All articles tagged with #nfl scouting combine
NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew ranks the top 21 running back prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, led by Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame at No. 1, with Emmett Johnson, Mike Washington Jr., Jonah Coleman and others following. The list reflects combine results and on‑film evaluation of each player's production, versatility and pro potential.
Bucky Brooks updates his granular, position-by-position rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft, emphasizing a more specialized breakdown (e.g., WR vs. slot, DE vs. OLB) and noting Garrett Nussmeier’s rise to the QB ranks behind Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, with detailed top fives provided for every major position group.
NFL Network’s Rich Eisen participates in a Simulcam video that pits his 40-yard dash against notable prospects from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, featuring a compilation of workouts and analyst commentary.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter highlighted team-verified 40-yard dash times for Ohio State WR Carnell Tate that ranged 4.45–4.47, faster than the official NFL Combine time of 4.52, sparking backlash over relying on team measurements and questions about bias or selective reporting amid common timing discrepancies.
Indiana fans booed quarterback Carson Beck during his NFL Scouting Combine workout, booing each time he was on camera. The reaction is noted as odd given Indiana’s January win over Miami, and the piece suggests Beck could be a potential draft target for the Colts.
Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson posted the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.26, tying for the fifth-fastest ever, signaling elite straight-line speed but not a guaranteed predictor of NFL success.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Pewter Report suggests Mike Evans could depart Tampa Bay in free agency amid a crowded WR room and his bid to climb top‑10 all‑time lists; the Bucs are weighing how Zac Robinson’s offense would feed Evans or his replacements (Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, etc.) and are prioritizing TE/WR depth in the draft (potential Otton exit, Ko Kieft re-signed). There’s talk of potential trades (Maxx Crosby) with Winfield Jr. possibly used as an asset, plus ongoing draft buzz about prospects like Sonny Styles and Ty Simpson’s interview; the leaked NFLPA report card paints TB poorly overall despite Licht’s A‑, signaling the franchise’s ongoing rebuild questions.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia defends his character at the NFL Scouting Combine, insisting he has no criminal record and highlighting a work‑in‑progress mindset, but NFL teams are weighing maturity concerns stemming from Heisman weekend incidents and a highly publicized post, as he blames media for clickbait while acknowledging there’s room to grow off the field.
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr named Ravens head coach Jesse Minter a winner at the NFL Scouting Combine, praising his public-facing remarks about voluntary workouts and his push to replace banalities with high-level coaching. Orr noted Minter’s approach—focusing on a cerebral, self-sustaining defensive front rooted in strong coaching—that could help Baltimore attract players and set a strong tone for the team’s off-season and future draft strategy.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza said at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that he’s a likely No. 1 pick for the Raiders and described his interview with Las Vegas as excellent. He stressed he’d be grateful for any team that drafts him and would highly value a mentorship from Tom Brady. Mendoza won’t work out at the combine and plans to throw at Indiana’s pro day on April 1, with Raiders visits likely as he continues to develop leadership and football acumen to help turn around a franchise.
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the Buccaneers are limited to 45 formal interviews (18 minutes each) while also engaging informal conversations with additional prospects; Pewter Report is tracking who has been formally interviewed, with updates posted daily and formal interviews marked in bold. Team leaders Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht are overseeing the process, reflecting a history of disguising interest in players (as with Calijah Kancey in 2023).
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Miami’s new front office signaled a potential quarterback reset, with Tua Tagovailoa’s future unlikely to be long-term and interest noted in Malik Willis; the leadership emphasized building the team from the inside out with a run-first identity, while eyeing Vega Ioane as a plug-and-play offensive-line addition and weighing cap implications as they pursue 2026 and 2027 plans amid free-agent competition.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said New England will look at everything to improve the roster, keeping the door open to potential moves like trading for Eagles star A.J. Brown. Brown, who formerly played for Vrabel in Tennessee, has been productive but his 2025 numbers dipped, and any deal would depend on compensation and fit. Eagles GM Howie Roseman suggested you don’t improve by subtracting great players, so a Brown trade remains speculative as the draft approaches.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the Arizona Cardinals are openly exploring trade options for Kyler Murray, signaling his future with the team may be uncertain this offseason. The New York Jets are viewed as a plausible landing spot given their quarterback needs and cap space. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort said all options are on the table as the team assesses how to improve, with discussions expected to continue ahead of the March 16 deadline and potential guarantees for 2027 tied to roster status.
Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine highlighted four themes: C.J. Stroud’s stock has declined amid persistent trade rumors and public Texans’ backing, with teams weighing a potential fifth-year option; Maxx Crosby’s trade value could exceed past mega-deals as teams circle the Raiders; two offensive-minded head coaches—Sean Payton and Dave Canales—will relinquish playcalling in 2026 to coordinators, signaling a possible shift toward a CEO-style leadership; and the draft landscape looks more “best available” and value-driven, with emphasis on non-premium positions and fewer blue-chip quarterbacks at the top.