2026 NFL Combine Predictions for Fastest Player, Medical Red Flags and More
Every year, analysts and scouts stress that game performance matters for an NFL draft prospect more than what happens at the scouting combine. While that's true, most teams are enamored with athletic upside and what a prospect can become, which affects draft status more than they're willing to admit.
John Ross III wouldn't have been a top-10 pick without breaking the combine's 40-yard dash record, which was previously held by Chris Johnson. Xavier Worthy almost certainly wouldn't have snuck into the back end of the first round had he not sped past Ross' record.
The 40-yard dash may be the event's marquee attraction, but examples of great all-around combine workouts propelling prospects to much loftier draft slots are littered throughout recent NFL history.
Here's the thing most don't know: The combine is set up to be a grueling week, with workouts being the last thing the athletes do. NFL evaluators are watching to see if they still can perform at peak levels after a few days of exhaustive medical evaluations, intense team interviews and shortened sleep cycles.
A great on-field performance at the combine speaks to the prospect's potential to handle the weekly rigors of an NFL schedule, which creates a positive impression on evaluators throughout the league.
Here, we've highlighted the prospects in the 2026 NFL draft class who could blow the doors off Lucas Oil Stadium at the combine this week.
2026 NFL Combine's Fastest Man: WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
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The 40-yard dash is by far the highest-profile event at the NFL combine. The fastest person at each year's combine is part of a special group of athletes.
This year, Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson is the odds-on favorite to be the fastest man in the 2026 draft.
As Tracking Football noted, Thompson posted the fastest 100-meter prep time among this incoming class.
"A former high school QB who won the Texas 3A 200-meter title running 21.27, the 5-9, 170-pound Thompson clocked a blazing 23.7 mph this offseason," The Athletic's Bruce Feldman wrote last summer. "He bench pressed 305 pounds and squatted 405."
Bulldogs wide receiver coach Chad Bumphis said, "I've never seen a person with my own eyes that fast on the football field. Like, [Texas A&M's] Mario Craver was fast, but this guy is like Olympic fast. He's a different speed."ย
Bumphis played in both the NFL and CFL.
Thompson began his collegiate career with the Texas Longhorns, then spent two seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners. But he didn't take off until his final season on campus at Mississippi State, where he produced over 1,000 receiving yards and snagged six touchdowns.
Thompson's speed shows up on the field with his ability to create separation and serve as a deep threat. If he runs as well at the combine as expected, he could easily find himself in the Day 2 mix.
NFL Prospect With Most to Gain: QB Taylen Green, Arkansas
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Arkansas' Taylen Green epitomizes athletic upside at the game's most important position. That combination is an enormous reason to identify him in this category.
His primary appeal stems from his physical prowess. He's a 6'6", 229-pound quarterback with outstanding athleticism. The Boise State transfer ran for 2,401 yards during his four seasons as a starter. He's a potential weapon as a runner and has accompanying big-arm talent to threaten the deep portions of the field.
"A creative NFL play-caller would be wise to feature some designed QB runs in the offensive game plan with Green in the lineup," B/R scout Dame Parson wrote in his scouting report for the quarterback. "He already has experience with QB counter, power, veer, and zone reads. More room to grow can be found as a decision-maker and limiting his 'hero ball' tendencies. But Green's stature and physical abilities are worth dedicating the time to develop."
As Senior Bowl week showed, Green must become more consistent as a passer. If he decides to complete a full workout in Indianapolis, he could accomplish two things.
First, the incoming class is relatively weak. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is considered the only sure-fire first-round selection. While Green isn't expected to rise into that range, an outstanding outing in Indianapolis could intrigue teams and move him up this year's positional hierarchy.
Second, improved mechanics during the throwing session will show evaluators that he's putting in the time and effort to refine his skill set and possibly show long-term starting potential.
In a class desperate for another quarterback to step up, Green has every opportunity to seize the moment as long as he impresses and bucks the trend of quarterbacks who decide to bypass certain aspects of the combine process.
Unlocking Workout Warrior Status: DL Zane Durant, Penn State
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"Workout warrior" is often viewed as a pejorative term. However, plenty of elite workouts helped elevate prospects who went on to become outstanding professionals.
The defensive line is littered with them. Future first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee Aaron Donald immediately comes to mind. Geno Atkins and Calijah Kancey are two more.
All of them were excellent, productive collegiate standouts who didn't fit typical physical standards for an NFL defensive tackle. All three stood 6'1" or under and weighed less than 295 pounds. Their outstanding workouts in Indianapolis helped dissolve concerns.
Penn State's Zane Durant should be the next in line. At the Senior Bowl, Durant measured just under 6'1" and weighed 290 pounds. An outstanding individual performance in Indianapolis should catapult him into a higher draft tier.
According to Feldman, "The 6-1, 290-pound senior from Florida has run a 4.66 40 and hit a max velocity of 21.1 mph. He clocked a 4.43 shuttle time, broad jumped 9-10 and vertical jumped 30 1/2 inches. He's bench pressed 425 pounds and squatted 660."
Durant started three years in the Big Ten Conference. He registered 21 tackles for loss and nine sacks during that span. More importantly, he was a consistently disruptive defender who was difficult to block at the point of attack.
His workouts should show he has the physical status to not only play, but thrive against NFL competition.
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From Obscurity to Stardom: TE Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma
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Jaren Kanak isn't currently found among the top tight ends in the 2026 class because he's relatively new to the position. But he just might be the best all-around athlete who's about to attend the NFL combine.
Kanak asked to make a switch to tight end during his final season on campus. He entered the Oklahoma Sooners' program as a linebacker and played there for three years. However, his prep history borders on ludicrous.
As a senior, Kanak started at quarterback and linebacker. He set single-season school records with 1,615 rushing yards and 142 total points. Before taking over at quarterback, he played wide receiver. As a junior, he caught eight touchdown passes. He also returned kicks and punts.
On the track team, the two-sport star ran the sixth-fastest 100-meter dash in Kansas state history. According to Tracking Football, that figure is the fourth-fastest prep time among the incoming class (the only non-wide receiver, defensive back or running back among the top 10).
At a listed 233 pounds, Kanak is heavier now than he was when he played quarterback and wide receiver. Still, his overall athleticism should shine in Indianapolis.
The converted linebacker finished third on the Sooners with 44 receptions and 533 yards. However, the 6'2" Kanak doesn't have traditional tight end size, which means he must find a niche as a hybrid fullback/tight end at the NFL level.
"It's a ton of fun. It's very similar to the things I did when I was in the box at Oklahoma," Kanak told AJ Schulte of A to Z Sports. "I already had a conceptual understanding of what goes on in there as far as the blocking schemes. It's a fun position to be in, that fullback/jester role, you get to do a lot of stuff and I like that in my game.
"I think I can be a very versatile player and do a lot of cool things. It's been fun to explore that position. Obviously, [San Francisco 49ers'] Kyle Juszczyk is a guy I lean into heavily, studying his game, learning about how he goes about playing that position is something I really try to emulate."
Biggest Medical Evaluation: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
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Medical evaluations are the single-most important aspect of the NFL combine process.
While the on-field workouts draw the most attention and create heated debates, having a vast majority of the incoming class in one place, being seen by the same doctors and receiving consistent reports across the board is critical. Each team and medical staff may have different thresholds for prospects to hit, but all of them receive the same information to include in their evaluations.
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy will be the most heavily scrutinized prospect with major medical flags among the incoming class.
McCoy was viewed a potential top-five draft pick, but he suffered a torn ACL last January during offseason workouts. Despite hopes of him playing at some point this past season, he never did.
As a result, where he currently stands with his recovery and whether he actually does anything during the combine's on-field portions remain up in the air.
Make no mistake, a fully healthy McCoy is an elite talent. He still ranks among Bleacher Report's top-10 prospects.
"McCoy has the best tape of any cornerback in the 2026 NFL draft class," B/R scout Daniel Harms wrote. "McCoy is explosive, twitchy, physical and can do anything asked of him in the secondary. His combination of suffocating man coverage and instinctual zone ability is impressive."
As always, the concern is whether anything lingering or chronic comes to light once a previously injured athlete is closely examined. McCoy could still be CB1 in this year's draft class with a clean bill of health.
Small-School Standout: WR Jalen Walthall, Incarnate Word
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Thanks to the NCAA's open transfer rule, true small-school stars are rare since so many now make the leap to the highest division before finishing their collegiate careers. The NFL prefers to evaluate prospects against the best possible competition, but that depletes the pool of talent below the FBS level.
Anyone who still garners attention from the FCS or lower levels and still earns a combine invite should be watched very closely. That means NFL scouts clearly saw something among that prospect's potential upside.
Only five prospects from traditional smaller schools received invites to this year's combine. Of those five, wide receiver Jalen Walthall has the best chance to turn heads based on his athletic profile.
"The 6-1 1/2, 198-pound Walthall, who won a Texas state title in the triple jump with a leap of 50 feet, 4 inches, began his college career at Hawaii," Feldman wrote. "... Walthall vertical jumped 40 inches this summer and broad jumped 10-7. He's also hit 22 mph on the GPS and power cleaned 290 pounds."
In two seasons as part of the Cardinals program, the receiver dubbed "Pac-Man" caught 155 passes for 2,137 yards and 22 touchdowns. He has the type of athletic profile NFL teams want, previously played at a Division I program and produced at a high level against inferior competition. He also took advantage of an opportunity and competed at this year's Shrine Bowl.
North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton and wide receiver Bryce Lance may invoke more name recognition, while Southeastern Louisiana defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor and Stephen F. Austin's Charles Demmings could be better suited for the professional game. But Walthall can separate himself by showing out with an elite workout at the combine.
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