2025 NFL Combine: Who helped their stock the most?

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2025 NFL Combine, The League Winners

The annual NFL Combine, which takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, is essentially an all-in-one event. In addition to the meetings and medicals, players get to run through drills and tests on the field. While some of the best players do not always test, it is a great opportunity for underrated players to raise their stock or put themselves on the map.

In 2025, this was no different. Even without many of the class’s top players participating, others made their presence known immediately. Whether through testing or on-field workouts, players raised their draft stocks to a higher level than they had previously been.

Who were the winners of this event, though?  I have had some time to reflect on what I watched at this point, so follow along as we dive into The League Winners’ recap of the 2025 NFL Combine winners! And stay tuned for the article recapping the fallers from the event coming soon!

2025 NFL Combine Winners

Quarterbacks

Despite a weaker-than-usual class at the position, some quarterbacks’ stock is now better than when they entered Indianapolis.

One such player is Missouri’s Brady Cook. Cook was very up and down throughout his college career; his best season came in 2023 when he threw for 3,315 yards and 21 touchdowns. On the other hand, the Missouri product had a much worse 2024, only posting 11 touchdowns and 2,535 yards. He hit some good throws and had good athletic ability, but also had some very poor throws and decisions.

Building off a good week at the East-West Shrine Bowl, Cook posted impressive numbers at the 2025 NFL Combine. At 214 pounds, the Missouri product ran a 4.59 40-yard dash and had a 1.53 ten-yard split. He also notched a 37-inch vertical, over a 10-foot broad jump, a 7.01 3-cone drill, and a 4.17 short shuttle drill. All in all, it was one of the more impressive quarterback performances at the Combine in recent memory.

Cook was not just a good tester, though. He had a very good throwing performance during the on-field portion of the workouts, hitting throws to all areas of the field. Most notably, Cook looked good throwing to the far side of the field and deep down the field. He had the proper touch, velocity, and landmarks when asked to make “NFL-level” throws.

In addition to Cook, Tyler Shough and Kyle McCord came out of the 2025 NFL Combine with good performances.

Shough, who is a much older quarterback prospect than usual, arguably had the best throwing performance at the event. Outside of a few throws, the Louisville product was fluid and consistent with his mechanics. In other words, his upper body and lower body were in sync, allowing him to use his large frame to throw the ball with good velocity and touch.

As a result, Shough was able to hit every throw on the field. He did not miss his spots on out or slant routes and put his wideouts in good positions on deep balls. It was very impressive how easy Shough made the workout look compared to some of the other quarterbacks in attendance.

McCord was one of the quarterbacks who was able to compete with Shough on a throw-to-throw basis. Prior to the NFL Combine, the Syracuse product had a great week at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Texas. McCord was on time, accurate, and was able to hit every throw on the field. More impressively, the quarterback showed some ability to move and make plays outside of structure.

In Indianapolis, the quarterback kept the train moving. McCord showed some nice zip on the ball and had very good accuracy on the majority of his throws. He was not phased by working with all new receivers; just like at the Shrine Bowl, he settled in and started to rip all types of throws. I was personally impressed by McCord’s deep ball, as he consistently had good location and enough juice to hit them.

Running Back

The 2025 running back class for the NFL Draft is loaded with talent, and that is putting it lightly.

However, that talent was put to the test during the NFL Combine. The event is significant for the position, whether it is the testing or the on-field positional work. A great performance can vault a player up draft boards, while poor testing or drill work can make teams second-guess a player.

To nobody’s surprise, though, this year’s class had plenty of players who dominated key aspects of the NFL Combine.

One of the main standouts was UNC’s Omarion Hampton. He started off his week weighing in at 221 pounds, which was a great number coupled with his height of just over 5-feet-11-inches. The star running back then lit up both portions of his workout on Saturday.

In the testing, Hampton scored a 4.46 40-yard dash with a 1.55 10-yard split, a 38-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-10-inch broad jump. During the on-field drills, Hampton was as smooth as can be. He made cuts with ease, showed great movement, and flashed great hands as a receiver.

In other words, Hampton validated why he is one of the best running backs in the 2025 draft class. The UNC standout was not alone, though.

UCF’s RJ Harvey validated his play style with a 4.44 40-yard dash (1.52 10-yard split), a 38-inch vertical jump, and over a 10 foot broad jump. Additionally, he looked extremely impressive during the on-field drills; whenever he touched the ball, Harvey had burst and explosiveness that was arguably better than most players on the field.

Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins fell into the same category as Hampton, running a 4.48 40-yard dash at 221 pounds while also posting a 38.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot broad jump. He also looked smooth with his cuts and long speed during the on-field drills.

  • South Carolina’s Raheim “Rocket” Sanders showed impressive speed and great receiving ability during the RBs workouts.
  • Miami’s Damien Martinez hit a very important benchmark of 4.51 in his 40-yard dash and looked like one of the best running backs on the field.
  • Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson fall into this category as well. Sampson showed all of the skill and traits he did in the high-powered Vols offense, while Johnson showed impressive movement and footwork at a larger frame.

Wide Receiver

While the wideouts in the 2025 draft class are not seen in the same fashion as the running backs, they were arguably just as impressive at the NFL Combine. In fact, they were impressive to the point that it will be hard to narrow down the winners in this section.

It would be hard to start anywhere else than with Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins was already one of my favorites at the position, especially after a Senior Bowl where he showed his all-around skill set. How did he improve on this in Indianapolis? Higgins ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, lining up with the good deep speed he has shown on the field. He also posted a 39-inch vertical, confirming that he is one of the better above-the-rim threats in the class.

The Iowa State product also was great during the on-field portion of the workout. Higgins had fluid movements, good speed,  great hands, and very good route running.

Noel was even better than Higgins and arguably had the best workout out of any wideout at the combine. In the on-field portion, the Iowa State product was slick in every single fashion. He moved with speed, had upper-level route running, and showed great hands.

However, the most impressive part of the workout for Noel was his testing. Not only did he post a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash (1.51 10-yard split), but also jumped out the gym with a 41.5-inch vertical  and over an 11-foot broad jump. Additionally, Noel posted 23 reps of 225 on the bench press at 184 pounds.

Outside of Higgins and Noel, Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor posted impressive testing numbers and looked very fluid during the on-field drill work. With a 4.44 40-yard dash at 206 pounds and his play style, Ayomanor could easily see his stock start to climb.

Texas’s Matthew Golden turned heads with 4.29 40-yard dash; combined with his impressive tape, the time could solidify his stock as a first-round player.

Florida’s Chimere Dike and Miami’s Sam Brown Jr. did well to help themselves, too. Dike had one of the better overall testing profiles at the event in Indianapolis, whether it was his 4.34 40-yard dash, a 38.5 inch vertical , or 6.82 3-cone time. He also was very solid during the on-field portion of the workouts.

As for Brown Jr., he confirmed that everything he showed during the Shrine Bowl translates to testing. With a 4.44 40-yard dash (1.52 10-yard split) and a 41.5-inch vertical jump at 202 pounds, the Miami wideout proved that he is very much worth spending a good draft pick on.

There were many other good performers in this group outside of the names I mentioned above. However, I know that you do not want to read 2,000 words on just wideouts; we have other positions to get to! So, here are my rapid fire thoughts on the rest of the wide receiver standouts from the NFL Combine!

  • Jack Bech: Despite not testing, he showed all of his impressive route-running ability again. Combined with his Senior Bowl performance, Bech should be one of the higher-drafted players at the position this year.
  • Ja’Corey Brooks: I loved the speed and fluidity with which Brooks operated at the Combine this year, especially when asked to run deeper routes down the field. He is one of my favorite sleepers at wideout in this class.
  • Jimmy Horn Jr.: Outside of impressive testing, Horn Jr. was one of the smoothest players on the field during workouts. It felt like the Colorado product never had a false step and ran every route with precision. An NFL team could easily be getting a steal with him.
  • Tai Felton: A standout at the Senior Bowl, Felton had a great NFL Combine, highlighted by a 4.37 40-yard dash and a 39.5-inch vertical jump. He also showed that his explosiveness could translate on the field in Indianapolis. He also had an amazing flip/gainer after the workout.
  • KeAndre Lambert-Smith: A Shrine Bowl standout, Lambert-Smith popped off at the event with a 4.37 40-yard dash and impressive on-field workouts. In other words, it was a very good day for his stock.
  • Isaiah Neyor: Another fun Shrine Bowl player, Neyor ran a 4.40 40-yard dash and had a 38-inch vertical at 218 pounds. I sound like a broken record, but he is a fun sleeper in this class.
  • Jaylin Lane: Lane was one of the best overall testers in his class, whether in the 40-yard dash(vertical speed) or the 3-cone drill(agility/change of direction/short area speed). A very impressive player that I will be keeping my eye on.
  • Jalen Royals: His 4.42 speed was impressive, but Royals wowed me once again with his route running during drills. In my opinion, he is one of, if not the best, route-runner in this class.
  • Xavier Restrepo: If not Royals, Restrepo could have the crown for the best route runner in the class. He is so refined in every important skill at the position.
  • Isaac TeSlaa: I had very limited knowledge of TeSlaa before the Senior Bowl. After a good performance in Mobile, registering a 9.97 RAS during workouts, and making the best catch of the day in workouts, he is firmly on my radar as a player worth taking a shot on.
  • Kyle Williams: Williams is so smooth as an all-around player, and he showed that at the NFL Combine again. He will be an instant contributor at the NFL level in my opinion.

Does this wideout class have the same upper-tier, round-one talent as previous years? No. What it lacks in top-heaviness, it makes up in-depth, though. Whether on Day 2 or 3, there are plenty of players worth taking shots on with draft picks at the NFL level.

Tight End

Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson was arguably the best tight end on the field when the position worked out. He showed off very good speed with a 4.63 40-yard dash, looked comfortable as a blocker, and had no issues with any of the routes he was asked to run. In other words, Ferguson dominated all parts of the workout and continued where he left off from the Senior Bowl.

Speaking of great Senior Bowl performers, Mason Taylor also continued his great draft process in Indianapolis. While not testing, the LSU tight end made route running and drills, like the gauntlet, look simple. He displayed fast and strong hands and the ability to challenge down the field vertically, which lines up great with his college tape.

Taylor and Ferguson were the headliners at the position, but the undercards still packed a punch.

Texas Tech’s Jalin Conyers had a very impressive NFL Combine; between his route running in drills, a 6.94 short shuttle time, and a solid 4.74 40-yard dash, the tight end showed the potential he has at the next level. Nebraska’s Thomas Fidone II falls into this category, too. Building off his Senior Bowl, the tight end had a very good combination of testing and on-field performance. Both him and Conyers have became two of my main offensive sleepers in this overall 2025 draft class.

Additionally, I really enjoyed how Joshua Simon and Luke Lachey looked during the day. Simon, just as he did in Texas, showed off a nice blend of athleticism, blocking, and route running. Lachey displayed great hands and tested well enough in the select drills he participated in.

It is a very fun class of tight ends in 2025. Whether you want one early in the draft or want to take a chance on someone late, the NFL Combine showed that there are plenty of options to choose from.

Offensive Line

Now, I was not in attendance for the offensive line workouts. After a very long week in Indianapolis, I made my journey home on Sunday, and finally recovered enough to write this article!

However, I did have a chance to view the offensive linemen from the broadcast view on Sunday. So, here are my quick thoughts on who stood out from the overall position group:

  • Will Campbell: You may care about his arm length. I do not. Between his athleticism in drills, his fantastic testing numbers in Indianapolis, and some of the best tape in the entire draft class, the LSU offensive lineman is a player I would take my chances on. He will be a star in the NFL.
  • Armand Membou: An athletic freak and impressive mover on the field, Membou had one of the best overall performances at the NFL Combine at his position. Checking every box and then some on Sunday, Membou could be easily heading for a top-10 draft slot.
  • Aireontae Ersery: I was surprised by how Ersery ran, as he notched a 5.01 40-yard dash. Combined with how smooth he looked in the on-field portion of drills, the Minnesota product is in a very good position draft-stock-wise. 
  • Josh Conerly. Jr.: Similar to Membou and Ersery, Conerly Jr. moved great during drill work and tested pretty well. He is a good tackle prospect with some upside.
  • Eli Cox: I was very surprised by Cox’s testing numbers (5.03 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical at 306 pounds) and how he moved during drill work. This was explicitly apparent in the pulling drills; Cox was fluid out of his stance and had impressive attack angles working toward his blocks. He is a player I will be keeping a closer eye on going forward.
  • Grey Zabel: The North Dakota State product posted an impressive 36.5-inch vertical jump and looked very good during drill work. With his versatility and overall skillset, Zabel is one of my favorites in the trenches this year.
  • Jonah Savaiinaea: The Arizona product had some very impressive testing numbers at the NFL Combine. With a solid Senior Bowl prior to this event, Savaiinaea has shown multiple times that he has the athleticism to play at the next level, in addition to the skill he has shown on tape. 
  • Tate Ratledge: Ratledge had a very, very impressive day in Indianapolis, notching a 9.98 RAS from his testing numbers. Combined with his on-field workouts, the guard showed that he could very well have one of the highest upsides at the guard position. 

Defensive Line/EDGE

Unlike the offensive line, I had a great view of the defensive line group in Indianapolis. And like the running backs, this group is loaded with talent.

In terms of interior defensive linemen, Darius Alexander and Derrick Harmon had two of the best overall performances. Both considered two of the best players at their position ahead of the NFL Combine, Harmon and Alexander ran 4.95 40-yard dashes. Alexander expanded on this with a 31.5-inch vertical and over an 8-foot broad jump.  These numbers translated to the field; moving with quickness, speed, and power, Harmon and Alexander dominated the drills when they were on the field.

Harmon in the run-and-club drill. Another great showing from the Oregon DL.

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2025-02-27T21:49:48.399Z

Indiana’s CJ West had an extremely impressive 4.95 40-yard dash and then proceeded to dominate during drill work. His quickness was evident, and he had some of the more powerful hands in his group. Even sitting in the stands, you could hear the pop of the bags during the drill work.

On top of his movement, CJ West looks very comfortable with his hands in drills. Very loud pop on the bags during his pass rushing moves. #NFLCombine

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2025-02-27T21:40:37.868Z

South Carolina’s Tonka Hemingway continued his draft process after a great week at the Shrine Bowl in Texas. He moved with great fluidity and showcased good usage of his hands during pass-rushing drills. JJ Pegues and Junior Tafuna also displayed some nice fluidity and movement during workouts. Pegues showed this the most during the hoop drill, wasting no movement and displaying some impressive bend.

Ole Miss DL JJ Pegues running the hoop! Very impressive quickness from him here. #NFLCombine

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2025-02-27T22:03:20.618Z

During their workouts, the EDGE position was just as good as the interior defensive linemen, and the discussion starts with Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart.

Standing at 6-feet, 5-inches and weighing 265 pounds, Stewart ran an impressive 4.59 40-yard dash, jumped 40 inches in the vertical jump, and registered a broad jump of just under 11 feet. With those measurables, a dominant Senior Bowl performance, and very good college tape, the EDGE could be destined to be a top-10 or top-15 selection come April.

And he follows it up with a 4.59. What a day for Stewart!

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2025-02-27T23:04:50.262Z

Two other impressive players were Arkansas’s Landon Jackson and Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku. Jackson, who turned up his performance to close out the Senior Bowl, did not miss a beat in Indianapolis. He posted a 4.68 40-yard dash, a position-best vertical jump of 40.5 inches, and over a 10-foot broad jump. He also displayed his continued improvement as a pass rusher, specifically when it comes to his hands. 

Ezeiruaku, who also was a good Senior Bowl performer, showed off the overall skill set that has put him into first-round consideration. In terms of testing, he posted a ridiculous 4.19 short shuttle time and a 6.94 3-cone time. On the field, the Boston College product moved with ease. Ezeiruaku was smooth, sound, and fluid in every drill and showed off the pass-rushing moves that were the basis of his college production. It was a very impressive performance from a player who has done nothing but impress people in the draft process. 

Linebackers

The 2025 crop of linebackers is a fascinating group, and not necessarily in the greatest way. However, some standouts were still there to be found after their workouts at the NFL Combine.

Jihaad Campbell leads my list of standouts at the position and by a wide margin. The Alabama product ran a 4.52 at 235 pounds and jumped over 10 feet in the broad jump. He was a force during positional workouts, moving as smoothly or even better as players almost 10 pounds lighter than him. To top it all off, Campbell had great reps during pass-rushing drills.

Cal’s Teddye Buchanan also looked very good during drill work during the event, which lined up with the linebacker’s high level of play throughout college. On top of that, the Cal product had a very impressive testing performance. With a 4.60 40-yard dash (1.58 10-yard split), a 40-inch vertical, 26 reps on the bench, and a broad jump over 10 feet, Buchanan earned a very impressive 9.77 RAS.

Auburn’s Eugene Asante really impressed me with his testing, whether it was his 4.48 40-yard dash or his 21 reps on the bench press. These numbers, when combined with his play at the Senior Bowl, show a player ready to contribute at the NFL level.

Oklahoma State’s Nick Martin ran a very good 4.53 in the 40-yard dash, but the most impressive part of his workout was the on-field portion. Between his quickness and above-average footwork, Martin continued to show that he is one of the best linebackers in this entire class.

Two other players who had good days were South Carolina’s Demetrius Knight Jr. and Oklahoma’s Danny Stusman. I already enjoyed how Knight played at the Senior Bowl, so seeing him register a 4.58 40-yard dash at 235 pounds confirmed that the play style can easily translate to the NFL level. Stutsman’s 4.52 time and 34-inch vertical, combined with his play style, proved that he also has the athleticism to make the leap.

In a few ways, this linebacker class is like the quarterback class. There may not be too many star players at the position, but in the right schemes, these players could easily make a significant impact. After the NFL Combine, the players these teams could target are becoming much more apparent.

Defensive Backs

In the modern NFL, the athletes at the secondary positions are ridiculous. If you look at the position from just ten years ago compared to today, the speed and athleticism of the modern player is just so much higher. And after the 2025 NFL Combine, that is only becoming more apparent.

Let’s start with the cornerback group. The “Combine Warrior” of the group was Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston, and for very good reason. Running a blazing 4.28 40-yard dash (1.50 10-yard split), the cornerback hit the fastest speed of any player in attendance at 24.25 miles per hour. Combined with a 39.5-inch vertical,  a broad jump over 10 feet, and a great performance in the drills, the Kentucky product posted the numbers necessary to go along with his solid tape and Senior Bowl performance.

Hairston was not alone, though. Texas’s Jahdae Barron likely solidified his first-round standing with a 4.39 40, a 35-inch vertical, and over a 10-foot broad jump. Iowa State’s Darien Porter confirmed the “alien” comparisons with a 4.3 40-yard dash, a 36.5-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-11-inch broad jump, and a ridiculous 6.71 3-cone time. Tulane’s Caleb Ransaw had great numbers as well, posting a 4.33 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical, and a broad jump of 10 feet 9 inches. He also was very fluid and impressive during his drill work at the event.

In terms of on-field drills, not many were better than Ole Miss’s Trey Amos. Independent of his good testing performance, Amos moved so fluidly and smoothly in every single drill. His footwork was on-point, his hips were fluid, and his athleticism translated to on-field work.

The same could be said for another handful of cornerbacks, led by Robert Longerbeam and Azareye’h Thomas. The Rutgers and Florida State products had zero wasted movements, attacked angles properly, and looked the part of players ready to contribute at the NFL level.

UTSA’s Zah Fraiser, Cal’s Nohl Willaims, WKU’s Upton Stout, WMU”s Bilhal Kone, Lousiville’s Quincy Riley, and Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish fit this category, too. Why is this the case? Compared to the vast majority of other CBs on the field, these guys moved differently. The footwork was refined, the movements were not wasted, and the instincts were on point. Regardless of their athletics or style of play, they were all in the right place and used their skills to their fullest ability.

Shifting to the safety position, the winner of the day was Nick Emmanwori. 43-inch vertical, 4.38 40-yard dash, and over an 11-foot broad jump at 220 pounds. Combined with fun game tape, do I really need to say any more about why he won the day? 

Outside of Emmanwori, here are my other thoughts on my other safety standouts:

  • Malachi Starks: Did Starks have the most impressive testing numbers? No. However, the Georgia product looked like one of the best secondary players on the field during drill work. He also consistently hit some of the top GPS times out of all of the DBs in attendance, too. Don’t overthink this one, because the Georgia product is a damn good football player.
  • Billy Bowman Jr.: The Oklahoma product surprised me with his 4.43 time in the 40 and was very solid during drill work. With those testing numbers in hand, Bowman Jr. should be in a good spot heading into meetings and his pro day.
  • R.J. Mickens: Between his testing numbers and the on-field drills, Mickens had himself a very good day in Indianapolis. I love him as a middle-round option at the position.
  • Jaylen Reed: Reed impressed me with his movement ability at the Combine, verifying how he looked a1s a key part of the Penn State defense. Excited to dive in a little deeper on him.
  • Jonas Sanker: Sanker was clearly one of the better movers at the position, specifically when it came to footwork and on-field speed. His drill work showed that NFL team will value his ranginess.
  • Craig Woodson: Quick, twitchy, and a great mover all over the field. Combined with his on-field play and performance at the Shrine Bowl, Woodson is one of my sleepers/favorites at the safety position this year.
  • Kitan Crawford: I did not know of Crawford much before Indianapolis. After a dominant testing performance and arguably the best on-field performance at the NFL Combine, I must say I was not familiar with your game, Mr. Crawford. The Nevada product should come off the board as one of the top safeties in this class.

Maybe I will feel differently come April, but I love the athletic potential of this secondary group in 2025. A lot of refinement is needed for some players, but that is what coaching is for. In the right situations, I feel that a large amount of the cornerbacks and safeties in this class will be solid contributors at the NFL level.

Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2023 with a Communications Degree, a concentration in Multimedia Journalism, and a minor in Broadcasting. Received an M.A. in Communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2024. Wrote for Jets Insider for two years, previously hosted a Knicks podcast for Let's Talk Knicks, and contributed to Inside the Iggles. Currently a writer for Jets X-Factor. Avid movie watcher, gym goer, music listener, and MMA fan.

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