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2026 NFL Combine Preview
Players who MUST have a good week
Several prospects arrive in Indianapolis with more to prove than most. Ty Simpson headlines that group: The Alabama quarterback is poised to be the second QB off the board, but he needs to show improved consistency, polished mechanics and the poise that evaluators in 2025 only saw in flashes. Simpson’s teammate Kadyn Proctor also enters the week needing a decisive performance. After posting an uneven film about his career, teams want reassurance that he is still the elite OT prospect he was projected to be.
On the defensive side, Florida DL Caleb Banks is another player under scrutiny, mainly due to injuries that cut his 2025 season short. Teams want proof that the explosiveness and power he showed in Mobile wasn’t just a short-lived spike. Auburn’s Keldric Faulk must prove he can stand out in a deep EDGE class.
For this group, a mediocre week won’t just slow momentum; it could actively cost them millions of dollars.
Players who will shoot up big boards
Every Combine produces a handful of players who blow up the tests and immediately rise in value, and this year’s roster features several explosive prospects. Malachi Fields has the construction the NFL is crying out for. He was dominant at the Senior Bowl and is expected to run much faster than his size suggests. A fast time could put him comfortably in Round 1 discussions. Kyle Louis, the versatile Pitt linebacker, is another candidate to move up. His range, burst and coverage instincts have already turned heads, and elite agility times could cement him with a top 45-like projection.
UCONN WR Skyler Bell has flown a bit under the national radar because no one follows UCONN football. But he has shown explosiveness and lateral twitching. If scouts see this translate through testing, people will wake up when it comes to Bell. As a fantasy community, we always leave Indianapolis with more rookies to be excited about after impressing for Lucas Oil, and Bell could be one of them.
Three combination predictions
1. Ty Simpson becomes a lock for Round 1.
Simpson’s live arm, mobility and natural off-script creativity have always been there, but what teams want to see is control and consistency. In a controlled environment, Simpson’s strengths should shine. A sharp throwing session could clear up any lingering doubts and elevate him into the QB2 conversation.
2. KC Concepcion solidifies himself in the Round 1 WR conversation
KC Concepcion has been building quiet momentum for months, but Indianapolis is where that buzz becomes undeniable. His game is built on it explosiveness, controlled suddenness and route efficiencyall features that have historically appeared in combination settings. Expect him to perform well all week and leave Indy looking less like a Day 2 playmaker and more like a modern First Round weapon… especially for teams looking for space creators who can win inside or out.
3. Jonah Coleman solidifies himself as RB2.
This running back class isn’t deep at the top, but Coleman’s compact build, vision and burst give him a legitimate shot at being the clear No. 2 behind Jeremiyah Love. If he performs even slightly better than expected and dominates the change-of-course drills, he needs to hold on to Round 2 capital and build a narrative of being one of the few plug-and-play rookie RBs.
Conclusion
The Combine is always a turning point in the preparation process, but this year carries even more weight for a class deep in the trenches looking for clarity at quarterback and wide receiver. Between the medical exams, interviews and on-field testing, the coming week will see the reshaping of ratings boards across the league.
Whether it’s Ty Simpson proving he belongs at the top of the first round, Jordyn Tyson wading his way into a heated WR1 debate, or Jonah Coleman establishing himself as a top defensive player, the 2026 NFL Combine promises to deliver clarity, surprises and the breakout moments that define draft season. As always, the truth about this class will finally reveal itself when the lights come on in Indianapolis.
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