2026 NFL Combine Winners and Losers

Every year, the NFL Combine separates the pretenders from the contenders. Prospects can talk all they want at the podium about being competitors and dogs who would die for their teammates, but at some point, you have to back it up on the field. The 2026 combine was a mixed bag in that regard. Participation rates continued their alarming decline, with the three-cone drill drawing just 11 percent of defensive linemen compared to 75 percent back in 2017. The 40-yard dash participation among quarterbacks dropped from 94 percent a decade ago to roughly 63 percent this cycle. The guys who could not run stayed home. The guys who could run went out and ran fast, which skewed the averages and made the overall numbers look historically elite even though the sample size was shrinking by the year.

But within that context, the prospects who actually competed gave evaluators plenty to work with. Several players cemented their first-round status. A handful of under-the-radar names forced their way into the day-two conversation. And a few of the draft's biggest names left Indianapolis with more questions than answers. Here is a position-by-position breakdown of who won the week and who still has work to do heading into pro day season.

Edge Rushers: Reese Looks Like the Real Deal, Lawrence Steals the Show

Arvell Reese walked into Indianapolis as one of the top two prospects in this draft class and walked out having done nothing to change that. His full workout was arguably the most impressive of any defensive player at the combine. The violence through the bag drills, the lateral quickness, the explosive change of direction. Everything about his movement screamed elite NFL pass rusher. Reese has the kind of film that already justified his draft position, and watching him work in person only confirmed what the tape has been screaming all season. He is a top-two pick, and it would take something dramatic at this point to knock him off that perch.

The biggest individual winner among edge rushers, though, might have been Malachi Lawrence. At 6-4, 253 pounds, Lawrence posted a 4.52 forty, a 40-inch vertical, and a 10-10 broad jump. Those are freakish numbers for a player his size, and they did not come out of nowhere. Lawrence had been generating serious buzz in scouting circles since his strong week of practices at the Shrine Bowl. Evaluators who had seen him up close knew his explosion was legitimate. What Lawrence did in Indianapolis simply put a number on what people in the building already believed. He was already inside the top 100 on most boards. He is firmly in the day-two conversation now and could push into the back half of round two with a strong pro day.

Dani Dennis-Sutton out of Penn State turned in one of the more well-rounded workouts among edge players. At 256 pounds, his 6.9-second three-cone was outstanding, and his jumps and linear speed all tested well. He was one of only two edge rushers who even attempted the three-cone this year, which speaks volumes about his confidence in his own movement ability. David Bailey ran in the 4.5 range and looked like the explosive, high-motor rusher his tape suggested. For a player projected in the top seven, it was a clean, box-checking workout. Nothing flashy, nothing concerning. Exactly what you want.

Not everyone had that kind of week. Rueben Bain Jr. did not participate in drills, which was disappointing given the spotlight already on him. His official arm measurement of 30 and 7/8 inches was the biggest talking point of the defensive line workouts. Scouts had measured him at 30 and 3/4 in the fall, so the number was expected, but seeing it officially confirmed still sent ripples through the scouting community. Bain is a dominant player on film regardless of his arm length, but the measurement will be a conversation piece from now through draft night. Keldric Faulk out of Auburn also left evaluators wanting more. For a prospect with his physical traits, the on-field production did not quite match the expectations heading into the week.

On the interior, Zane Durant from Penn State posted outstanding athletic numbers, which was not surprising for a former high school running back. The problem is reconciling that athleticism with a grand total of four and a half tackles for loss in 12 starts last season. Durant looks incredible in shorts. The question remains whether that movement ability will ever translate to consistent disruption at the line of scrimmage.

Sonny Styles Is Pushing Into the Top Two Conversation

There might not be a more complete prospect in this draft than Sonny Styles. The Ohio State linebacker came into Indianapolis with a top-five grade on most boards and proceeded to validate every bit of it. His athletic testing was elite. His movement skills during positional drills were elite. And his formal interview process with teams was, by multiple accounts, the best of any prospect at the entire combine. Reports from inside team meetings described scouts giving him standing ovations. That kind of response is almost unheard of.

Styles is a rare prospect because the floor is so high. His trajectory at Ohio State showed steady improvement every season. His measurables and athleticism give him scheme versatility that most off-ball linebackers simply cannot offer. The right defensive coordinator could use him as a traditional mike, drop him into coverage, or bring him off the edge in sub packages. He has not hit his ceiling yet, which is the most exciting part. Named after the character Sonny from The Godfather and a former high school basketball recruit with Division I offers from multiple programs, Styles carries himself with the kind of maturity and presence that front offices covet. The conversation about him going as high as second overall behind Fernando Mendoza is legitimate. He is the closest thing to bust-proof in this entire class.

Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech continued his dominant pre-draft process with an outstanding combine. He ran the full battery of tests and posted a 6.9-second three-cone, which is an impressive number for any linebacker. Rodriguez has been building momentum since the Senior Bowl, where evaluators came away with a new appreciation for his athleticism. Between his strong senior season, his Senior Bowl performance, and now the combine, it is hard to think of a prospect at any position who has done the last six months better. Kyle Louis from Pittsburgh and Jack Kelly out of BYU also posted strong workouts that should boost their draft stock heading into April.

The Deepest Safety Class in Years Just Got Deeper

Dillon Thieneman entered Indianapolis as a potential mid-first-round pick and left with fewer questions than he had going in. His athletic testing was phenomenal, and his positional workout reinforced everything that made him a first-round prospect in the first place. There is now real conversation about Thieneman pushing into the top 15, and teams picking in that range who need secondary help will have to weigh whether he is worth the investment at that price point.

The depth at safety this year is staggering. Caleb Downs did not need to blow anyone away athletically because his tape does that for him. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren had a solid showing. A.J. Haulcy looked incredibly smooth during on-field drills. Add in Keionte Scott, Zakee Wheatley, Bud Clark, Genesis Smith, and Jalon Kilgore, and you are looking at roughly 10 safeties who belong in the top 100. Even the day-three options at the position have the kind of upside that could outperform where they are drafted. If your team needs a safety this April, the draft gods are smiling on you.

Xavier Nwankpa out of Iowa is an interesting name further down the board. A former five-star recruit who never quite made the impact expected of him in college, his combine testing showed that the raw talent is still very much there. He is the kind of developmental prospect who could reward a patient coaching staff willing to deploy him differently than Iowa did.

At cornerback, Avieon Terrell from Clemson may be the most undervalued player in the secondary. He did not run the 40, but his positional workout was one of the best of any defensive back in Indianapolis. The ball skills, the movement, the competitive intensity. His tape is full of forced incompletions, forced fumbles, and hustle plays where he chases down ball carriers from across the field. He has an old-school enforcer energy that does not always show up in the box score but is impossible to miss on film. Terrell is currently slotted around pick 18 on most boards. He could go higher.

Tacario Davis from Washington was a testing star at nearly 6-4 with 34-inch arms and a 4.41 forty. Those long strides devour ground in a hurry. His mirror-and-match technique and play strength need refinement, but teams that prioritize length on the perimeter are going to be all over him. Chris Johnson from San Diego State answered the one lingering question about his game by running 4.40 flat twice. Speed was the only remaining box to check, and he checked it emphatically. Chandler Rivers out of Duke had a terrific all-around workout. Toriano Pride Jr. out of Missouri posted the fastest cornerback time of the combine at 4.32, immediately firing up the film room for every team in the league. Treydan Stukes from Arizona ran a 4.33, flashed outstanding ball skills, and looks like one of the better nickel prospects in the class with safety versatility to boot.

Sadiq Cements His First-Round Status, Stowers Defies Gravity

Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon already had a first-round grade heading into the combine. He left Indianapolis looking like a potential top-10 pick. His official 40 came back at 4.39, but hand times from multiple teams clocked him between 4.32 and 4.34. He posted a 43.5-inch vertical, an 11-foot broad jump, and 26 reps on the bench press. For a tight end with his route-running ability and receiving skills, those numbers are borderline obscene. With Travis Kelce's potential retirement looming in Kansas City, the conversation about where Sadiq lands gets very interesting. He projects to come off the board no later than pick 18, and there is a realistic path to the top 10 if a tight-end-needy team falls in love with the athleticism.

Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt put up a 45.5-inch vertical, a number that would be impressive for a wide receiver, let alone a tight end. He solidified his position as the number two tight end in the class and looked every bit the freak athlete his tape suggested.

Sam Roush from Stanford earned the combine's unofficial iron man award. At 6-6, 267 pounds, he ran a 4.70 forty, posted a 38.5-inch vertical, clocked a 7.08 three-cone, and put up 25 bench reps. He was reportedly one of only two players out of 319 at the entire combine who completed every single drill and workout. In a year where participation was the biggest story, Roush competing in everything sends a message that NFL teams will remember.

Love Looks Like a Top-Five Running Back, Washington's Big Moment

Jeremiyah Love is the undisputed RB1 in this class, and his combine workout did nothing but reinforce that status. The Notre Dame back looked exactly like the dynamic, multi-faceted weapon his tape shows. The real question is not whether Love goes in round one. It is how high he climbs. Teams picking in the top five, particularly Arizona at three and Tennessee at four, have to seriously consider whether an impact running back who changes the game as a runner and a receiver transforms their offense more than any other player available at that slot. New Orleans at eight feels like a very natural fit. Kansas City at nine feels like the absolute floor. Love is not lasting past the top nine picks. Book it.

Mike Washington from Arkansas delivered the most emotional moment of the entire week when he blazed a 4.33 forty and was overcome with emotion afterward. Washington's journey from Buffalo to New Mexico State to Arkansas is one of the best stories in this draft class. He already has his degree and is working on his masters. His production at Arkansas this past season was excellent, and he followed it up with a strong Senior Bowl before torching the combine. He entered Indianapolis as the fourth running back on many boards. He is firmly in the conversation for the second or third back drafted now, and he looks like a lock to hear his name called on Friday night. Jadarian Price projects as the likely second running back off the board, but Washington is making a serious push.

Wide Receivers: The Stars Sat, the Workers Ate

The wide receiver group told two very different stories at this combine. Several of the top-tier names opted not to run, while the prospects who actually competed gave themselves a significant boost. Makai Lemon did not work out. Jordyn Tyson did not work out. Denzel Boston said he would do everything and then skipped the 40. KC Concepcion did not run but looked fantastic in the gauntlet, which was notable for a player whose drop issues have been a first-round concern.

Carnell Tate went out and ran a 4.53, which landed right where scouts expected. He is not a burner and never has been. His game is built on long strides and downfield playmaking, and a 4.53 does not change anything about his projection as a top-12 pick. The fact that he competed while several peers sat out will earn him credit in front offices, whether it should or not. Expect him to run again at Ohio State's pro day and shave a couple hundredths off.

Ja'Kobi Lane was one of the week's pleasant surprises. At 6-4, 200 pounds, he posted a 4.47 with a 40-inch vertical and looked silky smooth in every on-field drill. The footwork and body control were eye-catching. There are legitimate concerns about his play strength and upright route running that will not go away because of a good combine, but the athletic profile is tantalizing. How he interviewed will matter just as much as what he did on the field. Jeff Caldwell out of Cincinnati might have played his way onto draft boards entirely. At 6-5, 216 pounds, he ran a 4.31 with a 40-plus inch vertical. Nobody expected those numbers from a player who looked like a 4.4 guy on tape. He was a borderline draft pick heading into the week. He will get drafted now.

Germie Bernard posted the best three-cone in the entire class at 6.71 seconds, showcasing elite change-of-direction ability at 206 pounds. Zachariah Branch tracked the ball beautifully downfield and should quiet any concerns about being limited to underneath work. Bryce Lance ran a 4.34 at 6-3, 204 pounds with a 41.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot broad jump. De'Zhaun Stribling clocked a 4.36 at 207 pounds. Deion Burks dominated as expected. Zavion Thomas blazed a ridiculous 40 time and backs it up with legitimate football ability on tape. Malachi Fields ran a disappointing 4.61 forty but posted a 6.98 three-cone at 218 pounds, one of only eight sub-7.0 times among all 319 combine participants.

Quarterbacks: Simpson Separates, Star Power Still Missing

Outside of Fernando Mendoza sitting atop the class, this quarterback group is not going to wow anyone with star power. But the combine throwing sessions were more encouraging than expected. Ty Simpson out of Alabama clearly separated himself as the best thrower in attendance. His mechanics were clean, his accuracy was sharp, and his arm looked extremely live throughout the workout. He is a day-two quarterback who solidified that status in Indianapolis.

Drew Allar showed off his big arm and looked good being back on the field. Garrett Nussmeier was steady. Taylen Green was the athletic standout with a 4.36 forty and a 43.5-inch vertical, though his accuracy remains a project. Cole Payton is built like a tight end, which makes sense given he converted from the position. The ball comes off his hand well but the accuracy is inconsistent, making him a likely fourth-round pick at the earliest. Carson Beck drew boos from Indiana fans in Indianapolis, a strange moment given the Hoosiers won the game against Miami. Beck handled it well and did not let it affect his session. This is a class with six or seven quarterbacks you can talk yourself into at various points on days two and three, even if none of them project as long-term franchise starters outside of Mendoza.

Offensive Line: The Arm Length Debate Rages On

Monroe Freeling out of Georgia made the strongest case of any offensive tackle at the combine. His 1.71-second 10-yard split was better than all three tackles drafted in the top 10 last year, who posted 1.75, 1.74, and 1.78 respectively. He finished top five among offensive linemen in the 40, the vertical, and the broad jump. If you want the best pure left tackle skill set in this class, Freeling is your guy. The only knock is experience, and athleticism this rare gives you confidence the growth will come quickly.

Spencer Fano from Utah had arguably the best total workout of any offensive lineman. A 4.91 forty, a strong vertical, a 7.34 three-cone, and on-field drills that were even more impressive than the testing. The concern is arm length. He measured at 32 and 1/8 inches, shorter than the 32.5 to 33 inches scouts were expecting. His wingspan clears 80 inches, which helps, but teams are going to disagree on whether he is a tackle, a guard, or a center. He took snaps during the workout, suggesting teams want to explore center as an option. Regardless of alignment, he is a first-round talent. Francis Mauigoa faces similar questions after measuring in the 18th percentile among tackles for arm length. Last year's Will Campbell experience, where short arms were largely fine during the regular season but became a real problem in the postseason, will be in the back of every general manager's mind as they evaluate these players.

Kadyn Proctor posted a 32.5-inch vertical at over 350 pounds, a number that could be a combine record for a player that heavy. Emmanuel Pregnon had a 35-inch vertical. Parker Brailsford posted a 9-10 broad jump that could be a record among centers. Keylan Rutledge ran the fastest shuttle of any offensive lineman at 4.54. Sam Hecht, Chase Bisontis, Logan Jones, Caleb Lomu, and Olaivavega Ioane all had strong showings. The Texas A&M offensive line duo of Dametrious Crownover and Trey Zuhn III both impressed as well.

The center class is not going to produce a first-round pick, and there may not even be one taken in round two. But between picks 76 and 130, six or seven centers could come off the board. It is one of those position groups where the lack of a headliner masks genuine depth that should excite teams picking on day two and early day three.

The Big Picture

The top of this draft does not have the star power of recent classes. There is no clear-cut generational talent beyond Mendoza at quarterback and Reese on the edge. But from the middle of the first round through the end of day two, this class is loaded. The safety position is historically deep. The edge group has legitimate starters available into the third round. The offensive line class has high-end athletes even if the arm length questions create some positional ambiguity. And the wide receiver and tight end groups offer a blend of ceiling and floor that should make Friday night one of the most entertaining second rounds in recent memory.

Pro days are up next, and several of the prospects who sat out in Indianapolis will get their chance to answer questions on their own turf. But for the players who stepped up and competed when it mattered most, the combine provided exactly what it was supposed to: clarity, confirmation, and in a few cases, a draft-changing performance that will echo all the way to April.