It’s 2026 NFL Scouting Combine week — a major benchmark to kick off what will be a frantic couple of weeks with roster decisions and ink starting to dry for every team’s NFL Draft board. Some of the most important aspects of the week take place behind closed doors with players interviewing with teams, medical checks, and even agent-team discourse for free agency, which is just around the corner.
The aspect football fans get to view themselves is the athletic testing portion — a four-day event housed
on NFL Network from Thursday through Sunday. Each position group will have their respective days to workout. Each has the opportunity to show their strength, agility, speed, and overall performance to execute on-field drills.
Each year coins a new crop of “workout warriors” that will affirm priors and question if the previous college film matches with just how well a player tested. The real winners happen behind closed doors. But, in the public eye, workouts are the only things that matter to that sphere.
Let’s discuss prospects on each day of the NFL Scouting Combine who could be ready to turn heads.
Day 1 (Thursday, 2/26) K, DL, LB
The opening act is a big-time day for the Bills, a team that will certainly be looking for the chance to add to their defensive line and linebacker rooms throughout the offseason.
It’s considered a very strong front-seven draft class. This will be a group you’ll want to keep your eyeballs on throughout Thursday afternoon/evening.
Peter Woods, DL (Clemson)
Woods didn’t have the season he would have hoped compared to preseason expectations. He’s now in danger of falling out of the first round. However, a big week at the combine can reel some of his draft trajectory back in after he was originally billed as a potential top-five selection last August.
He’s projected to come in over 300 pounds and 6’3”. He’s a former member of the renowned Bruce Feldman Freaks List last offseason, with Feldman stating Woods clocked in the 4.8s on the 40-yard dash and 33” in the vertical jump — both high-percentile numbers amongst defensive tackles.
Jake Golday, LB (Cincinnati)
A 6’4”, 240-pound human shouldn’t move quite like Golday does. If he tests, Golday will score well in all areas. Cincinnati trusted him to work in space plenty in the Big 12 and he succeeded at a high level.
He’s much more than just an athlete — a decorated player who put up over 100 total tackles in 2025. Golday won’t have to wait long into Day 2 to hear his name called. A great testing outing will only check another box.
Day 2 (Friday, 2/27) TE, DB
Tight ends won’t be a position of focus for the Bills with how things stand currently. As of now, it appears more likely than not that the team rolls with the same three tight ends into 2026. Although, something will have to give with Dawson Knox’s contract. The Bills hit well on a rookie tight end last year with Jackson Hawes.
Defensive back may be a position to watch with depth at corner and a potential incumbent at slot corner to Taron Johnson being a couple of things to watch. A starter at safety is still needed. This is a strong group to take a swing on a young option.
D’Angelo Ponds, CB (Indiana)
5’9”, 175-pounds has never looked so good at the cornerback position when it comes to Ponds’ ability to cover and stick his nose in the fan. Ponds thrives off his athleticism and want-to. He could play inside or out at the next level.
The natural instinct is to assume a move inside is possible. He should have (and needs) a big portion of testing.
Genesis Smith, S (Arizona)
Smith is a player who struggles in some of the finer points of the position as a tackler. Unlike Ponds above, Smith often lacks want-to moving downhill in his run fits.
Smith, however, looks like an absolute burner on film. He chews up ground in a hurry as he gets into the ball carrier’s air space and squeezes out routes over the top. Smith looks fast on tape. A good day will establish the foundation of a rangy safety who still needs some fine tuning as a run defender.
Day 3 (Saturday, 2/28) QB, RB, WR
The backfield won’t see any significant movement in 2026 with Josh Allen and James Cook locked in for the distant future. Receiver has been a major offseason talking point and that will continue through the NFL Draft.
Brenen Thompson, WR (Mississippi State)
Thompson is a player who’s a major threat to have the fastest 40-yard dash at this year’s combine. It’s expected he will run in the 4.2s, and that number pops itself onto his game film.
Thompson has game breaking speed and is a former state-champion sprinter in Texas. He led the SEC in receiving this past year and is set to turn heads in Indianapolis.
Bryce Lance, WR (North Dakota State)
Trey’s little brother will have great jumps by all accounts to go with a projected 6’3”, 210-pound frame. It was back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for Lance with the Bison.
He’s got the goods as an athlete. We will see if the speed lives up to what he put on film in the FCS.
Day 4 (Sunday 3/1) OL
Sunday is for the big athletes. There are a plethora of them to watch this weekend both at tackle and on the interior. The Bills will be either looking for added depth or potential starting options on the inside with this class.
Monroe Freeling, OT (Georgia)
A massive human being who is fleet-of-foot. He’s a former highly ranked recruit who has found some buzz going into the week. He’s likely going to workout well and that buzz will only continue.
Kadyn Proctor, OT (Alabama)
Proctor’s questions come more with his play than athleticism. The big man caught a screen pass for a touchdown in 2025. Another former five-star recruit, Proctor should be able to put up some eye-popping numbers from his physical profile to the athletic testing.
