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

INDIANAPOLIS — On Thursday, individual drills for prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft commenced, featuring defensive linemen and linebackers. The next wave, including defensive backs and tight ends, will take to the field on Friday, with quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers following on Saturday. The combine will conclude on Sunday with offensive linemen’s workouts.

Who excelled in the 40-yard dash? Who displayed dominance across the various drills? Draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates are summarizing all four days of combine activities, assessing standout performances from each position, identifying prospects whose stock is on the rise (or perhaps falling), and highlighting noteworthy under-the-radar performances.

Let’s dive into the details of the action at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Jump to a section:
DL/LB: Key Takeaways | Risers | Noteworthy Names | Additional Notes

Day 1: Defensive Linemen and Linebackers

Notable Absences: CJ Allen (Georgia), Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), Akheem Mesidor (Miami), Peter Woods (Clemson)

What were the key takeaways from Thursday’s workouts?

Reid: The standout story from Day 1 of the combine? This linebacker group is exceptional. Both the testing and on-field drills showcased expected standout names. Sonny Styles (Ohio State) is generating buzz, but depth within the group is impressive as well. Jake Golday (Cincinnati), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), and Kyle Louis (Pitt) all bolstered their draft stock. Golday and Hill are likely top-50 prospects, and Louis is viewed as a potential Round 3 pick. The competition level among them was evident as they seemed eager to elevate themselves up the draft rankings.

Miller: Arm length emerged as a focal point of the day, with Bain measuring 30 7/8 inches and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell at 30 1/4 inches, both falling short of 31 inches. According to ESPN Research, these measurements would be the shortest for any defensive lineman selected in the first round since 2003, when ESPN began tracking this data.

Will NFL general managers risk taking these outliers? I’ve been in touch with teams that recorded slightly different measurements, reaching up to 32 inches for Bain, but the overall message remains that no edge rusher with arms under 31 inches has produced 10-plus sacks in a season since 1999. Which team will gamble on Bain or Howell being exceptions to this trend? It’s likely that both will drop in rankings based on these figures–Bain is my No. 10 prospect and Howell is my No. 23–but neither is expected to completely fall out of Round 1.

Yates: We’ve entered a new era for the combine, with player participation becoming a hot topic this week in Indy. While some players could significantly improve their draft standing through participation (e.g., Caleb Banks), others are becoming increasingly aware of the limited advantages a workout might provide.

Initially, I thought NFL sources might be disillusioned by this trend, but the prevailing attitude I’ve encountered is one of understanding. Players need to make decisions best suited to their futures, and in some cases, their college film suffices for confirming their draft positions.

Who made the biggest gains on Day 1?

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Banks didn’t need to complete the on-field drills to establish himself as one of Thursday’s winners. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound defensive tackle impressed everyone with a 32-inch vertical jump and a 5.05-second 40-yard dash. After missing a substantial portion of last season due to a foot injury, Banks’ potential has escalated. He could easily position himself in the first round with today’s performance. — Miller

Zane Durant, DT, Penn State

With a dazzling 4.76 second 40-yard dash, it took no time for the 6-foot-1, 290-pound Durant to be recognized as one of the standout players in the defensive line unit. He followed this with a 33 ½-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-4 broad jump. Known for his explosive first step, Durant consistently demonstrated quickness and burst throughout the drills. Viewed as a potential early Day 3 pick, he’s now positioned to contend for a top-100 selection. — Reid

Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

Halton was among the most impressive performers in the initial group, registering a 36 1/2-inch vertical jump—the third highest for any defensive tackle in the last two decades. He also completed the 40-yard dash in 4.83 seconds. At 6-foot-3 and 293 pounds, Halton secured 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons, tallying 26 pressures in 2025 alone. My scouting notes described him as reminiscent of a wrestler on the field, adept at leveraging his strength beneath interior offensive linemen. I now believe he could go within the top 100 picks. — Yates

Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

“Juice” is the word that resonates when watching Lawrence’s highlights—a burst that was evident during his combine workouts. He completed a 4.52 second 40-yard dash, coming in second to only Bailey among defensive linemen, and showed remarkable fluidity during drill exercises. Lawrence explosively rushes off the edge, accumulating 60 pressures in the last two seasons and achieving at least seven sacks in two of his collegiate years. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence could very well be the first player selected from this year’s Shrine Bowl and may also project to go in Round 2. — Yates

Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt

After a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl, the 6-foot, 200-pound Louis maintained his momentum heading into the draft with impressive vertical (39 1/2 inches) and broad (10-foot-9) jumps and a 4.57 second 40-yard dash. The hybrid linebacker/safety prospect ranks within my top-100 selections, with teams expressing excitement regarding his ability to make an immediate impact as a weakside linebacker. He would fit perfectly with a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. — Miller

Kaleb Proctor, DT, SE Louisiana

Proctor is gaining traction in the pre-draft landscape. Following an eye-catching week at the Shrine Bowl, he continued to enhance his stock on Thursday with a 4.8 second 40 and a 33-inch vertical jump. While he may be undersized at 6-foot-2 and 291 pounds, he possesses the potential to be a viable candidate in the mid-rounds for teams seeking an explosive 3-technique. Scouts often reference his two-sack game against LSU in their discussions about him. — Reid

How did other top prospects perform on Day 1?

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey’s mere participation garnered attention, but he truly shined. This 6-foot-4, 251-pound athlete posted the fastest 40-yard time for any defensive lineman at 4.5 seconds, including a 35-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-9 broad jump. Entering the combine with potential to be selected as high as No. 2, he likely won’t fall below No. 5. Bailey’s testing results, coupled with the power and violence he demonstrated in drills, reaffirmed why he’s rated so highly. — Yates

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

even if Faulk opted not to run the 40, he actively participated in jumps and on-field workouts. He exhibited excellent body control during drills, particularly the “run the hoop” exercise. While his physical stats of 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds are impressive, evaluating his film has proven challenging. Faulk possesses the ideal attributes for a run defender and is among the youngest prospects in this class, along with exceptional character, enhancing his first-round prospects. but, he must exhibit greater consistency and disruption in the NFL. — Yates

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald entered the day rated as a late first-round prospect and a candidate to be the first nose tackle chosen. even if he didn’t run the 40, he participated in workouts. His performance was somewhat inconsistent; the 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald struggled at times, yet he displayed the upper-body power that made him one of college football’s top run stuffers last season. A late first-round pick remains possible, but Ohio State’s pro day will be significant for his final evaluation. — Miller

Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

although only participating in the 40-yard dash and other drills, Reese was a pivotal figure in Day 1 discussions. He clocked a blistering 4.47 second 40, showcasing remarkable speed and explosiveness at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds. A friendly competition arose between him and teammate Sonny Styles, both recording similar unofficial times (Styles’ official time slightly edged out). Reese demonstrated exceptional bend with agile quick movements and seamless direction changes. His performance solidified his status as a top contender for the New York Jets’ No. 2 overall pick. — Reid

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles’ performance became the highlight as Day 1 concluded. The imposing middle linebacker prospect (6-foot-5, 244 pounds) achieved an impressive 43 ½-inch vertical jump—the highest recorded for a player at that position since 2003, according to ESPN Research. plus, he posted an 11-foot-2 broad jump and a 4.46 second 40-yard dash. Expected to deliver exceptional metrics, he astonished all with even better results. Labeled as a top-10 pick before the combine, it seems increasingly unlikely he’ll be below the top 5. His combination of size, instincts, and range positions him as one of the finest middle linebacker prospects in recent history, potentially being 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 players who chose not to run the 40-yard dash, yet he excelled during positional drills. His “wave” drill was executed perfectly, demonstrating quick feet and strong body control at 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds. His agility in drills confirmed his impressive tape, ensuring his status as a late Round 1 player on my draft board after one of the best positional drill performances in his group. — Miller

Additional Notes, Insights, and Observations from Day 1

Miller

• Cashius Howell had a performance that will certainly prompt scouts to revisit his film. While we mentioned the Texas A&M edge rusher’s disappointing arm length, he impressively clocked a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, coupled with a 1.59-second 10-yard split. Those metrics rank in the 88th and 87th percentiles for edge rushers since 1999, respectively. although short arms, Howell demonstrated that speed can mitigate those concerns. Even after withdrawing from some positional drills due to a leg injury, he appears secured for a late first-round selection at 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds.

Reid

• T.J. Parker’s draft stock continues to rise. After a disappointing last season at Clemson, he has followed up a strong Senior Bowl week with solid combine results. Parker clocked a 4.68 second 40 and recorded a 34-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 263 pounds. His recent momentum has thrust him back into the conversation as a potential late Round 1 pick.

Yates

• Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter’s vertical and broad jump results were a topic of discussion among scouts on Thursday, as he achieved only a 21-1/2 inch vertical and 8-foot-4 broad jump. While Hunter’s play isn’t solely defined by explosiveness, those figures are certainly underwhelming. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound player showed flashes of pure dominance—but inconsistency also marked his performance. I anticipate he’ll land somewhere in the second round.