2026 NFL combine: Top draft prospects, best workouts, risers

INDIANAPOLIS — Individual drills for prospects in the 2026 NFL draft continued Friday, with defensive backs and tight ends taking the Lucas Oil Stadium field. They will be followed by quarterback, running back and wide receiver prospects Saturday. Offensive linemen will finish the combine with on-field workouts Sunday. Defensive linemen and linebackers started things off Thursday.

Who ran well in the 40-yard dash? Who dominated the rest of the on-field work? Draft experts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates are recapping all four days of the combine workouts, evaluating the top performances from every position, picking prospects who are rising (or potentially falling) and addressing notable under-the-radar showings.

Let’s get into the breakdown of all the action at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Jump to a section:
DB/TE: Takeaways | Risers | Top names | Notes
DL/LB: Takeaways | Risers | Top names | Notes

Day 2: Defensive backs and tight ends

Notables who did not work out: Mansoor Delane (LSU), Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)

What are the biggest takeaways from Friday’s workouts?

Miller: The 2026 cornerback class is fast. Just how fast? Of the players that ran Friday, 15 corners clocked under 4.5 seconds in their official timing. Only one player was recorded above 4.54 seconds (TJ Hall, Iowa). Compare that to last year, when seven cornerbacks ran below 4.5, and it’s easy to see the pure speed in this year’s crop. It’s notable that the class ran this well without participation from top prospects such as McCoy, Delane, Avieon Terrell or Brandon Cisse in the 40-yard dash.

Reid: This safety class is fantastic. Even though Downs did not participate in testing or on-field drills, others took advantage of the spotlight. Like with the corners, the speed of this group stood out. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the safeties averaged a 4.42-second 40-yard dash. That’s the fastest average at the position since 2003. And it wasn’t only the early rounders that flashed, as the depth of the group was notable. I currently have 11 safeties with top-100 grades, and I’m expecting them to fly off the board prior to Day 3. There’s an argument to be made that it’s the best position group of any in this year’s draft, and that was on full display Friday.

Yates: The fact that McCoy did not workout was the most notable thing for me Friday, as he has not played since suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. While participating in the combine is not the same as game action, it would have provided a data point as teams attempt to evaluate someone who hasn’t played in a game since December 2024. McCoy’s 2024 tape was worthy of being a top-10 pick in this year’s class and he’ll have an opportunity to work out at Tennessee’s Pro Day. At his best, he is clearly the top cornerback on my board.

Who are the biggest risers from Day 2?

Tacario Davis, CB, Washington

Davis is one of the most uniquely built players in this class, standing at 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds. He ran a 4.41 40, an excellent time for a player of his stature and an important data point for teams that prioritize the traits he provides — length, ball-disruption skills and ability to play press coverage (he’s logged 267 snaps of press over the past three seasons). While Davis won’t fit every scheme, there will be a subset of teams that I believe will value him as soon as the third round. — Yates

Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

Everette caught my eye early in the cornerback workouts and continued that performance all the way through. At 6-foot-1, 196 pounds, he ran an impressive 4.36 40-yard dash. His jumps were equally great, as he jumped 37 ½ inches in the vertical and 10-foot-4 in the broad jump. Everette is viewed as a midround prospect, carrying lots of Round 3 grades from scouts that I have talked to. A scheme-versatile corner, he’s best suited for teams that specialize in zone coverage but occasionally mix in man-to-man principles. — Reid

A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU

Teams looking for a strong safety in this class should have Haulcy on their radar. The former Houston safety finished his college career at LSU and has a no-nonsense edge that really shows up against the run. He measures in at 6-foot and 215 pounds and ran an impressive 4.54 40 — notable for a player with his body type. He is an opportunistic playmaker when the ball in his vicinity, with eight interceptions over the past two seasons. Haulcy will hear his name called on Day 2. — Yates

Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Johnson is creating buzz in league circles and should absolutely be included in the first tier of this year’s CB class. At 6-foot, 194 pounds, the biggest question Johnson needed to answer was his long speed. By running a 4.4 40-yard dash, his answer was emphatic and he continued his ascension up draft boards. Johnson was firmly in the second-round picture entering the combine, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he sneaks into the back end of Round 1. — Reid

Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas

One great aspect of the combine is being able to check a box to clear questions on a player. Muhammad (6-foot, 182 pounds) was a player whose film showed questionable long speed, but his 40 time of 4.42 seconds should quiet those concerns. He also showed smooth transitions and good overall body control during position drills. Muhammad had only three interceptions in his college career, but his technique and length are that of a late Day 2 pick. — Miller

D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

If I had to pick a team consisting of my favorite players to watch on tape in this class, Ponds would be a starting cornerback. The 5-foot-9, 182-pounder is a ball of fury when attacking off the slot or matching up against No. 1 receivers down the field (just watch him against Denzel Boston in 2024). Ponds’ ridiculous 43 1/2-inch vertical jump was the best of any cornerback and helps us understand why he’s been so good in 50/50 situations despite limited height. Ponds opted to not run the 40, but his vertical and on-field drills cemented why he’s a top-50 player on my board. — Miller

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Stowers set two modern combine records (dating to 2003) with a 45 ½-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-3 broad jump. The 6-foot-4, 239-pound former quarterback is still developing as an in-line blocker, but made a statement to start his combine. Stowers is the No. 2 tight end on my board, but this is the type of performance that makes GMs bet on upside and potential. He could very well work his way into the top 40. — Miller

Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers with a 45.5″ vertical jump, the best by a tight end at the combine since 2003. pic.twitter.com/omkvCxDpDG

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2026

How did other top prospects look on Day 2?

Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Hamstring tightness while warming up for the 40-yard dash ended Cisse’s day before he could run or showcase his talents in positional drills, but he was able to impress in his jumps before shutting it down. Cisse (6-foot, 189 pounds) hit 41 inches on his vertical leap and 10-foot-11 on the broad jump — both excellent numbers for the likely first-rounder. He’ll run the 40-yard dash and do positional drills at South Carolina’s pro day on March 17. — Miller

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Hood entered the combine building off a strong Senior Bowl week. He has first-round measurables and added first-round numbers in the 40 (4.44 seconds), vertical jump (40½ inches) and broad jump (10-foot-5). Hood is a press man coverage cornerback at 6-foot and 193 pounds with the broad shoulders to stack up receivers at the line of scrimmage. He is in the mix to be the third cornerback off the board and could land as a top-20 selection. — Miller

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

We often talk about the “winners” of the measurables, and McNeil-Warren definitely turned heads by clocking in at 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds, but his testing numbers left something to be desired. McNeil-Warren’s explosiveness was lacking, with a 35 ½-inch vertical jump that was the fifth lowest of any safety prospect and a 10-foot-2 broad jump was tied for third lowest recorded in the position group. And McNeil-Warren’s 4.53 40 should put to rest any comparisons to Nick Emmanwori from last year. McNeil-Warren’s tape is still first-round caliber, but the testing was average across the board. — Miller

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Labeled as the consensus TE1 of the class, Sadiq entered the combine with heightened expectations. The 6-foot-3, 241-pounder lived up to the hype, running a 4.4 40. But the most impressive part of his testing came during the jumps, as he finished with a 43 ½-inch vertical and leaped 11-foot-1 in the broad jump. Sadiq is a likely top-20 pick who will unquestionably be the first tight end off the board. — Reid

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Terrell only participated in on-field drills, but he was among the best of the corner group. After having zero interceptions last season, his true ball skills were a question mark entering the combine. But he showed plenty of comfort with attacking and snatching the ball out of the air on Friday. He also displayed excellent hip mobility to turn and transition out of his breaks. Terrell has been labeled as a fringe first-rounder, but I believe the 5-foot-11, 186-pounder ends up being a top-20 pick. Circle Clemson’s pro day on March 12, as Terrell is expected to participate in all testing and drills and potentially get in that mid-first-round range. — Reid

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

As advertised. Those are the two words that best describe Thieneman’s performance this week. His athleticism popped on tape and it shined in Indy as well, as he posted a 4.35 40 at 6-foot and 201 pounds. That followed a 41-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump, both excellent figures that highlight his explosive burst. Thieneman is a ball magnet that posted six interceptions as a true freshman in 2023 at Purdue, displaying elite range that will appeal to teams looking to cut down on explosive plays allowed. It would surprise me if he is not a first-round pick. — Yates

More notes, thoughts and things we heard and saw on Day 2

Reid:

• After seeing his brother, Sonny Styles, run a 4.46 40 on Thursday, cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. (Ohio State) went on to run a blistering 4.28 40 on Friday, the best mark of the combine so far. A converted receiver, Styles’ speed helped make him a special teams mainstay and depth piece. A late round hopeful entering the combine, his 40 time likely gets Styles into mid-to-late Day 3 conversation as a special teams player.

Yates:

• Cornerback Treydan Stukes‘ (Arizona) 40 time of 4.33 seconds got me excited. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is a super-versatile player who often hovered over the slot last season, displaying serious physicality and ball skills. Stukes’ four interceptions in 2025 surpassed his previous career total, and I loved the way he tracked and attacked the ball on tape. Stukes is an older prospect who played six college seasons and missed time due to a major knee injury in 2024, but he’d be one of my favorite picks in the Round 3 range.

Jeff Legwold:

• Chris Bell (Louisville), Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 11 wide receiver, said Friday he is on track in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered on Nov. 22 and should be able to participate in an NFL training camp. He has gone through medical evaluations at the combine but will not take part in any of the workouts and is not expected to have a pro day workout before the draft. Bell said he’s been cleared by Dallas Cowboys team physician Dr. Dan Cooper, who did Bell’s surgery, and will begin running next week. “I’ll be potentially returning by training camp,” Bell said. “I want to progress faster than that. … My message has been don’t let this injury fool you. I’m still that dog, I’m still that guy, I’m still that beast you see on the field.”

• Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) said Friday an abdominal injury he suffered in “practice two of fall camp” affected him throughout last season. Nussmeier declined to offer more specifics, but added doctors were unable to identify the issue until “two months ago.” But he said once he got the official diagnosis he was then able to participate during Senior Bowl week and was named MVP of the game. “How much did it affect me? I think it was pretty evident,” Nussmeier said. “I wasn’t really able to throw the football, I had a stabbing pain in my ab every time I went to throw. … It was a frustrating deal.”

Day 1: Defensive linemen and linebackers

Notables who did not work out: CJ Allen (Georgia), Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), Akheem Mesidor (Miami), Peter Woods (Clemson)

What are the biggest takeaways from Thursday’s workouts?

Reid: This linebacker class is awesome. From testing to on-field drills, the players who were expected to be standouts certainly delivered. Sonny Styles (Ohio State) will be the talk of the position group, but the depth shined as well. Jake Golday (Cincinnati), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) and Kyle Louis (Pitt) are three others who helped their draft stock. Golday and Hill are viewed as top-50 prospects, while Louis is considered a Round 3 player. The competition level at the position was on full display, as it seemed they were jostling with each other to catapult up the draft board.

Miller: Arm length was the topic of the day, as Bain (30 7/8 inches) and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell (30 1/4) measured under 31 inches. According to ESPN Research, those lengths would be the shortest for any defensive lineman drafted in the first round since ESPN started tracking combine data in 2003.

Will NFL general managers bet that they’re outliers? I’ve talked to a few teams that had slightly different measurements, ranging up to 32 inches for Bain, but the point stands that no edge rusher with sub-31-inch arms has had 10-plus sacks in a season since 1999. So which team will bet against those numbers? The likely result is that each falls from their current rankings based on film — Bain is my No. 10 prospect and Howell my No. 23 — but it’s unlikely that either falls out of Round 1.

Yates: We’ve reached a different era of the combine, as player participation has been a hot topic in Indy this week. Though there are players whose participation could positively impact their draft stock (i.e., Caleb Banks), more players are cognizant of the minimal upside of working out.

At first, I figured sources around the NFL would find this trend disappointing, but the most popular sentiment that I’ve gathered is one of understanding. The players must make a decision that is best for their own outlook, and in some cases, their college film is more than enough to rubber stamp where they belong in the draft.

Who are the biggest risers from Day 1?

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Banks didn’t need to finish the on-field workouts to rank as one of Thursday’s winners. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound defensive tackle wowed with a 32-inch vertical jump and a 5.05-second 40. Banks missed most of last season because of a foot injury, but his upside is through the roof. He could have moved into the first round with his times Thursday. — Miller

Zane Durant, DT, Penn State

With an eye-popping 4.76 40-yard dash, it didn’t take the 6-foot-1, 290-pound Durant long to be among one of the biggest standouts of the defensive line group. He followed that with a 33 ½-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-4 broad jump. Known for his first-step explosion, Durant showed his quickness and burst throughout the workout. Viewed as an early Day 3 prospect, he has positioned himself to be a potential top-100 pick. — Reid

Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

Halton was one of the more impressive performers from the first group of prospects, as he posted a 36½-inch vertical jump, the third highest of any defensive tackle over the past 20 years. He also ran a 4.83 40. The 6-foot-3, 293-pound Halton had a combined 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons, with 26 pressures in 2025. When taking notes on Halton for my scouting report, I mentioned that he reminded me of a wrestler on the football field, with an ability to play with leverage and get underneath interior offensive linemen. I believe he has a chance to go inside the top 100 picks. — Yates

Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

The word juice always comes to mind when watching Lawrence’s film, the sort of burst that showed up during his combine workout. Lawrence ran a 4.52 40, second to only Bailey among defensive linemen, and looked buttery smooth during on-field workout drills. Lawrence screams off the edge as a rusher, creating 60 pressures over the past two seasons. He had two seasons with at least seven sacks in his college career. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence could be the first player taken from this year’s Shrine Bowl and might be in play for Round 2. — Yates

Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt

After a standout Senior Bowl week, the 6-foot, 200-pound Louis continued his strong predraft process with impressive numbers in the vertical (39½ inches) and broad (10-foot-9) jumps and a 4.57 40. The hybrid linebacker/safety prospect is a top 100 selection on my board, and teams I’ve spoken with mention his immediate impact as a weakside linebacker. He’d be ideal for a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. — Miller

Kaleb Proctor, DT, SE Louisiana

Proctor continues to build momentum in the pre-draft process. After a standout week at the Shrine Bowl, his stock continued to rise Thursday, as he ran a 4.8 40 and leaped 33 inches in the vertical. Proctor is undersized at 6-foot-2, 291 pounds but has the potential to be an option in the middle rounds for teams searching for an explosive 3-technique. Scouts frequently point to his two-sack performance last season against LSU when discussing him. — Reid

How did other top prospects look on Day 1?

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey’s participation was noteworthy, and he delivered. The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder ran the fastest 40 of any defensive lineman, posting a blazing 4.5 to go along with a 35-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 broad jump. Bailey came into the combine having a strong chance of being picked as high as No. 2, with a floor that probably wasn’t much below No. 5. Bailey’s testing numbers, combined with the violence and power he showed during bag drills, reminded people why he’s ranked so high. — Yates

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Though Faulk did not run the 40, he did the jumps and participated in on-field workouts. Faulk showed body control and balance during on-field work, especially when doing the “run the hoop” drill. That aligns with Faulk’s tape, though he remains a player whom I’ve had a tough time evaluating. Faulk has check-the-box measurables at 6-foot-6, 276 pounds and was excellent in 2024 with seven sacks, but his tape this past season was less exhilarating. Faulk has versatility, is a ready-made run defender and one of the youngest prospects in the class — along with A-plus character — which will help him land in the first round. But he must be much more disruptive and consistent in the NFL. — Yates

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald entered the day with a late first-round grade on my board and the potential to be the first nose tackle drafted. Despite not running the 40-yard dash, he opted in on the workouts. His performance was uneven, as the 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald struggled with his footing during multiple drills, but he showed the upper-body power that made him one of the best run stuffers in college last season. The late first round is still in play, but Ohio State’s pro day carries significance for his final grade. — Miller

Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

Opting to run only the 40-yard dash and participate in on-field drills, Reese still was a big part of the Day 1 discussion. Running a blistering 4.47 40 dash time, the explosive burst and speed of the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Reese didn’t disappoint. A mini-competition between him and teammate Sonny Styles ensued as both ran identical unofficial times (Styles’ official time was slightly better). The bend of Reese also was on full display, as his quick movement skills and swift change-of-direction were effortless during drills. Reese helped himself as he continues to be one of the strongest contenders to be selected by the New York Jets at No. 2. — Reid

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles’ performance was the talk exiting Day 1. The towering middle linebacker prospect (6-foot-5, 244 pounds) jumped an impressive 43½ inches in the vertical, the best leap for a player at that position dating to 2003, per ESPN Research. He also jumped 11-foot-2 in the broad jump and ran a 4.46 40. Styles was expected to have outlandish testing numbers, yet he surpassed everyone’s expectations. Labeled as a top-10 pick entering the combine, I’m not so sure he makes it out of the top 5. His combination of size, instincts and range makes him one of the best middle linebacker prospects in recent memory, as he could be the first top-5 pick at the position since Devin White in 2019. — Reid

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Buckeyes’ Sonny Styles reaches 43-5 on vertical at the combine

Ohio State LB Sonny Styles jumps an impressive 43-5 on the vertical at the NFL combine.

Zion Young, Edge, Missouri

Young was among several defensive linemen who ran the 40-yard dash, but he showed out when performing positional drills. Young’s “wave” drill was clean, showing quick feet and good body control at 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds. His quickness in drills matched his tape, and his status as a late Round 1 player on my board is unchanged after one of the better positional drill showings in his group. — Miller

More notes, thoughts and things we heard and saw on Day 1

Miller

• Cashius Howell had a day that’ll no doubt send scouts back to his tape. We already noted the Texas A&M edge rusher’s subpar arm length, but he then ran an elite 4.6-second 40, which included a 1.59-second 10-yard split. Those numbers are in the 88th and 87th percentile, respectively, for edge rushers since 1999. Short arms can be overcome with speed, and Howell proved he has that. Despite leaving positional drills after a leg injury, the 6-foot-3, 253-pounder likely secured a late first-round selection.

Reid

• The revival of T.J. Parker‘s draft stock continues. After a disappointing final season at Clemson, he has continued to build on his impressive Senior Bowl week with a good performance at the combine. Parker ran a 4.68 40 and had a 34-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 263 pounds. Parker’s ascension has resulted in him being back in the picture to be picked at the end of Round 1.

Yates

• Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter‘s results in the vertical and broad jumps were discussed by scouts Thursday, as he managed just a 21½-inch vertical and an 8-foot-4 broad jump. Though Hunter’s game is not predicated upon explosion, those numbers are far from ideal. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound Hunter had flashes of absolute dominance — none more so than against Oregon in the playoffs — but also other games that weren’t at that level. My best forecast is him landing somewhere in the second round.