Ty Simpson Stakes QB2 Claim and Top 2026 NFL Draft Takeaways From Day 3 of Combine

This year's presumptive No. 1 overall pick, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, didn't work out at the NFL combine, but the rest of the offensive skill positions still impressed, including a different quarterback.

Typically, the incoming crop of signal-callers is viewed as a one-horse race. Mendoza was the only one projected as a surefire first-round draft pick. Someone else needed to take advantage the competition at the combine and Alabama's Ty Simpson did.

As seen during the previous two days of workouts, every group ran well and put up staggering speed numbers. The 40-yard dash was merely the starting point, though.

At running back, the class' top prospect, Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, provided a complete workout and didn't disappoint. He showed exactly why he's considered a top-three prospect regardless of position, according to the Bleacher Report Scouting Department.

Obviously, the wide receiver groups are known for posting blazing speed numbers. Seven different targets posted a 4.35-second 40-yard dash or better. Unfortunately a pair of bigger receivers, with first-round potential, definitely failed to impress, which could shake up the class to a degree.

Bleacher Report scout Dame Parson was seated in Lucas Oil Stadium for Saturday's performances and checked in afterward to provide those names whose arrow should be pointing up and those possibly suffering a dip.

Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Arkansas' Taylen Green

Ty Simpson, Alabama

Simpson came into the combine healthy and it showed. After a season where he dealt with a lower back injury than a fractured rib, he stepped up and delivered accurately with on-time passes throughout his workout. 

The one-year starter connected with the wide receivers deep down the field in stride. His performance harkened back to the first half of the 2025 season when Simpson looked like a surefire first-round quarterback.

Overall, he cemented himself as the leading candidate for QB2 behind Mendoza.

Carson Beck, Miami

The Georgia transfer performed well after a disappointing National Championship Game appearance. His accuracy, anticipation and ball placement all took center stage. Beck delivered passes that allowed the receivers to make plays on the ball and mostly hit them in stride.

Drew Allar, Penn State

Allar displayed a warrior's mentality by rehabbing to get himself prepared just to throw at the combine. 

The 21-year-old made some good throws displaying his arm talent/strength, while displaying touch on breaking routes. While not perfect, he showcased why teams remain high on his potential.

Taylen Green, Arkansas

The 6'6", 227-pound Boise State transfer helped himself with elite athletic testing, which should prove tantalizing for NFL coaches. Green checks every physical box a team wants in an impact signal-caller. He set quarterback positional record with a 43.5-inch vertical jump while finishing second all-time with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash.

On the field, Green was up-and-down due to his raw/streaky accuracy and highly inconsistent lower-body mechanics. Still, he uncorked a few really nice throws only to follow them up by spraying a pass.

Even so, his athletic profile should have plenty of suitors because of immense growth potential.

Running Backs

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

The incoming class' unquestioned RB1 solidified his status with his combine performance. Love ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash at 4.36 seconds, confirming the elite speed seen on tape to break a run from anywhere at any time. 

Love showcased his route-running during receiving drills and movement skills through the bag drills. He's the total packages and shouldn't fall outside of the top-10 if teams prefer an elite prospect and multifaceted impact player for an offense. 

Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas

Washington came into the combine off a successful trip to the Senior Bowl a month earlier.  

Arkansas's burly battering ram displayed homerun-hitting, top-end speed. Washington finished with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, which led all running backs. The two-time transfer from Buffalo and New Mexico is big, physical runner with elite speed, which provides a great baseline for a rising running back prospect. 

Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

Claiborne blazed the 40-yard dash with a 4.37-second effort, which was good enough to be the third-fastest among the running back participants. 

His now-proven speed matches the tape, because he plays with great burst and acceleration through running lanes. Claiborne also looked fluid enough as a route-runner to fill the role of change-of-pace option as a RB2 in a squad's backfield rotation. 

Eli Heidenreich, Navy

Heidenreich produced a great workout and shined during the on-field portion with his playmaking ability. He ran a strong 4.44-second 10-yard dash, but his route running caught everyone's attention, particularly coming out of a triple-option offense.

The second-team All-American is a smooth and fluid mover, who changes directions with little restriction. He spent extra time off-camera running wide receiver drills for scouts to grasp his full skillset. The Service Academy product showed far more than was expected and helped himself tremendously.

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/Eric Gay

USC's Ja'Kobi Lane

Zachariah Branch, Georgia

Branch had an impressive workout, starting with a 4.35-second 40-yard dash before displaying electric movement skills and route-running during the positional workout.

Branch ran routes with sharp, sudden cuts and explosiveness out of his breaks. His hands were on display as he plucked nearly every pass with confidence. The 21-year-old prospect proved that he has more within his game than catching screens. 

Ja'Kobi Lane, USC

Lane had an outstanding performance from athletic testing to the on-field portion. He ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, while jumping 40 inches in the vertical and 10'9" in the broad. 

Lane looked fluid and sharp with his routes and absolutely nailed the gauntlet drill, which is a fascinating juxtaposition after really struggling at the Senior Bowl. He caught passes with ease and proved why many was originally high on him entering the 2025 campaign. 

Dillon Bell, Georgia

Georgia's other wide receiver had a smooth on-field workout today coupled with impressive athletic testing. 

Bell ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash to go with a 39-inch vertical and 10'6" broad jump. He ran smooth route and built upon a good Shrine Bowl showing. 

Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

Fields entered combine week with plenty of hype coming off a strong Senior Bowl performance. Unfortunately, he ran poorly with 4.64-second 40-yard dash. 

The 6'4", 218-pound target wasn't fluid or quick during his on-field workout. Fields didn't piece together the type of workout to keep in him in the conversation as a draft riser in a loaded wide receiver class. 

Denzel Boston, Washington

Boston did not run the 40-yard dash and posted a 35-inch vertical jump, which wasn't a strong effort from a high-point specialist. The junior entrant also had a couple bad drops during field drills. Overall, his movements were not explosive and the workout proved to be underwhelming.