It’s a huge week in the draft process.
With Super Bowl LX now in the rear-view mirror, the first major event of the offseason takes place this week in Indianapolis as the 2026 NFL Combine gets going.
Representatives from all 32 teams will descend on Lucas Oil Stadium to get up close and personal with this year’s crop of draft prospects.
It is a crucial week for those hoping to hear their name called at next month’s NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh.
Here we guide you through the Combine process and look at some players to watch.
What is the NFL Combine?
The NFL Combine is an annual event held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It sees NFL Draft prospects put through their paces in a series of athletic tests and on-field drills. Those same players also go through medical evaluations and face NFL general managers, coaches and front office staff in interviews.
Prior to the start of the on-field drills, coaches and GMs face the media. A pivotal week in the NFL calendar, it is regarded as the place where a lot of offseason deals start to come to fruition.
Why does it matter?
It is the interviews and the medicals that are paramount at the Combine. The short windows teams get to interview prospects help them gain an insight into a player’s character and his football intelligence, while the medicals are key for assuaging concerns about any previous injuries and potentially flagging up issues that could lead teams to think twice about making a long-term investment in a player.
In terms of the aspect of the Combine that is actually televised, the on-field drills, they are all about putting numbers to what coaches see on tape from the prospects. A good workout doesn’t guarantee a player will vault up the draft boards, yet the emphasis on athleticism is such that a bad one can give teams pause about whether a player has the physical attributes required to succeed at the highest level.
Performances on the field are what matter most, but the Combine helps teams get a clearer picture of who a player is.
What are the drills?
In addition to position-specific on-field workouts, Combine participants take part in the following drills.
The 40 is the marquee event, one in which wide receivers and, to a lesser extent, cornerbacks blaze down the track in a bid to show they have the top-end speed teams covet. It is also key for other positions, though for different reasons.
With defensive linemen and their counterparts on the offensive line, it is only the first 10 yards of the 40 that really matter. A strong 10-yard split for a defensive end or defensive tackle can be reflective of explosiveness that is key to success rushing the passer.
The vertical jump and the broad jump, the latter essentially a long jump from a standing start, are also measures of explosiveness in the lower body and tend to be the drills most closely followed outside of the 40.
For offensive linemen, an impressive performance in the 10-yard split points to a player who has the requisite athleticism to block in space in the run game and climb to the second level of the defense of such plays. With the prevalence of the Kyle Shanahan offense and the zone run game in the modern NFL, these attributes are crucial.
The three-cone drill is also important for pass rushers in terms of gauging their flexibility in being able to turn quickly around corners. However, it is rarely shown on television coverage.
5 players to watch
A total of 319 players were invited to the Combine this year.
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Fernando Mendoza will almost certainly be the first quarterback taken and the first overall pick of the Las Vegas Raiders after an incredible 2025 season that saw him lead Indiana to National Championship glory.
The second QB spot is up in the air. However, Simpson, coming off a stellar season of his own with Alabama, and has a chance to solidify himself as a first-round pick.
Unlike Mendoza, Simpson will take part in throwing drills in Indianapolis. While scouts will watch him closely, it is the medicals and the measurements that will be critical for Simpson, who is on the smaller side for the quarterback position and dealt with several injury issues down the stretch of his final year with the Crimson Tide. If he can check all the boxes this week, Simpson may well hear his name called on night one of the draft.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq is viewed as one of the players with the most to gain at the Combine. He is an ultra-versatile and extremely athletic tight end who is expected to thrive in multiple drills.
A potential queen on the chessboard for offenses akin to 2025 first-round Tyler Warren of the Indianapolis Colts, Sadiq scored eight touchdowns for the Ducks last season. An eye-catching workout could catapult him from the back half of the first round and into the top-20 mix. Look for him to impress significantly in the vertical jump.
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Two years ago, Xavier Worthy made history in the 40-yard dash, breaking the all-time record with a run of 4.21 seconds. That led to him being drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
It might be a stretch to put Branch in the discussion to break that record, but his speed will make him appointment viewing in the 40.
Concerns over his size could put a lower ceiling on his draft stock, yet, with his upside on kick and punt returns, a strong Combine showing will drastically increase his appeal as a prospect with the skill set to be a game-changing playmaker at the highest level.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
One of the great joys of the Combine is getting to watch extremely large athletes run at freakishly high speeds.
Woods fits that description. He weighs around 310 pounds, yet has reportedly previously clocked a 40 time of 4.86 seconds. As a pass rusher, Woods’ production was far from eye-catching in his time in college. However, still under 21, the physical gifts and the upside that comes with them figure to get him drafted very high.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
McCoy is a perfect example of why the Combine is such an important part of the draft picture.
He has not played since the 2024 season owing to a torn ACL, yet is still firmly in the conversation to be the first cornerback selected in the draft.
McCoy had nine pass breakups and four interceptions in his lone season with Tennessee, but will need to convince teams there are no lingering issues with his knee if his draft position is to reflect the talent he has at his dispsoal.
NFL Combine drills schedule
- Thursday, February 26, 3 p.m. ET – Placekickers, Defensive Linemen, Linebackers
- Friday, February 27, 3 p.m. ET – Tight Ends, Defensive Backs
- Saturday, February 28, 1 p.m. ET – Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Running Backs
- Sunday, March 1, 1 p.m. ET – Offensive Linemen
Where to watch the 2026 NFL Combine
The NFL Combine will be broadcast on NFL Network. Live coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 26 and finishes at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 1. In the United States, coverage is also available via NFL +.
Outside of the US, NFL Network can be streamed via DAZN.
