2026 NFL Combine: Offensive and Defensive Standouts

At the 2026 NFL Combine, plenty of players not only solidified their draft stock, but also elevated their profile as the process rolls into the “Pro-Day” circuit. While the biggest names won’t necessary be found here, we’ll highlight some of the more impressive offensive and defensive standouts from the event.

2026 NFL Combine Standouts

Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati

Cincinnati’s Jeff Caldwell put on a show at the 2026 NFL Combine.

The Lindenwood and Cincinnati product, notched an athleticism score of 99, per the NFL. He posted a blazing 4.31 40-yard dash with a 1.48 10-yard split, a vertical jump of 42 inches, and a broad jump of over 11 feet. Standing over 6-feet-5-inches and over 215 pounds, Caldwell possesses impressive size and speed that looks to translate to the NFL level.

At the East-West Shrine Bowl, Caldwell showed that his traits translate to the field. He moves with ease on deep routes, and raced past defensive backs on multiple occasions. And, during his college career and the Shrine Bowl, Caldwell also displayed a really good feel for route running all over the field. Heading into his Pro Day, the wideout should see his stock rise in the coming weeks.

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Georgia State wideout Ted Hurst did exactly what he needed to do at the 2026 NFL Combine.

Weighing 206 pounds, Hurst ripped off a 4.42 40-yard dash with an impressive 1.55 10-yard split. He posted a very impressive 11-feet-3-inches in the broad jump and posted a mark of 36.5 in the vertical jump. Hurst then carried his impressive testing performance into the drill work. The Georgia State product showcased his fluidity as a route runner, and the ability make adjustments on throws deep down the field.

Heading into draft season, Hurst’s stock should continue to climb. He has all of the ability to make an immediate impact as a downfield threat in 2026, at a minimum, and has the potential to become a starter in the coming years.

Mike Washington Jr. RB, Arkansas

Mike Washington Jr. solidified himself as one of the better running backs in the class with his NFL Combine performance. Weighing in at 231 pounds, the Arkansas product raced his way to a 4.33 40-yard dash and a 1.51 10-yard split, two marks that led all running backs at the event. Washington Jr. also jumped 39 inches in the vertical jump and registered a 10-foot, 8-inch mark in the broad jump, which both slotted in as the second-best marks for running backs.

A player with great vision and power, Washington Jr. was arguably the best running back in Mobile and had over 1000 yards for Arkansas in 2025. The running back constantly showed that he has the breakaway speed and burst to succeed at the next level, along with the vision/patience to take advantage of good blocking. 

Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

He did not post the out-of-this-world numbers of a Kenyon Sadiq or an Eli Stowers, but Sam Roush had a very impressive week at the 2026 NFL Combine.

The Stanford product measured in at 6-feet-6-inches and 267 pounds, and ran a 4.70 40-yard dash with a 1.61 10-yard split. He had a massively impressive 38.5-inch vertical jump and a very good mark of 10-feet-6-inches in the broad jump. Roush also tested well with the agility and strength drills. He had a solid 4.37 short shuttle, a great 7.08 in the 3-cone, and posted 25 reps on the bench press.

A smooth mover who competes well as both a blocker and a pass-catcher, Roush shows that the numbers add up with his film, which is a great sign for a draft stock that was already rising after the Senior Bowl. He should be one of the more intriguing tight ends in this class and should have a legitimate chance to contribute on Day 1.

Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia

It may be safe to say that after his 2026 NFL Combine performance, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling is a lock for the first round.

Already rising up boards, the Georgia product put on a show in Indianapolis. Starting with a 33.5-inch vertical jump (fifth-best for OL) and a 9-foot-7-inch broad jump (third for OL), Freeling followed that up with a 4.93 40-yard dash that included an awesome 1.71 10-yard split. The Georgia OL looked impressive with his movement skills and hands. Heading out of the NFL Combine, there is a chance that Freeling could vault himself into not only the discussion for OT1, but also as a top-10 pick. 

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Already possessing impressive physical skill and great tape, Sonny Styles posted a 4.46 40-yard dash (1.56 10-yard split), a fantastic 43.5-inch vertical (best at the position), and an impressive 11-foot-2-inch broad jump. The linebacker also notched a 4.26 on the short shuttle and 7.09 in the 3-cone drill. To put it lightly, Styles unleashed one of the best performances from a linebacker in the history of the event.

Styles was already the best linebacker in this class, and the NFL Combine testing only made that a stone-cold certainty. Heading out of Indianapolis, there is no real reason that Styles should not be a top-10 or top-five pick. His draft process will be a true test of positional value. 

Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Coming off a solid East-West Shrine Bowl, Malachi Lawrence took things to another level at the NFL Combine.

The UCF product notched a 4.52 40-yard dash, a 1.59 ten-yard split, a whopping 40-inch vertical, and a great 10-foot-10-inch broad jump. Furthermore, Lawrence looked very good in the on-field work. The explosiveness appeared in every drill, and Lawrence also showed off his wide array of pass-rush moves.

Outside of David Bailey, Mason Reiger, and Arvell Reese, Lawrence was one of my favorite edge rushers to watch at the event. He has the bend, explosiveness, and moves to make an impact as a pass rusher. And, there is potential for him to succeed as a run defender, too. Heading toward the NFL level, Lawrence should be able to provide juice pretty early on for an NFL team. 

Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

A key member of an extremely talented Penn State defense, Dani Dennis-Sutton had an impressive performance at the 2026 NFL Combine.

Dennis-Sutton, weighing 256 pounds at 6-feet-6-inches, notched a 4.63 40-yard dash (1.63 10-yard split) and a vertical jump of 39. 5 inches. The defensive end also posted a 10-foot-11-inch broad jump and aced the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.90 seconds. In the drill work, Dennis-Sutton made things look easy. The Penn State product moved through the drills with explosiveness and showcased great hand usage. Compared to the vast majority of players at the event, Dennis-Sutton really stood out in a big-time way.

Another player who had a good performance at the Senior Bowl, Dennis-Sutton has plenty of upside heading toward the NFL level. Validating the athleticism that pops up on his tape, the Penn State defender has a great chance to start to see his stock rise.

VJ Payne, Kansas State

Taking everything into account, VJ Payne had one of the better performances at the safety position at the NFL Combine.

The Kansas State product, at 206 pounds, ran a blazing 4.40 in the 40-yard dash, which was paired with a 1.52 10-yard split. Payne also jumped 35 inches in the vertical jump and posted a broad jump of 10-feet-7-inches. Carrying his great work into the field drills, the safety thrived at an extremely high level. Payne moved with ease deep down the field and showed that he can not only cut on a dime, but move laterally at a high level.

Like a few other players on this list, Payne had a very good showing in Mobile at the Senor Bowl. In a deep safety class, the Kansas State product is a key part of it, and it’ll be interesting to see how the rest of his process unfolds.

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

While his teammate has gotten a ton of buzz, Tennessee’s Colton Hood was a great player in Indianapolis this year.

In testing, Hood was good in every capacity. Running a 4.44 40-yard dash, a 40.5-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-5-inch broad jump, the cornerback showed that he has the athleticism to succeed at the NFL level. However, the real show from Hood was in the positional drills.

Hood was explosive and smooth, no matter what he was asked to do. The cornerback accelerated with ease, sunk and flipped his hips with ease, and changed direction at a high level. I could not legitimately tell you if Hood had a “bad” rep during the workout. He truly made everything look easy on the field.