2026 NFL combine winners, losers: Which players are trending up, down?
2026 NFL combine winners, losers: Which players are trending up, down?
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAYSun, March 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC
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INDIANAPOLIS – Don't get carried away with the idea of NFL draft boards shifting dramatically in the wake of scouting combine workouts.
“I don’t know that we are going to change the board very much coming out of this,” Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek said. “I take this for what it’s worth. It’s a big part of the process, but it’s just a part of the process. Our only goal is to get the board right by late April.”
With that message echoed by other decision-makers throughout the week, a familiar refrain was reinforced: The combine tends to prompt tweaks, not wholesale changes.
Paling in comparison to the importance of team interviews and medical checks, on-field testing and workouts tend to be a matter of confirming what was largely already known. Many of this year's biggest standouts, for instance, were highlighted by USA TODAY Sports going into the event.
This year's event also had a self-selecting element that needs to be accounted for, as participation in testing and drills was severely limited in some instances. Many of the players who had concerns in certain areas decided to abstain from recording marks, instead waiting for more favorable conditions at their pro days. That not only inflated the averages for each position group – with record 40 times nearly across the board – but also limited the number of concerning measurements.
But the combine still does have a way of helping align expectations, even if that's more a matter of catching up rather than forcing new outlooks. With that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers of this year's combine.
NFL combine winners15. Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
After transferring from Arizona last year, Davis flew a bit under the radar, with a rib injury and pulled hamstring limiting him to just eight games. But there was no chance that a 6-foot-4, 194-pound athletic cover man could go unnoticed in Indianapolis. With 33⅜-inch arms befitting an edge rusher, he'll spark visions of a smothering presence who can fluster receivers both at the line of scrimmage and the catch point. His make-up speed was also evident in his 4.41-second 40-yard dash. Former teammate and fellow supersized corner Ephesians Prysock also fared well, posting nice marks and looking surprisingly fluid for a player of his build.
14. Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State
The three-cone drill is essentially dead in the modern combine landscape, with the overwhelming majority of prospects opting out. But notching a time under 7 seconds augurs well for edge rushers, and Dennis-Sutton cleared that bar with his 6.90-second mark. Elsewhere, he led the edge rushers with a 10-foot, 11-inch broad jump while also helping his cause with his figures in the 40 (4.64 seconds) and vertical leap (39½ inches). There's a clear schism between his testing and demonstrated pass-rush abilities, as Dennis-Sutton more resembled a hustling, rigid base end than a dynamic disruptor during his time with the Nittany Lions. But he at least gave evaluators reason to return to the tape to review whether there's some untapped upside. Former linemate Zane Durant also could easily have been selected for this list after his strong showing.
13. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
It probably wasn't necessary for Banks to congregate with his fellow defensive tackles to know that the 6-foot-6, 327-pounder wasn't quite like any of them. Still, there's something to be said for the impression Banks made after missing all but two games last season. His unique explosion was evident in his 9-6 broad jump and 32-inch vertical leap. Banks' day came to an early end due to cleat discomfort, but it probably wasn't necessary for him to prove much more about his body. There are still significant questions about his leverage, block deconstruction and tackling. But while his future coaching staff will need to polish his finishing touch and other portions of his game, it's clear that no other interior defender poses quite the problems Banks does right off the ball.
12. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
This year's combine was light on true sleepers, with the changing college football landscape siphoning more talent to top schools. Demmings, however, was a true highlight. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound corner compiled one of the best overall testing profiles, including a 4.41-second 40, a 42-inch vertical leap and an 11-0 broad jump. The latter two figures ranked second among all corners. During on-field work, Demmings hardly looked out of place next to his more touted peers. He's a captivating figure for the middle rounds.
11. Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
The 6-foot-6, 227-pound passer put together a truly singular combine performance. But was it a particularly consequential one? Yes, topping Anthony Richardson's quarterback records in the broad jump and vertical leap is unquestionably impressive, as is running a 4.36-second 40 at his size. But Green's otherworldly athleticism for the position was always his selling point. NFL Network's Charles Davis said Green shot down the idea of making a Terrelle Pryor-like conversion to receiver. That could limit some of his appeal, as his erratic throwing was again on display during his on-field work, with several of his attempts never truly giving his receiver a chance. At the least, Green now stands out as the most intriguing developmental option on Day 3.
10. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
The Crimson Tide receiver was never going to position himself as an athletic marvel, with his game predicted primarily on precision and polish. Nevertheless, Bernard acquitted himself extremely well on Saturday. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound target exceeded expectations in almost every facet of testing, including a 4.48-second 40 and a 6.71-second three-cone drill that was best among the few receivers who participated. His strong hands and smooth route-running were already evident on tape, but he stood out relative to the competition during drills. His bid to be a top-50 selection and complementary weapon in a passing attack is only getting stronger.
9. Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
In a class of lumbering defensive tackles, the 6-foot-3, 296-pound Halton offers teams a distinctly different flavor on the inside. He continued to set himself apart at the combine with a 36½-inch vertical jump, the third-best mark by any defensive tackle over the past 20 years. His sparkplug energy was consistent across both his game work and his drills at the combine. Between his frame and his quick-moving, disruptive style, Halton has some Braden Fiske-lite to his game. He could end up in a similar range.
8. Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
No receiver burned up the field in 2025 quite like Bell, the Biletnikoff Award finalist who was the only receiver in the Football Bowl Subdivision to finish in the top five for receptions (101), receiving yards (1,278) and touchdown catches (13). He continued his surge Saturday with one of the smoothest on-field sessions of any pass catcher, which included perhaps the best catch of the day with a last-second contortion to haul in an off-target throw. The 6-foot, 192-pounder also tied for third among all receivers with an 11-1 broad jump and ranked fifth with a 41-inch vertical. He could be an attractive Day 2 alternative for a team that gets shut out of taking one of this class' top receivers.
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7. Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona
You won't find many former walk-ons like this one. The sixth-year senior posted a superlative overall testing profile, with his 40 time (4.33 seconds) and vertical leap (38 inches) ranking among the best at his position group and his broad jump (10-10) pacing all safeties. Stukes is one of this class' older prospects and is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2024, so any team considering investing a Day 2 selection in him will need to be comfortable with what it found out behind the scenes at the combine. Still, an ultra-athletic and savvy nickel with the capacity to take on a variety of coverage assignments should be massively attractive to general managers given the current demands on NFL defenses.
6. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
If not for Kenyon Sadiq's record day, Stowers would have generated the most buzz of any tight end coming out of Friday. The converted quarterback set the record for vertical leap at his position with a 45½-inch mark while also ripping off a 4.51-second 40 and an 11-3 broad jump. Stowers didn't go through an on-field workout, but there's not much left for the Mackey Award winner to prove as a pass catcher beyond a bit more precision as a route runner and more toughness at the catch point. Despite his protests this week, Stowers still has a ways to go to develop as a run blocker. This showing, however, highlighted his considerable potential as a big slot or move tight end.
5. Malachi Lawrence, DE/OLB, UCF
The top-flight pass rushers commanded the bulk of the attention throughout the week. Lawrence still isn't anywhere close to their level, but he pushed his way into the spotlight on Thursday. The 6-foot-4, 253-pounder known primarily for his long arms (33⅝ inches) was a step above the rest in explosiveness, finishing second in both the vertical leap (40 inches) and broad jump (10-10). Meanwhile, his 4.52-second 40 trailed only Arvell Reese and David Bailey. Capping his day with a workout that showed off plenty of burst, Lawrence helped himself a good bit. He's still a bit of a project, particularly against the run, but he should be one that NFL teams will be eager to take on.
4. Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
He's a sleeper no more after a combine performance that left him in tears of joy. Instead, Washington has a legitimate claim to be the third running back off the board behind Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The 6-foot-1, 223-pound ball carrier got off to a head-turning start with a 39-inch vertical and 10-8 broad jump, both of which ranked second at his position. But Washington really set himself apart with a 4.33-second 40, which is backed up by the breakaway speed he showed last season for the Razorbacks. Though he's not a particularly elusive or sudden runner, Washington figures to be a major threat in an offense that weaponizes his considerable skill set.
3. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Let's give some love to NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who not only did outstanding work throughout this week − as expected − but was out in front on Thieneman, whom he placed No. 18 to the Minnesota Vikings in his pre-combine mock draft. Now, that looks like a proper range for the savvy safety after a top-tier showing at the combine. Thieneman set the bar at his position by flipping his hips like a cornerback in his on-field workout. And before that, the 6-foot, 201-pounder flew to a 4.35-second 40. Comfortable taking on almost any coverage assignment, he should be a highly coveted asset for a defense in the back half of the first round.
2. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
There might not be a bigger gulf between the No. 1 prospect at any position and the rest of the field than there is at tight end. Sadiq demonstrated why on Saturday by establishing himself as a historically unique multifaceted threat. He blazed the fastest 40-yard dash ever for a tight end with a 4.39-second finish, an astounding run for a 6-foot-3, 241-pounder. He added an 11-1 broad jump and 43½-inch vertical to further stir excitement about his potential as a seam threat. That facet of his game remains somewhat hypothetical, as he wasn't regularly targeted downfield in Oregon's offense. An NFL coordinator will no doubt relish the opportunity to tap into those skills. Already seen as a likely late first-rounder, Sadiq might find a more reasonable landing spot somewhere in the teens.
1. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles came into the event with expectations that he would put together something comparable to what South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori managed last year, and he didn't disappoint. The 6-foot-5, 244-pound linebacker notched a 43½-inch vertical, which stands as the best by any off-ball linebacker. His 11-2 broad jump was also the best of any player in his position group and exceeded by only a few others since 2003. And with a 4.46 40, his straight-line speed is hardly in question either. What's most exciting about Styles is that all of these traits are not facets of his game waiting to be put to use. They're already being tapped into by an extremely savvy former safety who's grown into his position. This was just a reminder of what was already apparent with Styles, but it's probably time to talk about him being in the first tier of this draft's top prospects rather than the second.
NFL combine losers6. Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
There's typically not much reason to get riled up with a defensive tackle's tests, especially when the player in question is 6-foot-4 and 318 pounds. Still, Hunter's 21½-inch vertical and 8-foot-4 broad jump were bottom-of-the-barrel marks. With surprisingly nimble feet for a player of his size, Hunter can do a little more than merely eat space. But his complete lack of explosiveness highlighted some existing limitations, which could keep him out of the first round.
5. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
This was never going to be a forum in which the 6-foot-2, 326-pounder could showcase his skills. But McDonald looked noticeably rigid in on-field drills and looked uncomfortable overall. Teams will still be drawn to everything he can bring to the table as a run stuffer. But McDonald's day reinforced that, beyond pushing the pocket, he might not offer much beyond his calling card of helping defenses control the ground game.
4. R Mason Thomas, OLB, Oklahoma
In explaining how he compensates for his smaller-than-ideal build, Thomas cited "mass times acceleration equals force." That meant that he would have to make up for his deficiency in the former category by being more formidable in the latter. But his 4.67-second run and 1.63-second 10-yard split were rather pedestrian, particularly for a 253-pound edge rusher with 31⅝-inch arms. Thomas has earned some comparisons to fellow former Sooners edge rusher Nik Bonitto due to his frame and bend, and he has some tools to avoid being overpowered. Still, he might be one of the more polarizing edge rushers to hear his name called in the first two rounds.
3. Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
On tape alone, Johnson has a solid case to be the third back off the board after Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Yet the glaring concern entering the combine was whether he was capable of reeling off long runs at the next level. That question seems likely to hang over him after he posted a 4.56-second 40 – the worst of any running back this year – and didn't make much of a dent in showing off his explosiveness. The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder can still be a productive part of a backfield with his decisive running style. But a running back with pedestrian traits and no dynamic streak doesn't make for a particularly appealing package.
2. LT Overton, DE, Alabama
It's getting more and more difficult to see the upside with the former five-star recruit. At 6-foot-3 and 278 pounds, Overton should offer versatility to disrupt on the outside or inside. Instead, he was stuck as a tweener at Texas A&M and Alabama, with only seven sacks over four years. A 4.87-second 40 and uninspiring workout only amplified questions about whether he has the burst to threaten off the edge. His best role might simply be as a hammer along the line who makes life difficult for opposing linemen while freeing up opportunities for others on stunts. But without hope of discovering a playmaking streak, the upside here is severely limited.
1. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Proper perspective is required when discussing Fields, a Senior Bowl standout who still has plenty of ways to challenge defensive backs with his 6-foot-5, 218-pound frame. But a 4.61-second 40 is going to prompt plenty of questions, especially for a receiver who primarily subsisted on go routes. He also dropped a couple passes during his gauntlet run, which wasn't nearly as smooth as the efforts by the other pass catchers around him. Fields might be able to follow a similar trajectory to Jauan Jennings, another big-bodied player who struggled at the combine. But he might have to live on contested catches at the next level, and that could make him a tough sell as an early draft pick.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL combine winners, losers: Whose draft stock is up, down?
Source: “AOL Sports”
