identify fits before free agency activity accelerates. Teams with younger quarterbacks or uncertain depth charts could view Cousins as a short-term bridge to stabilize their floor while longer-term options are developed.
Omar Khan's Comments and the Aaron Rodgers Possibility
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan has signaled the franchise is open to bringing Aaron Rodgers back, a stance that adds another layer to combine discussions. Khan’s public willingness to entertain Rodgers’ return arrives against the backdrop of that quarterback’s recent playoff outing, a 30-6 loss in which he finished with 146 passing yards and one interception. Executives and evaluators at the event are parsing whether a veteran stopgap like Rodgers would raise an immediate competitive floor for Pittsburgh or simply postpone a longer-term solution at the position.
The immediate cause—Khan’s openness—creates the effect of spurring both internal deliberations and external agent conversations. Teams that have not prioritized long-range quarterback development may be more inclined to revisit veteran options; conversely, clubs with clearer developmental plans could use this moment to press for favorable pieces in a trade or contract market. One scouting director offered a blunt assessment of recent roster construction and personnel moves, arguing they have complicated the franchise’s identity and available alternatives.
With the combine acting as a concentrated meeting ground and the nfl combine schedule dictating windows for face-to-face talks, the coming days are likely to accelerate decisions already gestating in hotel lobbies. Meetings will determine whether conversations become offers — and whether high-profile names translate into roster actions before free agency proper unfolds.
