2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Day Three Recap

Mike Washington (Arkansas) is a thickly built (6010 223) running back. He is also explosive and was the fastest back in Indy. Washington ran a 4.33 40 with a crazy 1.51 split. He also verticaled 39 inches and broad jumped 10’8″. The former Razorback may end up in the RB2 conversation after a great Combine and Senior Bowl week. I am not sure why he didn’t do the field drills, though.

Eli Heidenreich (Navy) projects as a slot receiver at the NFL level. He excelled in the pass-catching drills. Heidenreich also ran fast, with a 4.44 in the 40 (1.55 10-split). He also had a 35.5″ vertical with a 10-foot broad jump.

I was pleasantly surprised with the workout of Kentucky RB Seth McGowan (6002 223). McGowan has some off-field questions to answer, including about his dismissal from Oklahoma. He ran a 4.49 in the 40 (1.6 split). McGowan preceded that with a 42.5″ vertical and 10’11” broad jump.

We got nothing at all on field drills or testing from Noah Whittington (Oregon), Jonah Coleman (Washington), Desmond Reid (Pittsburgh), and Le’Veon Moss (Texas A&M).

QB/WR GROUP 1 

Taylen Green (Arkansas) was the talk of the town after his workout. Green vertical leaped 43.5″ and broad jumped 11’2″. Then he ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash for any QB in Combine history, clocking 4.36. There almost assuredly will be people who will want to convert him to the wide receiver or tight end position. And that may be something we see down the road. But Green will get drafted in 2026 as a quarterback.

Haynes King (Georgia Tech) would have been the star of the show in any other year. King ran a 4.46 in the forty. King may be headed for a Taysom Hill-type role in the NFL.

Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) didn’t do any of the field drills but answered some questions about his top-end speed. Cooper ran a 4.42 in the forty (1.55 split) and had a 37-inch vertical leap.

Zachariah Branch (Georgia) is one of my favorite WR prospects in the draft class. Branch is small (5085/177) but is so quick. He plays with excellent contact balance and shows great hands. And then Branch showed off his speed with a 4.35 in the forty (1.5 split). He also had a 38″ vertical and a 10’5″ broad jump.

Deion Burks (Oklahoma/4.30), Jeff Caldwell (Cincinnati/4.31), and Malik Benson (Oregon/4.37) all burned up the track as well. Caldwell had a 1.48 10-yard split as well.

Malachi Fields‘ (Notre Dame) explosion numbers were well enough (38″ vert, 10’4″ broad). But it is hard not to be disappointed with his forty time of 4.61.

It was good to see Penn State passer Drew Allar get back out there and throw. Allar showed some nice zip on the ball in the field drills.

QB/WR GROUP 2

Cole Payton (North Dakota State) showed off his athleticism in the second session. Payton ran a fast 40 (4.56), with a 40″ vert, and a 10’10” broad jump. 

His Bison teammate, WR Bryce Lance, had himself a day as well. He started the day with a 41.5″ vertical leap and an 11’1″ broad jump. He then ran a super-fast 4.34 in the 40 (1.49 10-split).

As expected, WR Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State) was the fastest player at the 2026 NFL Combine. Thompson blazed an official 4.26 in the 40-yard dash. LSU WR Zavion Thomas wasn’t far off with a 4.28 in the 40. 

Carnell Tate (Ohio State) probably didn’t put the time he wanted down on the sheet. Tate ran a 4.53 in the 40. 

***Note***

I got sidetracked before I could watch the field drills for the third group. If anything pertinent stood out, I will erase this note and insert said pertinent information here.

Check back tomorrow for my recap of the final day.

You can also see a sortable table with all of the testing results here at Draft Countdown!