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

INDIANAPOLIS — Particular person drills for prospects within the 2026 NFL draft began Thursday, with defensive linemen and linebackers taking the sector. Defensive backs and tight ends will probably be subsequent Friday, adopted by quarterback, operating again and huge receiver prospects Saturday. Offensive linemen will end the mix with on-field exercises Sunday.

Who ran effectively within the 40-yard sprint? Who dominated the remainder of the on-field work? Draft consultants Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Discipline Yates are recapping all 4 days of the mix exercises, evaluating the highest performances from each place, selecting prospects who’re rising (or probably falling) and addressing notable under-the-radar showings.

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

Soar to a piece:
DL/LB: Takeaways | Risers | Top names | Notes

Day 1: Defensive linemen and linebackers

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

What are the most important takeaways from Thursday’s exercises?

Reid: This linebacker class is superior. From testing to on-field drills, the gamers who have been anticipated to be standouts definitely delivered. Sonny Styles (Ohio State) would be the speak of the place group, however the depth shined as effectively. Jake Golday (Cincinnati), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) and Kyle Louis (Pitt) are three others who helped their draft inventory. Golday and Hill are considered as top-50 prospects, whereas Louis is taken into account a Spherical 3 participant. The competitors degree on the place was on full show, because it appeared they have been jostling with one another to catapult up the draft board.

Miller: Arm size was the topic of the day, as Bain (30 7/8 inches) and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell (30 1/4) measured underneath 31 inches. In keeping with ESPN Analysis, these lengths can be the shortest for any defensive lineman drafted within the first spherical since ESPN began monitoring mix knowledge in 2003.

Will NFL common managers wager that they are outliers? I’ve talked to some groups that had barely totally different measurements, ranging up to 32 inches for Bain, however the level stands that no edge rusher with sub-31-inch arms has had 10-plus sacks in a season since 1999. So which group will wager towards these numbers? The probably result’s that every falls from their present rankings primarily based on movie — Bain is my No. 10 prospect and Howell my No. 23 — however it’s unlikely that both falls out of Spherical 1.

Yates: We have reached a special period of the mix, as participant participation has been a sizzling matter in Indy this week. Although there are gamers whose participation may positively impression their draft inventory (i.e., Caleb Banks), extra gamers are cognizant of the minimal upside of understanding.

At first, I figured sources across the NFL would discover this pattern disappointing, however the most well-liked sentiment that I’ve gathered is one in all understanding. The gamers should decide that’s finest for their very own outlook, and in some instances, their school movie is greater than sufficient to rubber stamp the place they belong within the draft.

Who’re the most important risers from Day 1?

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Banks did not want to complete the on-field exercises to rank as one in all Thursday’s winners. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound defensive sort out wowed with a 32-inch vertical bounce and a 5.05-second 40. Banks missed most of final season because of a foot injury, however his upside is thru the roof. He may have moved into the primary spherical together with his instances Thursday. — Miller

Zane Durant, DT, Penn State

With an eye-popping 4.76 40-yard sprint, it did not take the 6-foot-1, 290-pound Durant lengthy to be amongst one of many greatest standouts of the defensive position group. He adopted that with a 33 ½-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-4 broad bounce. Identified for his first-step explosion, Durant confirmed his quickness and burst all through the exercise. Seen as an early Day 3 prospect, he has positioned himself to be a possible top-100 choose. — Reid

Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

Halton was one of many extra spectacular performers from the primary group of prospects, as he posted a 36½-inch vertical bounce, the third highest of any defensive sort out over the previous 20 years. He additionally ran a 4.83 40. The 6-foot-3, 293-pound Halton had a mixed 8.5 sacks over the previous two seasons, with 26 pressures in 2025. When taking notes on Halton for my scouting report, I discussed that he jogged my memory of a wrestler on the soccer discipline, with a capability to play with leverage and get beneath inside offensive linemen. I consider he has an opportunity to go inside the highest 100 picks. — Yates

Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

The phrase juice all the time involves thoughts when watching Lawrence’s movie, the form of burst that confirmed up throughout his mix exercise. Lawrence ran a 4.52 40, second to solely Bailey amongst defensive linemen, and regarded buttery clean throughout on-field exercise drills. Lawrence screams off the sting as a rusher, creating 60 pressures over the previous two seasons. He had two seasons with no less than seven sacks in his school profession. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence might be the primary participant taken from this 12 months’s Shrine Bowl and is likely to be in play for Spherical 2. — Yates

Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt

After a standout Senior Bowl week, the 6-foot, 200-pound Louis continued his sturdy predraft course of with spectacular numbers within the vertical (39½ inches) and broad (10-foot-9) jumps and a 4.57 40. The hybrid linebacker/security prospect is a high 100 choice on my board, and groups I’ve spoken with point out his instant impression as a weakside linebacker. He’d be splendid for a group just like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. — Miller

Kaleb Proctor, DT, SE Louisiana

Proctor continues to construct momentum within the pre-draft course of. After a standout week on the Shrine Bowl, his inventory continued to rise Thursday, as he ran a 4.8 40 and leaped 33 inches within the vertical. Proctor is undersized at 6-foot-2, 291 kilos however has the potential to be an choice within the center rounds for groups trying to find an explosive 3-technique. Scouts incessantly level to his two-sack efficiency final season against LSU when discussing him. — Reid

How did different high 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 quickest 40 of any defensive lineman, posting a blazing 4.5 to associate with a 35-inch vertical bounce and 10-foot-9 broad bounce. Bailey got here into the mix having a powerful probability of being picked as excessive as No. 2, with a ground that in all probability wasn’t a lot under No. 5. Bailey’s testing numbers, mixed with the violence and energy he confirmed throughout bag drills, reminded individuals why he is ranked so excessive. — Yates

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Although Faulk didn’t run the 40, he did the jumps and took part in on-field exercises. Faulk confirmed physique management and steadiness throughout on-field work, particularly when doing the “run the ring” drill. That aligns with Faulk’s tape, although he stays a participant whom I’ve had a troublesome time evaluating. Faulk has check-the-box measurables at 6-foot-6, 276 kilos and was wonderful in 2024 with seven sacks, however his tape this previous season was much less exhilarating. Faulk has versatility, is a ready-made run defender and one of many youngest prospects within the class — together with A-plus character — which is able to assist him land within the first spherical. However he should be way more disruptive and constant within 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 primary nostril sort out drafted. Regardless of not operating the 40-yard sprint, he opted in on the exercises. His efficiency was uneven, because the 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald struggled together with his footing throughout a number of drills, however he confirmed the upper-body energy that made him among the best run stuffers in school final season. The late first spherical remains to be in play, however Ohio State’s professional day carries significance for his ultimate grade. — Miller

Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

Opting to run solely the 40-yard sprint and take part in on-field drills, Reese nonetheless was a giant a part of the Day 1 dialogue. Operating a blistering 4.47 40 sprint time, the explosive burst and pace of the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Reese did not disappoint. A mini-competition between him and teammate Sonny Kinds ensued as each ran similar unofficial instances (Kinds’ official time was barely higher). The bend of Reese additionally was on full show, as his fast motion abilities and swift change-of-direction have been easy throughout drills. Reese helped himself as he continues to be one of many strongest contenders to be chosen by the New York Jets at No. 2. — Reid

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Kinds’ efficiency was the speak exiting Day 1. The towering center linebacker prospect (6-foot-5, 244 kilos) jumped a formidable 43½ inches within the vertical, the most effective leap for a participant at that place relationship to 2003, per ESPN Analysis. He additionally jumped 11-foot-2 within the broad bounce and ran a 4.46 40. Kinds was anticipated to have outlandish testing numbers, but he surpassed everybody’s expectations. Labeled as a top-10 choose coming into the mix, I am not so certain he makes it out of the highest 5. His mixture of measurement, instincts and vary makes him among the best center linebacker prospects in latest reminiscence, as he might be the primary top-5 choose on the place since Devin White in 2019. — Reid

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Buckeyes’ Sonny Kinds reaches 43-5 on vertical on the mix

Ohio State LB Sonny Kinds jumps a formidable 43-5 on the vertical on the NFL mix.

Zion Young, Edge, Missouri

Younger was amongst a number of defensive linemen who ran the 40-yard sprint, however he confirmed out when performing positional drills. Younger’s “wave” drill was clear, exhibiting fast ft and good physique management at 6-foot-6 and 262 kilos. His quickness in drills matched his tape, and his standing as a late Spherical 1 participant on my board is unchanged after one of many higher positional drill showings in his group. — Miller

Extra notes, ideas and issues we heard and noticed on Day 1

Miller

• Cashius Howell had a day that’ll little doubt ship scouts again to his tape. We already famous the Texas A&M edge rusher’s subpar arm size, however he then ran an elite 4.6-second 40, which included a 1.59-second 10-yard cut up. These numbers are within the 88th and 87th percentile, respectively, for edge rushers since 1999. Quick arms may be overcome with pace, and Howell proved he has that. Regardless of leaving positional drills after a leg damage, the 6-foot-3, 253-pounder probably secured a late first-round choice.

Reid

• The revival of T.J. Parker‘s draft inventory continues. After a disappointing ultimate season at Clemson, he has continued to construct on his spectacular Senior Bowl week with efficiency on the mix. Parker ran a 4.68 40 and had a 34-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 263 kilos. Parker’s ascension has resulted in him being again within the image to be picked on the finish of Spherical 1.

Yates

• Texas Tech defensive sort out Lee Hunter‘s leads to the vertical and broad jumps have been mentioned by scouts Thursday, as he managed only a 21½-inch vertical and an 8-foot-4 broad bounce. Although Hunter’s sport isn’t predicated upon explosion, these numbers are removed from splendid. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound Hunter had flashes of absolute dominance — none extra so than towards Oregon within the playoffs — but in addition different video games that weren’t at that degree. My finest forecast is him touchdown someplace within the second spherical.