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NFL Scouting Combine: star prospects to watch and key storylines to follow
The highly anticipated 2026 NFL Scouting Combine begins on Monday, February 23, where over 300 of the most talented college players will attempt to impress NFL teams and boost their stock ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Across the week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, prospects will sit down for team interviews and take part in a series of drills designed to test their speed, strength and athleticism.
We have highlighted all the top players and storylines to watch during position drills, live on DAZN with your Game Pass subscription, during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
And don't forget that we'll bring you all of the Combine news as it happens, right here, on DAZN News.
Ty Simpson, quarterback
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely projected to be the first quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he should be the first player taken at any position.
After Oregon's Dante Moore returned to school, the Combine is a golden opportunity for the rest of the quarterbacks to prove they deserve first-round consideration.
Simpson, a one-year starter for the Alabama Crimson Tide who threw for 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions, is arguably the most talented of the chasing group.
Criticised for being unable to keep his fine early-season form rolling into the playoffs, Simpson has a point to prove that he can deliver when the pressure is on.
With so many quarterback-needy teams scrutinising his every throw, how Simpson fares during the QB drills on Saturday, February 28, will be one of the main stories of the Combine.
Jeremiyah Love, running back
Notre Dame's Love is widely viewed as the top running back in this draft class, combining rare traits in explosiveness, balance and route running to suggest he can become a true game changer at the pro level.
In 2024, his first season as a starter, Love posted 1,362 all-purpose yards and 19 total touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
He performed even better in 2025, combining for 1,652 all-purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns while still averaging the same eye-popping 6.9 yards per carry.
The 20-year-old is also expected to impress during team interviews.
With a background in track and field, Love’s athleticism will be on full display on Saturday, February 28, when he competes in the 40-yard dash, broad jump and other on-field drills.
Love's testing numbers likely will not alter his position atop the running back hierarchy, but it will be fascinating to see how he compares to other tailbacks like Penn State's Kaytron Allen and his Fighting Irish teammate, Jadarian Price.
Already projected to be a first-round pick, a stunning performance at the Combine could vault Love even further up the draft board.
Wideout battle: Jordyn Tyson vs. Carnell Tate
The first receiver to hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft should be either Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate of Ohio State.
It should not come down to how they compare at the Combine. NFL scouts already know that Tate is probably the better athlete, while Tyson is superior in contested-catch situations.
That said, history shows that teams sometimes prioritise workout warriors, and if Tate's performance at the Combine is vastly superior, or if Tyson struggles, it could be decisive for any teams that currently grade them similarly.
WR Brenen Thompson eyeing 40-yard dash record
Despite corralling 57 catches for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns, Mississippi State's Thompson will likely be a Round 3 or 4 selection.
The main reason Thompson is mentioned, alongside potential superstars like Tyson and Tate, is for those of you who tune in the hope that the 40-yard dash record gets broken.
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If one man can come close to threatening the 4.21-second mark that Xavier Worthy set in 2024, it is the speedster Thompson, who once clocked a time of 10.4 seconds in the 100 metres.
Edge rusher clash: Bain vs. Bailey vs. Reese
The edge rusher pool is loaded in this draft class. Texas A&M's Cashius Howell, Auburn's Keldric Faulk and Clemson's T.J. Parker should all become first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The top three, however, are almost unanimously Miami's Rueben Bain, Texas Tech's David Bailey and Ohio State's Arvell Reese.
That trio is so talented that all three go within the top ten of our latest mock draft, and one goes as high as No. 2 overall.
Bain is the more rugged of the three, Bailey the more explosive, while Reese, who can also play in an off-ball linebacker role, is the more versatile.
With each of them having excellent tape and production to fall back on, how they stack up in drills and impress during interviews could have a strong bearing on how teams view them relative to one another.
Tune into DAZN on Thursday, February 26, to see which one gains the upper hand.
Caleb Downs, safety
Compared with other positions, safety is not considered a premium position, so players at the position typically do not get drafted in the first round.
Downs is such a complete player that he will buck that trend and become the first safety taken on Day 1 since the Baltimore Ravens selected Kyle Hamilton in 2022.
The term 'versatile chess piece' is overused in an era where safeties are expected to be able to play in the box, in the slot and in deep coverage.
But that phrase fits Downs perfectly, and he excels in whatever role he is asked to perform.
His skill set is so impressive that his performance during Combine drills is unlikely to alter his draft standing by a great deal.
All the same, he will be one of the stars of the show and will generate plenty of headlines when he takes to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 27. Do not miss it.
