Welcome to the 2026 NFL Combine blog!
The NFL never sleeps. A casual fan may settle down after the Super Bowl, but dynasty managers know this is when the grind begins. The first major date on the calendar is the NFL’s Scouting Combine, which kicks off this weekend in Indianapolis.
We can argue for ages about the merits of this weekend’s tests. Perhaps the two biggest insights from Indianapolis – medical data and interviews – are data points we are unaware of. However, it is important not to throw a wet blanket over the entire event; there is plenty to learn and entertain.
The top prospects are well established at this point. A disappointing week won’t hurt their draft stock unless something pops up behind the scenes. What the Combine can do is open our eyes to some mid-range prospects whose fantasy value is a mystery. Last year, Bhayshul Tuten capped off an intriguing senior season at Virginia Tech by running a 4.32 and making explosive jumps. The overall athleticism helped his draft day bona fides and made him a target for new head coach Liam Coen. Tuten showed promise as a rookie and could become a fantasy star in 2026 when Travis Etienne is set to hit free agency.
The bigger point is to just have fun with it. Let’s embrace something bordering on football on our screens at the end of February.
We will provide you with the relevant news from the proceedings, as described below. Stay tuned for more updates!
Quarterbacks
There’s no drama at quarterback. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is the best player at the position and will be a Las Vegas Raider. He is a quality prospect and has been a viable number one overall pick for many years, although there are many question marks behind him.
Ty Simpson has long been the second-best quarterback in the draft community — even with Mendoza at times — but he collapsed during the second half of the season, and we’ll hear a lot about the fact that he’s only started 15 games at the collegiate level. Simpson’s loyalty to Alabama is admirable, but teams will certainly wonder why he sat out so long instead of finding another opportunity through the portal. Simpson intriguingly has enough tools to slide into the back half of Round 1, though Tyler Shough’s depth (pick 40 in 2025) may be more his speed.
Perhaps no quarterback has more to gain or lose from the medical exam process than LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. After building momentum in his first year as a starter in 2024, Nussmeier struggled with injuries in 2025 and ultimately lost his job as Brian Kelly tried to save his own job. Nussmeier is fearless – for better or worse – and has a skyrocket that few can match. However, he is physically limited and his reckless abandon will rub off on the coaches. He seems to profile himself more as a high-end backup, although he has two months to prove otherwise.
There’s a grab bag of likely day three quarterbacks from there. North Dakota State’s Cole Payton has tantalizing physical tools, but has limited experience and has faced modest competition. Carson Beck is who is there at the moment and likely a backup in his career. Drew Allar looks like he was created in a quarterback lab, yet was a stagnant player at Penn State. Maybe someone will emerge during the draft process, but right now this is a poor class, which is in stark contrast to our hopes last summer.
Running backs
Just like quarterback, there is a clear number one at running back. Jeremiyah Love checks off all the boxes needed to become a fantasy star. He’s got a lot of play juice. He has been incredibly productive and durable. He really showed growth as a receiver, especially in 2024 and 2025. He also stands 6-foot-4 and weighs a whopping 214 pounds, a frame that should allow him to carry a significant workload at the NFL level. He joins the top of the dynasty, running back from the day he’s drafted, a la Ashton Jeanty. We just have to hope his situation isn’t that dire in year one.
After Love, his teammate, Jadarian Price, might be the second-best back in the draft. Price plays a simpler game than Love, lacking his teammate’s explosive ability and gaining chops. However, he is an instinctive runner who keeps the offense on track and always finds the right gap. He profiles as a solid NFL starter, if not a star.
Jonah Coleman and Kaytron Allen could be the meat and potatoes backs of this draft. They are all reminiscent of Leroy Hoard’s famous quote: “If you need three yards, I’ll give you three. If you need five yards, I’ll give you three.” These two have a little more power than Hoard, but they are complementary or high-quality backups who can mix in around rounds 3 through 5. Their performance in testing may be more important than most.
The depth at running back is disappointing. Nicholas Singleton is all tools without the instinct to shine. Emmett Johnson could be a nice complementary defender, but not someone ready to lead a backfield. This class pales in comparison to 2025 and is saved by having Love as the prime candidate at the top.
Wide receivers
Wide receiver is the only position in this class that has shown strength during the 2025 college football season. Jordyn Tyson entered the year as the top receiver, although medicals will be crucial. Carnell Tate feels like a safer bet to be the first receiver off the board given his growth in 2025 and his overall skill set. Makai Lemon is a safe projection given the way he wins. Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion are also first-round candidates, while Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana has been getting a lot of helium lately.
The high-end talent plus the depth make receiver the most loaded position in this rookie class. Germie Bernard, Chris Brazell II, Brenen Thompson, Zachariah Branch, Malachi Fields, etc. are all on the day two radar. The top two rounds of rookie drafts feature a lot of receivers.
Tight ends
This is an interesting tight end class. With Kenyon Sadiq you have a potential star – whose athleticism and playing strength give him a huge advantage – yet many have raised red flags with his overall profile. Eli Stowers is your classic move, mismatch tight end, while Max Klare is probably underrated right now compared to where he should be going. The depth is also quite strong, with Texas’ Jack Endries, North Carolina State’s Justin Joly, Baylor’s Michael Trigg and Cincinnati’s Joe Royer all positive on the second day.
2/27/2026 5:22 PM EST
It’s a day when records are set. Kenyon Sadiq sets the tight end record for 40-yard dash, while Eli Stowers sets the broad jump record. Athleticism for tight ends is something I keep a close eye on – I consider it crucial for the top in a flat position – and both attracted attention in these drills.
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