CINCINNATI — The on-site preview for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine begins in earnest with a short list of measurable standouts likely to shift draft conversations. Coverage opens around tight end Kenyon Sadiq and several linebackers, offensive tackles and speedsters at receiver and running back, while only one quarterback — North Dakota State’s Cole Payton — draws measurable intrigue. There is, however, an important caveat: an NFL team source told the reporter that more than three-quarters of players interviewed Monday planned to skip some or all athletic testing, so who actually runs and jumps remains uncertain. Despite travel setbacks and weather delays en route — including over three feet of snow at the writer’s home and multiple flight cancellations — the preview focuses on names that could jump on draft boards if they test.
Key Takeaways
- Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon, TE) is listed around 6’3″, 240 lbs and could post 40-yard times in the low 4.3s with a near-40″ vertical if he participates.
- Several linebackers — notably Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles — have the length and range to produce eye-opening 40 times and explosiveness that could reframe their draft positions.
- Mississippi State’s Brennan Thompson projects as the class’s fastest receiver, potentially landing in the 4.2s, while Georgia’s Zachariah Branch and Kansas’s Emmanuel Henderson Jr. are expected in the mid-4.3s.
- Utah’s Caleb Lomu is the most-watched tackle for athletic confirmation after tape suggested left-tackle traits; other tackles of interest include Kadyn Proctor, Monroe Freeling and Max Iheanachor.
- Day 2/Day 3 prospects such as Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson and Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. can move into earlier rounds with strong testing, while Purdue S Dillon Thieneman and Tennessee CB Colton Hood can gain top-50 traction.
- Only one quarterback — North Dakota State’s Cole Payton — is noted as having a realistic shot to draw measurable attention at the event.
- This will be the writer’s 18th NFL combine on-site, underscoring the event’s role as a measurable equalizer for prospects and evaluators.
Background
The NFL Combine remains the most concentrated evaluation week of the pre-draft calendar: players undergo standardized speed, power and agility testing in front of coaches, general managers and scouts, while teams conduct interviews and medical rechecks. Over the past decade, impressive combine performances have vaulted mid-round prospects into the first rounds, and conversely, disappointing showings have cost others draft standing. The gathering also serves as a temperature check on positional classes; this year’s overview highlights depth at linebacker, a crop of very fast receivers and several large tackles whose confirmed athleticism could validate early-round grades.
Participation patterns have shifted recently: teams and agents sometimes steer prospects toward controlled pro days rather than Indy measurements, which creates uncertainty about who will actually run. An NFL team contact indicated a high opt-out rate among players the night before testing, making any early projections dependent on confirmed workout participation. Still, when elite measurable performances happen — think of prior outliers that forced re-evaluations — they prompt aggressive board movement and recalibrate team draft plans.
Main Event
Tight end Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon is the marquee name if he elects to do all the drills. At approximately 6’3″ and 240 pounds, scouts believe he could blend rare straight-line speed and explosiveness for a player in that position group, with expectations as high as low-4.3 40-yard times and around a 40″ vertical. Sadiq’s blocking willingness and overall athletic profile give him a Shannon Sharpe–type projection in some schemes, although inconsistent hands were noted on tape.
At linebacker, Arvell Reese is getting buzz as possibly the draft’s top defender in terms of prospective athleticism; his frame and range could translate to an outstanding 40 and testing day. Sonny Styles, a 6’4″, 250-pound former safety turned linebacker, is similarly intriguing for well-rounded athletic testing that some compare to Tremaine Edmunds’ 2018 measurements. Alabama’s Justin Jefferson and Cincinnati’s Jake Golday are also expected to perform very well in the timed events.
Wide receivers include potential top sprint times from Mississippi State’s Brennan Thompson, who projects into the low 4.2s, while Georgia’s Zachariah Branch and Kansas’s Emmanuel Henderson Jr. should populate the mid-4.3 range. On the offensive line, Utah’s Caleb Lomu draws particular attention as a left-tackle prototype; scouts want to know if tape traits — foot quickness and lateral mobility — will match on-field testing. Other linemen to monitor are Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, each with distinct developmental arcs and athletic upside.
Backfield and secondary prospects round out the list of movers: Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson and Arkansas’s Mike Washington Jr. stand at the cusp between Day 2 and Day 3, where strong testing could push either into late Day 2 or early Day 3 selection. Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman and Tennessee corner Colton Hood could see their stock appreciate with standout timed drills and shuttle performances. And while no quarterback class dominates this year, Cole Payton of North Dakota State is listed as the single QB likely to draw measurable interest for his running toughness and potential to translate athletic traits to the pro game.
Analysis & Implications
Confirmed workout numbers in Indianapolis can materially change how teams view positional value. For example, if Sadiq runs in the low 4.3s and posts a near-40″ vertical, his ranking among tight ends and receiving mismatches would climb — potentially moving him several spots and pushing teams to view him as a Day 2 priority. Conversely, opt-outs or middling numbers will keep evaluators reliant on tape and private workouts, which benefit players whose game tape already grades highly.
Linebacker tests this year could reflect a broader league premium on length and speed at the second level. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles embody two slightly different prototypes — a pass-rusher/edge versatility profile versus a larger, coverage-capable off-ball type — and strong combine showings would accelerate teams’ willingness to invest early picks in those traits. That dynamic may also influence defensive schemes, with more teams betting on athletic range over pure pass-rush ceilings early in the draft.
For offensive tackles, measurable validation for players like Caleb Lomu and Kadyn Proctor could reduce perceived development risk. Lomu’s tape suggests left-tackle upside; if his shuttle and 10-yard splits align, teams will be more confident he can be groomed into a top-10 or top-20 starter. Proctor’s athleticism — if realized in timed drills — might prompt teams to reconsider his optimal position (left, right or interior), altering the valuation calculus for blocking schemes and roster fit.
Lastly, the opt-out phenomenon complicates the middle rounds. When many prospects skip testing, general managers must weigh pro-day numbers and positional workouts more heavily, increasing the importance of private data and medicals. That environment favors players who have already established consistent tape and medical profiles, while jump candidates who did not test will lose some leverage despite on-field potential.
Comparison & Data
| Player | School | Height/Weight | Projected 40-yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenyon Sadiq | Oregon | 6’3″ / 240 lbs | Low 4.3s |
| Brennan Thompson | Mississippi State | ~5’9″ / 170-180 lbs | Low 4.2s |
| Zachariah Branch | Georgia | ~6’0″ / 190-200 lbs | Mid 4.3s |
| Caleb Lomu | Utah | ~6’6″ / 310+ lbs | Testing to confirm tackle traits |
| Arvell Reese | — | Size/length notable | Potentially eye-opening 40 |
The table above highlights projected measurable ranges for a selection of prospects. These projections are based on prevailing scouting reports and the expectations circulating among evaluators ahead of testing. Actual numbers will determine how much teams will adjust boards; for example, a sub-4.25 40 by Thompson would almost certainly place him among the fastest receivers in draft history, while a confirmed fast shuttle for Lomu would cement his athletic claims as a tackle prospect. The positions represented here — tight end, receiver, tackle and linebacker — are where measurable surprises are most likely to produce immediate market movement.
Reactions & Quotes
Several NFL personnel contacts emphasized uncertainty about who will test and how that will shape Indy’s news cycle. Their central worry is that many prospects are choosing to protect draft status by doing controlled pro days instead of the public combine stage.
“More than three-quarters of the players we interviewed said they planned to bow out of athletic testing,”
NFL personnel executive (team source)
Scouts watching Sadiq and the linebackers framed the week as an opportunity for clear peeking, noting that a single explosive day can crystallize a player’s draft trajectory. The emphasis was on measurable confirmation for players who already show rare traits on tape.
“If Sadiq runs in the 4.3s and jumps well, you can’t ignore that kind of mismatch potential at tight end,”
NFL scout (personnel department)
Unconfirmed
- Kenyon Sadiq’s projection of a low-4.3 40 and a near-40″ vertical remains unverified until he officially tests.
- Reports that over three-quarters of prospects planned to skip athletic testing come from one team source and are not yet corroborated across league offices.
- Arvell Reese’s potential “eye-opening” 40-yard time is based on scouting expectations and has not been confirmed on electronic timing.
- Cole Payton’s ability to translate his running style and toughness to NFL-level athletic testing is still speculative ahead of any measurable results.
Bottom Line
The 2026 NFL Combine may be less definitive than some years because of a high opt-out rate, but it still offers the clearest window for concrete athletic comparisons. Players who do test and deliver outlier numbers — Kenyon Sadiq, certain linebackers, a handful of receivers and some tackles — will force rapid reassessments and could move substantially on draft boards. Teams will weigh those numbers against medicals and interviews, and for many prospects the difference between testing and not testing will determine whether their draft ceiling is fully realized this spring.
For general managers and scouts, Indy remains a two-edged sword: it can validate film grades or raise new questions that require follow-up work. For fans and bettors, the combine’s confirmed numbers (or lack thereof) will shape mock drafts and market expectations for the next several weeks. We will update coverage as official times, verticals and bench results are posted from Indianapolis.
Sources
- Sports Illustrated — Players to Watch at the NFL Combine (journalism/primary report)
- NFL — Official Scouting Combine information (official league site)