NFL combine 2026: Biggest moments, fastest 40s and standout performances from QB, WR, RB workouts

Running backs started the action Saturday before giving way to the quarterback and wide receivers. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love was a top performer once the action moved over to the field

The presumptive No. 1 overall selection, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, did not participate, but the other signal-callers had a strong throwing session with a talented receiver group featuring Makai Lemon (USC), KC Concepcion (Texas A&M), Denzel Boston (Washington) and others. (Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson did not participate in on-field drills.)

For a recap of Saturday's action, check out the live blog below for testing results, highlights, analysis and more.

Sunday is the final day of on-field workouts. The offensive linemen take the field with several looking to make a statement. Miami's Francis Mauigoa, Utah's Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, Penn State's Vega Ioane, Alabama's Kadyn Proctor and Georgia's Monroe Freeling are among the top prospects to watch at the position.

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23–25 in Pittsburgh Panthers. You can find more draft coverage at CBSSports.com, including weekly mock drafts and regular evaluations of the top prospects.

2026 NFL combine where to watch

Date: Sunday, Feb. 28 | Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
TV: NFL Network | Stream: fuboTV (try for free)

2026 NFL combine workout schedule

  • Sunday at 1 p.m. -- Offensive linemen
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Thoughts from the second QB group

To me, Alabama's Ty Simpson was the best quarterback to throw today. He helped himself in regards to being the second quarterback taken in April's draft. 

LSU's Garrett Nussmeier was the second best in the second group and in the conversation with Carson Beck for the second-best signal-caller on the day.

Overall, the second unit was more accurate. Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia, in particular, turned in a lot of plus marks when charting out the routes. 

March 1, 2026, 12:51 AM
Feb. 28, 2026, 7:51 pm EST
 
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Diego Pavia caps Day 3 of combine workouts with a backflip!

If there was one quarterback brave enough to attempt a backflip, it was always going to be the former Vanderbilt QB.

 
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Standouts from the second WR group in the gauntlet drill

NFL teams are looking for players to catch the ball cleanly without drifting from the line and while maintaining speed. It showcases their ability to find and secure the football quickly. Here are some of the prospects who stood out:  

Player NameSchool
Ja'Kobi LaneUSC
Makai LemonUSC
Eric RiversGeorgia Tech
Chase RobertsBYU
J. Michael SturdivantFlorida
Zavion ThomasLSU
Colbie YoungGeorgia
March 1, 2026, 12:24 AM
Feb. 28, 2026, 7:24 pm EST
 
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Interesting nugget from the 40-yard dash

March 1, 2026, 12:20 AM
Feb. 28, 2026, 7:20 pm EST
 
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Bills GM jokingly disses Carnell Tate after 4.53 40

One of the funnier combine moments came after Carnell Tate, a consensus first-round wide receiver prospect, ran his second 40-yard dash in a slower-than-anticipated 4.53 seconds.

Bills GM Brandon Beane, who happened to be in the broadcast booth at the time, jokingly dissed Tate in hopes the receiver would fall to Buffalo at No. 26 overall.

"He's pretty slow," Beane quipped. "I probably wouldn't take him early."

"You see how slow he was out of the gate?" Beane continued. "The corner's gonna lock him down."

Unfortunately for Beane? Tate will almost certainly be a top-15 pick. If the Bills want him, they'll have to trade up for him.

 
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Top vertical and broad jumps among WRs

Vertical jump

PlayerSchoolVertical (in)
Deion BurksOklahoma42.50
Jeff CaldwellCincinnati42.00
Kendrick LawKentucky42.00
Bryce LanceNorth Dakota State41.50
Skyler BellConnecticut41.00

Broad jump

PlayerSchoolBroad Jump
Ted HurstGeorgia State11-foot-3
Jeff CaldwellCincinnati11-foot-2
Skyler BellConnecticut11-foot-1
Bryce LanceNorth Dakota State11-foot-1
Deion BurksOklahoma10-foot-11
J. Michael SturdivantFlorida10-foot-11
Jalen WalthallIncarnate Word10-foot-11
 
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Previewing the second group of WRs

There's a lot of love for Georgia State's Ted Hurst, although his range is relatively volatile based on who you talk to. North Dakota State's Bryce Lance is the younger brother of Trey. 

Top prospects Makai Lemon (USC), Carnell Tate (Ohio State) and Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) are also in this group and expected to have varying levels of participation today. 

Two names I'm watching are Kentucky's Kendrick Law and Mississippi State's Brenen Thompson, particularly in the 40-yard dash. 

February 28, 2026, 10:30 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 5:30 pm EST
 
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General thoughts on QB performances

I'll do a longer takeaways story on the quarterbacks later, but I thought Illinois' Luke Altmeyer may have been the most consistent quarterback from start to finish.

Miami's Carson Beck started strong, was inconsistent on deep throws and finished fine. Most of the quarterbacks threw the comeback well. 

Penn State's Drew Allar built some confidence on the downfield throws and finished strong. 

February 28, 2026, 9:53 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 4:53 pm EST
 
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KC Concepcion aims to solidify himself as a first-round WR

Four out of five CBS Sports mock drafts have the Texas A&M receiver/return specialist as a first-round pick. He wants to cement that status with his performance in Indy.

 
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Standouts from the gauntlet drill

NFL teams are looking for players to catch the ball cleanly without drifting from the line and while maintaining speed. It showcases their ability to find and secure the football quickly. Here are some of the prospects who stood out:

NameSchool
Aaron AndersonLSU
Skyler BellUCONN
Malik BensonOregon
Zachariah BranchGeorgia
KC ConcepcionTexas A&M
Chris HiltonLSU
February 28, 2026, 9:13 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 4:13 pm EST
 
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Top 40-yard dash times from the first group of WRs

NameSchoolTime
Deion BurksOklahoma4.30
Jeff CaldwellCincinnati4.31
Zachariah BranchGeorgia4.35
Chris Brazzell IITennessee4.37
Malik BensonOregon4.37
Caleb DouglasTexas Tech4.39
Skyler BellUCONN4.40
Barion BrownLSU4.40
Chris Hilton Jr.LSU4.41
Omar Cooper Jr.Indiana4.42
February 28, 2026, 9:04 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 4:04 pm EST
 
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Quality 40 time for top WR prospect

Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. is the No. 3 WR (No. 17 overall) in CBS Sports' prospect rankings

From NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner: "Cooper is the best YAC weapon in the draft class. His ability to break tackles with shiftiness and play strength, combined with his running back-esque build, is exactly what you want from that type of prospect. He also possesses some of the surest hands in the draft class."

 
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Arkansas QB continues to test off the charts

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green continues to pop off in Indianapolis. He ran an unofficial 4.37-second 40-yard dash, the second-best time ever by a QB at the combine. 

He had already posted a 43.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-2 broad jump -- both of which were the best ever among QBs. Anthony Richardson previously held the jump records.

February 28, 2026, 8:12 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 3:12 pm EST
 
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A QB just rewrote the combine record books

Move over, Anthony Richardson! Arkansas' Taylen Green just posted a 43.5-inch vertical, shattering the combine record for a quarterback by beating Richardson's mark by three inches. 

Oh, and he followed that up with an 11-foot-2 broad jump -- another QB combine record.

If you didn't know the 6-foot-6, 227-pound QB before, you do now!

 
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Standout RBs during on-field workouts

 
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Speed coming later today from the WR group

Several sub 10.50 seconds 100 meter dash runners out of high school: 

  • Zachariah Branch (Georgia) 
  • Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State)
  •  Barion Brown (LSU)
  • Kendrick Law (Kentucky)
  • Malik Benson (Oregon)  
February 28, 2026, 6:51 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 1:51 pm EST
 
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Standouts in the Off-Tackle Recognition drill

Teams want to see players press up towards the bag, cut away from whichever direction the bag moves and then burst to finish the drill. I thought four players, in no particular order, did a really nice job of maintaining proper posture and going through the drill.   

Kaytron Allen

Penn State

Demond Claiborne

Wake Forest

Jam Miller

Alabama

Jadarian Price

Notre Dame

February 28, 2026, 6:48 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 1:48 pm EST
 
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Official 40-yard dash times from the RBs

40-Yard Dash Time (Seconds)Player
4.33Mike Washington Jr.
4.36Jeremiyah Love
4.37Demond Claiborne
4.42Jam Miller
4.44Eli Heidenreich
4.49Seth McGowan
4.49Jadarian Price
4.50Adam Randall
4.52Robert Henry Jr.
4.56Emmett Johnson
February 28, 2026, 6:45 PM
Feb. 28, 2026, 1:45 pm EST
 
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Three sub-4.4 40-yard dashes from the running back group; drills up next

Three different running backs ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash (unofficially). Considering only 10 running backs took part, that's pretty impressive:

  • Mike Washington Jr.: 4.33
  • Jeremiyah Love: 4.36
  • Demond Claiborne: 4.37

Washington was moved to tears after the run. Remember, these guys are in the final steps toward realizing their NFL dreams, and a strong performance like that is a big, big deal.

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