i think pro days are useful for the low round players who gms may not have as much film on

though it's the big names that get the focus in the media, the people the big qbs are throwing too are probably just as important to the gms

right now i reckon every gm has his draft board and his teams draft board sorted at the top end, probably first 4 rounds are pretty set in stone and the pro day won't really change that.

but at the low end 6 or 7 and udfas where you are looking for developmental players to try and get a diamond in the rough i think the pro days are key

 

you aren't really looking for polish at that point you are looking for traits that jump out at you that you can mold into a polished players and watching a player right in front of you his speed or strength might make him jump out in your memory

 

at the top end it also allows you a second study of a player in a different environment and for you to really break down his technique. Though i don't think a bad pro day will plummet a player if two players are evenly matched on your draft board a good pro day could elevate one above the other or vice versa.

 

Also watching a guy throw right in front of you and comparing it to game film will give you a better idea of the little traits and niggles that come out when under pressure or any parts of his overall mechanics that need improving.

 

one other function is as a smoke machine for the great game the gms are playing.

they know their draft boards and are trying to guess other peoples so they can work out their strategy

so sending a big contingent suggests interest and may make other teams try and leap you

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