The 2026 NFL Combine has officially taken over Indianapolis, with Lucas Oil Stadium buzzing as prospects, coaches, and scouts converge for one of the most anticipated events on the football calendar. On February 26, the combine entered its third day, marking the beginning of on-field workouts for defensive linemen and linebackers—a stage that always brings drama, surprises, and the first real glimpses into the next generation of NFL talent.
As the drills kicked off at 3 p.m., all eyes were on the defensive prospects hoping to make their mark. Among them, Texas Tech’s David Bailey turned heads by clocking an official 4.50-second 40-yard dash, a time that put him squarely on the radar of teams searching for speed and explosiveness at the linebacker position. Bailey’s performance was just one highlight from a day packed with storylines and speculation about which athletes might set new records or cement their draft stock.
The combine isn’t just about the numbers, though. It’s also a showcase for personality, perseverance, and football IQ. The podium interviews began bright and early, with defensive backs and tight ends taking center stage. Prospects like LSU’s Mansoor Delane, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, and Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds shared stories of hard work, family support, and overcoming adversity. For some, like Tennessee’s McCoy, the journey included a major setback—a torn ACL in January 2025. Though cleared to return, McCoy opted to save his workout for his pro day, telling reporters, “Yeah I can, but I’m doing it all at pro day.”
Family ties were a recurring theme, especially for Ohio State’s Sonny Styles and his brother Lorenzo Styles Jr., who is carving out his own path as a cornerback. “There’s been a lot of hard work, especially with him. He’s been a part of my journey; I’ve been a part of his journey. It’s very important to our family. Being able to do it with him means everything to me,” Lorenzo reflected during his media session.
Meanwhile, Baylor tight end Michael Trigg brought a lighter note, discussing his massive family—one of 12 half-siblings. “I mean, I grew up in a house by myself. We have a lot of half siblings, but, like, right now, we all in the same group chat. We all talk every day. A lot of group FaceTime. No, like, you know,” Trigg joked, highlighting the personal side of the combine experience.
On the coaching front, the Cleveland Browns made headlines with the recent hiring of Todd Monken, previously of Georgia and the Baltimore Ravens. Monken’s reputation as a tight end guru has already influenced prospects like Georgia’s Oscar Delp, who said, “I chose Georgia and part of the reason was because of Coach Monken. I watched what he does with the tight ends and their offensive scheme is amazing. He's an awesome guy. Super down to earth coach. He's a guy who's going to coach you hard and that's what I want in a coach.” Delp met with the Browns in Indianapolis and expressed enthusiasm about potentially reuniting with Monken at the next level.
One of the more intriguing developments came from the Browns’ front office, as general manager Andrew Berry proposed a rule change to extend the time frame for trading draft picks from three to five seasons. If approved at the upcoming owners meetings, this amendment could dramatically alter the way teams approach the draft and manage their future assets. The proposal, if passed, would give teams unprecedented flexibility in building their rosters, but it will require the approval of 24 owners to become official.
The combine also saw some early transaction news, with reports surfacing of a trade agreement between the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans involving defensive end Jeremaine Johnson and nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat. The deal won’t be finalized until the league year officially begins on March 11, but it’s already generating buzz among analysts and fans alike.
Of course, the NFL Combine is as much about predictions and bold takes as it is about concrete results. This year’s draft class is said to be one of the most balanced in recent memory, with no clear-cut top players at many positions. That sense of parity has only heightened the importance of athletic testing. Analysts are predicting that multiple prospects could break the 4.3-second barrier in the 40-yard dash, with names like Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson and LSU’s Chris Hilton Jr. leading the charge. Cincinnati’s Jeff Caldwell, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver, is rumored to be on the verge of breaking the combine’s longstanding vertical jump record of 45 inches, set by Donald Washington in 2009.
Linebackers are also expected to shine, with Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr., Cincinnati’s Jake Golday, and Georgia’s CJ Allen all projected to test off the charts. As one analyst put it, “It’s a great group of linebackers who will test how much the NFL values the position in the draft.”
Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds is another name to watch. Despite being listed at just 5-foot-9 and 173 pounds, Ponds is coming off a College Football Playoff National Championship and is widely regarded as one of the most athletic corners in the class. If he runs in the 4.2s, as some predict, he could become the first cornerback of his size to be drafted in the top 100 since 2005. “Yeah, to put it simply, it's been crazy for me,” Ponds said of his journey from James Madison to Indiana and now the combine. “It's just, it's been crazy. It's just a blessing just to even be here.”
Yet, not all prospects are eager to showcase their skills on the field. There’s a growing trend of top players opting out of combine drills, preferring to wait for their pro days or avoid testing altogether. Some analysts predict that more than half of the first-round prospects may skip on-field workouts this year, a move that has sparked debate about the evolving nature of the pre-draft process.
As the combine continues, the focus remains on the drills, the interviews, and the potential for history to be made. With blazing speed, record-breaking jumps, and compelling personal stories, this year’s event is shaping up to be one for the ages. Fans and scouts alike will be glued to their screens, eager to see which prospects rise, which records fall, and which storylines dominate the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft.
With so much talent on display and the stakes as high as ever, the action in Indianapolis is far from over. The coming days promise more surprises, more standout performances, and perhaps a few more twists in the road to the NFL’s next big stars.