Mike Vrabel gave his tips for interviewing prospects at the NFL combine. | Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesShare on FacebookShare on XAdd us on INDIANAPOLIS — For a second, I thought Fernando Mendoza was in the middle of the moving circle of people heading my way in one of the hallways at the Indiana Convention Center on Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS — For a second, I thought Fernando Mendoza was in the middle of the moving circle of people heading my way in one of the hallways at the Indiana Convention Center on Wednesday.
Once the horde of media and this mystery subject walked past the safety and health conference, which is being held at the same time as the NFL combine, I realized that it was Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, not the popular Indiana quarterback, who was holding the walk-and-chat session.
Once the horde of media and this mystery subject walked past the safety and health conference, which is being held at the same time as the NFL combine, I realized that it was Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, not the popular Indiana quarterback, who was holding the walk-and-chat session.
Eventually, Borgonzi said goodbye to the local reporters before seeing them again seconds later at the podium for another interview session. It never hurts to get more opportunities to ask Borgonzi about how he plans to add more weapons for quarterback Cam Ward, last year’s No. 1 pick.
Eventually, Borgonzi said goodbye to the local reporters before seeing them again seconds later at the podium for another interview session. It never hurts to get more opportunities to ask Borgonzi about how he plans to add more weapons for quarterback Cam Ward, last year’s No. 1 pick.
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi on what he’s noticed from Robert Saleh since hiring him last month pic.twitter.com/q47cF6DDyA— Gilberto Manzano (@GManzano24) February 25, 2026
As for another combine quirk, Borgonzi was at podium No. 7, right next to Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, who was speaking at the same time as the GM of his former team. Vrabel and Borgonzi didn’t cross paths in Tennessee, but Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald did for one season in Baltimore.
As for another combine quirk, Borgonzi was at podium No. 7, right next to Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, who was speaking at the same time as the GM of his former team. Vrabel and Borgonzi didn’t cross paths in Tennessee, but Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald did for one season in Baltimore.
Just former Ravens coordinators talking side by side as head coaches. Browns coach Todd Monken and Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. And Macdonald can play nickel because he just won a Super Bowl 😂 pic.twitter.com/HWmZEQ3xuv— Gilberto Manzano (@GManzano24) February 25, 2026
In 2023, Monken was the Ravens offensive coordinator, while Macdonald was the defensive coordinator. On Wednesday, Monken and Macdonald spoke at the same time as head coaches and were side by side at podiums No. 4 and 5, to the left of Vrabel, who sported a denim shirt and offered interviewing advice to the reporters. More on how Vrabel prefers to interview draft prospects later on.
In 2023, Monken was the Ravens offensive coordinator, while Macdonald was the defensive coordinator. On Wednesday, Monken and Macdonald spoke at the same time as head coaches and were side by side at podiums No. 4 and 5, to the left of Vrabel, who sported a denim shirt and offered interviewing advice to the reporters. More on how Vrabel prefers to interview draft prospects later on.
Mike Vrabel sporting the denim 👖 pic.twitter.com/ihlPBVF3hJ— Gilberto Manzano (@GManzano24) February 25, 2026
First, let’s get to what we heard from some of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL draft: Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles all spoke on Wednesday.
First, let’s get to what we heard from some of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL draft: Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles all spoke on Wednesday.
Here are sights and sounds from Day 2 of the NFL combine.
Here are sights and sounds from Day 2 of the NFL combine.
Ohio State top prospects credit Matt Patricia for their versatility
Ohio State top prospects credit Matt Patricia for their versatility
I always think about Office Space when the linebackers speak at the NFL combine because they’re constantly being asked, “What would you say … you do here?”
I always think about Office Space when the linebackers speak at the NFL combine because they’re constantly being asked, “What would you say … you do here?”
It’s difficult to keep up with everything a linebacker is tasked with, and it’s a shame that more teams don’t prioritize that kind of versatility unless it leads to sacks.
It’s difficult to keep up with everything a linebacker is tasked with, and it’s a shame that more teams don’t prioritize that kind of versatility unless it leads to sacks.
If a linebacker says he excels at rushing the passer, well, that’s good because teams value that more than anything else on the defensive side. If a prospect rattles off the terms “Sam,” “Mike” and “Will,” well, that’s when things can get confusing, but in simple terms, those are the more traditional off-ball linebackers. Teams tend to avoid those players in the first round when it comes to on-the-field qualifications.
If a linebacker says he excels at rushing the passer, well, that’s good because teams value that more than anything else on the defensive side. If a prospect rattles off the terms “Sam,” “Mike” and “Will,” well, that’s when things can get confusing, but in simple terms, those are the more traditional off-ball linebackers. Teams tend to avoid those players in the first round when it comes to on-the-field qualifications.
