Now that the combine has wrapped up, this year’s event produced a historic class of elite athletes. Several participants stunned the watching teams with peak athleticism and exciting performances. Based on numbers, the 2026 Combine was one of the most thrilling in recent NFL history.
After the incoming professional prospects got physically and mentally poked and tested, the league has many reasons to be enthusiastic about the upcoming draft.
In less than two months, former college superstars will walk across the draft stage in Pittsburgh repping their new team’s colors. Some will be watching from home and celebrating with their families and friends as their names get called. For many young athletes who have dreamed of playing in the NFL since childhood, the combine was their chance to shine. Here are a few of the biggest standouts from this year’s event.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq had a decorated three-year career at Oregon. In 2025, he set the program’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end with 51. He was also the first Duck in history to be named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s best tight end. Entering the combine, Sadiq was widely regarded as the top tight end prospect in the class. Still, he managed to exceed expectations and proved he could make an immediate impact at the next level.
The Idaho native showcased peak athleticism by flying through the 40-yard dash sprint, posting the fastest time ever by a tight end with a 4.39-second finish. And just when watching scouts thought he couldn’t get more impressive, Kenyon added an 11-1 broad jump accompanied by a 43.5-inch vertical, further cementing his reputation as one of the most explosive athletes in the class.
“I want to make a statement and have a dominant combine performance,” Sadiq said before the combine started. “One of the best to do it.” He turned his words into reality. At 6-foot-3 and 241, his numbers were truly remarkable. His unique athleticism, toughness, and strength can turn him into an offensive threat right away.
Sadiq established himself as a multifaceted weapon. Originally projected to be a late first-round pick, his amazing combine show might have dramatically moved his chances to be picked somewhere in the middle. After the weekend in Indianapolis, he might break into the top half of the draft order.
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles, like Sadiq, displayed extraordinary athletic abilities considering his size and position. The standout from the Ohio State Buckeyes football stands 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, giving him the ideal frame for a modern NFL linebacker. His 11-2 broad jump was the best mark by any player of his position since 2003. He posted a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and left zero doubts about his speed. His performance quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the opening day.
Styles was projected to be drafted in the top 10; but now he will more likely hear his name being called out within the first five picks. The combination of his size, speed, instincts, and athleticism makes a unique package for a linebacker that teams won’t want to miss out on. He earned All-American honors as a senior at Ohio State and set a personal-best 12 tackles against Indiana in the Big Ten championship game.
Before going to Indianapolis, it was clear that Styles was a thrilling prospect who had been tested through tough and competitive college games. But he stole the show at the combine, solidifying himself among the top talents. Overall, Styles has been labelled as a big winner at the combine.
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
After his tremendous year capped with the national title, all eyes were on Fernando Mendoza. Attention also drew Carson Beck, Garrett Nussmeier, and Ty Simpson. Taylen Green was under the radar before completing the combine – and his performances took him out of the shadows. The pre-NFL showoff came in a perfect moment for him as he shattered multiple quarterback records and proved he deserves a chance in the big league.
Green has an unconventional size for a quarterback. He’s 6-6, 230 pounds – but his frame has been nothing but an advantage for him. His jaw-dropping 11-2 broad jump and 43.5-inch vertical jump broke the previous records for quarterbacks set by Anthony Richardson in 2023. The Razorback star also amazed with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. His numbers made one thing clear – athletically, he may be the best quarterback in this year’s class.
“If I have time to develop a quarterback over time, he's the one that I'd be willing to take a shot on,” an NFC assistant general manager said. “There's a lot of creative things that you could do with him while he's developing, but that type of profile is what you typically like to take a chance on.”
Green spent three years at Boise State before transferring to Arkansas, where he tremendously improved his game and blossomed. In his final two collegiate seasons with the Razorbacks, he tallied 5 868 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. He’s the prime example of making the most out of the combine opportunity – he came in overlooked but quickly grabbed scouts' interest. After posting breathtaking numbers, his stakes skyrocketed, and Green swiftly turned into a joker of the draft.
Prior to his time in Indianapolis, he was projected to be selected on Day 3 in Round 6 or 7. Analysts now project him as a potential fourth-round pick, making him one of the biggest risers in this year’s class.
After the college football season ended, the combine provided one final opportunity for prospects to demonstrate their abilities to NFL teams. The draft starts on April 23 and concludes on April 26. The next chapter awaits, and the league and fans have many reasons to be excited about the upcoming year. The future is bright, but for the athletes, the biggest step is yet to be made - proving that their combined brilliance can translate to gamedays in the NFL.