Risers
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Ty Simpson was the most accurate QB in drills at the Combine at all 3 levels, showing good touch and placement, especially considering the lack of experience throwing to the Wide Receivers at the Combine. He was able to layer some impressive Go Balls as well, showing off a skill not many in this class have.
With Fernando Mendoza opting to throw only at his Pro
Day, Simpson took the opportunity of this spotlight to further cement himself as the QB2 of the class and justify a potential Round 1 selection,
Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
Perhaps the biggest winner of the Combine, Washington deservedly got emotional after finishing his Combine 40. The 6’1 223 lb. power back had the fastest dash time of the day for RBs, a 4.33 40 yard dash. While the official results are pending, he could be the most athletic RB since 1987 in Relative Athletic Score.
Granted the lack of agility testing stands out, as on tape Washington lacks a lot of wiggle as a Running Back. But as a pure North-South runner who makes decisive decisions and hits the hole very fast, this was an excellent combine for Washington who is now entering RB2 conversations.
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Germie Bernard had a strong performance, showing off his speed (4.48 40 time), acceleration (1.52u 10 yard spilt), Explosiveness (10 foot, 5 inch broad jump), and agility (6.71 3 cone drill).
A lot of players are skipping the agility score as a.way to hide a lack of wiggle and functional game speed in recent years, so Germie Bernard deserves props for participating in that especially. Germie had nothing to hide in those regards either, as the drills showed a smooth route runner. Bernard might have secured a top 50 pick for himself in this loaded WR class.
Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
Some players win not just in their combine performance, but in their measurements. Former Bearcat and Lindenwood transfer Jeff Caldwell did both. He measured an inch taller at the combine, getting to 6’5 height.
When your testing is rivaled only by DK Metcalf at your height and weight, it’s going to get noticed. Caldwell projects as a vertical threat who can fight for contested catches similar to fellow former Bearcat Alec Pierce, albeit is a very linear athlete and doesn’t have quite the same hands as Pierce. Still Caldwell cemented himself as a Day 3 pick instead of a potential UDFA.
Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
Sam Roush has to be the biggest riser from the Tight Ends this pre draft process. He started off with a strong showing in Mobile with effective blocking on 11 on 11s and some reliable hands when targeted in Redzone work. Scouts were buzzing about the kid out of Stanford’s ability to fight for the ball and the ball carrier, projecting as an inline blocking TE.
He then proceeded to put up a combine performance close to Jelani Woods’ historic performance from 2023. Tight End is one of the positions where athletic testing has the strongest correlation to becoming a top player at your position, and Roush should be considered a Top 3 TE in this class going forward as a result of this athletic display.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq’s position as TE1 was already secure prior to his trip to Indy. But running the fastest 40 by a TE ever and finishing top 3 all time in vertical and broad jumps certainly doesn’t hurt his stock.
Sadiq is now in firm position to be not just the top TE off the board, but has a chance to go in the top 10-15 pick range.
Max Iheanachor, T, Arizona State
A developmental Tackle, Iheanachor needed to showcase the athletic traits necessary to be a worthwhile investment in the draft. The former Sun Devil did just that to solidify his status as a top 75 player in the class.
Max is coming off of a breakout season with Arizona State, allowing 0 sacks and just 14 pressures. However his technique still needs refinement and he could stand to be more physical in the run game. His hand discipline needs development in particular, as he was penalized 8 times and it was primarily via holding calls.
Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
This Aggie put together a great Combine performance, potentially moving him to G2 amongst pure Guards (not counting Tackle converts inside) behind Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane.
Another 3 cone standout, Bisontis was able to further showcase his agility in drills, helping him stand out and become a priority for teams looking run zone or needing a pulling guard.
Logan Jones, C, Iowa
The best Center performance of the Combine was Logan Jones, who needed to wow in testing considering his below average size and weight. He proved that he was a highly athletic Center, helping solidify his position among more finesse centers.
His size shouldn’t be too much of a concern with those testing numbers, as he still falls in between Tyler Linderbaum (6 pounds under) and Jason Kelce (4 pounds over) in playing weight while also having similar elite athleticism.
Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
Perhaps the biggest Riser of the pre-draftt process in the Edge class, Malachi Lawrence started off with a dominant performance at the Shrine Bowl and had an impressive Combine workout for teams, which could cement him as a Day 2 pick.
While his arms might not have been as long as previously reported (35”), he more than made up for it with his dash, 10 yard split, and jumps all being elite.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State
Another All Star Game stud, Dani Dennis-Sutton dominated the Senior Bowl Tackles for the first two days of practice. He was on his way to another strong showing on Day 3 until he had a scary hit and had to leave the field. Some questioned if he just got the wind knocked out of him or if it was a more serious injury, which put some doubt on how his Combine performance and level of participation would be.
Being able to run the full gauntlet of drills and testing was already a positive sign to alleviate any concerns with his injury from last month. But add on that he has a case as the most size adjusted fast and explosive Edge rusher in the class after his performance on his jumps and dash, and it’s no wonder his stock is rising.
Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
Gracen Halton also had a promising Shrine Bowl performance, showing off a devastating first step and excellent penetration skills as a 3 Technique Defensive Tackle.
Combine his speed with a 36.5” vertical jump at 293 lbs. and it’s easy to see the appeal for this Sooner making an impact at the NFL level. Expect him to go Day 2.
Demonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
Perhaps the most freaky athlete among interior Defensive lineman of the 2026 Draft class, Capehart had a massive day in Indy. The Clemson Tiger showed why he should be considered a dangerous weapon in the hands of the right Defensive Coordinator.
Whether it is as a gap rushing 3 Technique or a Double Team absorbing 1 Technique, Capehart’s versatility paired with elite athletic testing should be very appealing to a Day 2 team.
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
It was known that Sonny Styles was a sensational athlete heading into the Combine. But the former Safety can now be confirmed as one of the freakiest freaks in a league filled with premier athletes.
There wasn’t much room for him to rise as a consensus Top 10 pick heading into the week. But now there is a legitimate case for him to be the first Defender off the board, even over Edge Rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and teammate Arvell Reese Jr. (who can also be an off ball LB too). While it probably won’t happen due to positional value, the scarcity of finding true elite LBs in the NFL who can be dominant in coverage and reliable tacklers could make the case for Styles to go over them.
Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
Tacario Davis’ final collegiate season didn’t go to plan with rib, hamstring, and knee injuries hurting his availability and performance for the Huskies. The Hamstring in particular was really concerning as a severe one that ended his season, and could have been something that limited his Combine performance.
Instead Tacario Davis had one of the most athletic performances in testing this year for the Corners, showing off his speed and explosiveness despite his 6’4 and 194 lb. frame. Teams looking for long outside Corners with athleticism to bail out from press man/cover 3 should love Davis.
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The former Purdue Boilermaker and Westfield native felt right at home in Indiana and it showed on the field. Probably the most impressive DB of the Combine, Thieneman paired elite tier athletic testing with a sensational drill work.
Being able to show off a smooth backpedal, strong range, and reliable hands in catching everything thrown to him, the versatile S prospect made his case to not just be the Safety2 of the class, but could compete with Caleb Downs for the top spot in the class. Not only should he go in the top 18 of the Draft, but there is a decent chance that he is drafted in the top 10.
Fallers
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
Diego Pavia has done nearly everything in his power to become an Undrafted Free Agent over the last 3 months. From creating questions of his maturity after his infamous reaction to not winning the Heisman, to deflecting questions with a joke regarding said maturity and saying he is being mentored by Johnny Manziel, to then being measured at 5’9.875” tall. His biggest opportunity for self reflection and clear growth to the media prior to the draft squandered for a few chuckles is not ideal for a draft stock.
Pavia did a good job on his ball placement in drills, but the Vanderbilt QB has consistently shown immaturity and brashness both in front of the camera and away from it. His list of teams interested in him is already reduced by his height alone not meeting thresholds for most NFL teams at QB, but he has not done himself any favors with his attitude and personality in keeping that number from dropping further. Perhaps someone takes a chance on him on Day 3, but NFL teams tend to not like QB2s/3s Coming to the NFL with such a demeanor.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
Johnson was firmly in the mix for the RB2 of the 2026 Draft behind Love heading into the combine, but now that feels less plausible. Running Backs are one of the high correlation between athletic testing and NFL production positions, and Emmett Johnson was unable to have a single elite test result.
Price out of Notre Dame and Coleman out of TCU should be considered ahead of him, and Mike Washington Jr.’s performance gave him a case as well to be ahead of Johnson for RB4 of the class. While his tape is highly polished, the lack of explosive big play long speed stands out from there and a 4.56 40 yard dash does little to assuage this concern.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona
It had been a while since scouts had seen Tyson play at top WR prospect level compared to his contemporaries. Missing time in the middle of the 2025 season with soft tissue injuries once again and struggling to make an impact in the only 2 games back since certainly creates red flags and questions.
Tyson was unable to do drills or most athletic testing, with the sole exception being bench press where he put up 26 (albeit with some questionable form), 2nd most for a WR ever behind only DK Metcalf. While that is highly impressive, the medical red flags could have been alleviated somewhat with a strong and active showing in Indianapolis. He isn’t the consensus WR1 due in large part to this risk, and this deep class of WRs is chomping on the bit to pass him. The talent is clear, but the risk is too, making his draft stock potentially slipping outside of the top 20-25.
Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama
A polarizing prospect with a large range of draft stock from analyst to analyst, Kadyn Proctor had an interesting combine. On the one hand he was able to display his explosiveness and strength consistently, which are hallmarks of his profile on tape.
On the other hand, his footwork in drills was sloppy and he struggled to keep his balance and move agilely. He could be dominant in gap schemes that won’t ask him to pull or get out in space in the run, but the issues of his could limit him to just those teams. With the NFL becoming more balanced between zone and gap concepts in recent years, that list isn’t long of gap heavy teams.
Dametrius Crownover, T, Texas A&M
Another large Tackle that some teams will fall in love with, Crownover is certainly a 1st player off the bus kind of guy at 6’7 and 319 lbs. with freakishly long arms. His 5.15 40 yard dash is also solid for his stature.
However his 10 yard split was really slow and he was the biggest struggler in drills among the OL. He was struggling to move laterally a lot and needed to often use his arms to stabilize himself. He won’t have the luxury of being able to have his arms free for balancing in the NFL and there is a clear issue against speed for him.
LT Overton, DL, Alabama
One of the hallmarks of LT Overton’s profile is his inside/outside versatility, but that comes with the double edged sword of being considered a tweener as a large DE/small 3T DT. After his combine performance perhaps its best if he works inside full time.
LT frankly doesn’t have the explosiveness off the Edge that teams are looking for as a full time edge rusher and will struggle to beat a Tackle off the line. He’d be much better suited bulking up to become a full time DT in the NFL. But the lack of experience being in this role full time means that his stock is not going to rise from this Combine.
R Mason Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
R Mason Thomas was not done any favors for his stock in his trip to Indy. From being measured an inch shorter and 10 lbs. lighter to then only running the 40 yard dash where he went 4.67 and a 1.63 10 yard split is not great for an undersized DE.
Heading into the week he was looking like a potential top 30-40 pick in the draft with his explosive play and high energy dominating for the Sooners. But the poor showing from him at the Combine could have him fall down a bit. He will need to test much better at his pro day to keep him stock up.
Lee Hunter, NT, Texas A&M
Lee Hunter was in a competition with Caleb Banks and Peter Woods as the top 3 DTs of the Draft, but he had a rough showing at the Combine and he could end up being a Round 2 player. The lack of explosion and agility wasn’t too much of a surprise, but he showed a clear gap in the speed and first step between him and other top prospects at DT so his stock will take a bit of a hit.
