Taylen Green, Sonny Styles and other prospects whose stocks should be soaring after the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

However, if a team takes a chance on Green on Day 3 and unlocks his upside, it should be getting a steal. 

"[Green's] going to be a project at the next level because he's got to get all the parts working together, but he has a chance to be a special talent," CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson said before the combine.

Ohio State Buckeyes LB Sonny Styles

Heading into the combine, league insiders knew Styles (6-foot-5, 244 pounds) was poised to crush on-field testing. And yet, he still shattered expectations. The LB vertical jumped 43.5 inches, the second-best mark for an edge-rusher/off-ball LB since at least 1999, via The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner and Chris Burke. Former Penn State Nittany Lions edge-rusher Cameron Wake vertical jumped 45.5 inches in 2005.

"So, just how impressive was Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles' NFL Scouting Combine performance on Thursday?" wrote Baumgardner and Burke. "How about this: It was arguably — and there might not even be much of a counterargument here — the most electric on-field combine showing by a linebacker in the past three decades."

Styles — who led the Buckeyes in tackles (83) in 2025 — was already viewed as a potential first-rounder. NFL Mock Draft Database projects that the Dallas Cowboys will take him with pick No. 12, but could he go even higher after his outstanding combine performance?

Arkansas Razorbacks RB Mike Washington Jr. 

Needy teams that may not be in a position to take Notre Dame Fighting Irish RB Jeremiyah Love (6-foot, 212 pounds) could still be in luck. Washington (6-foot-1, 223 pounds) looks like another solid option who should remain available on Day 2 of the draft.

Washington posted the fastest 40-yard dash (4.33) among RBs at the combine, which brought him to tears.

"I'm so emotional man," the RB told NFL Network's Stacey Dales (h/t The Athletic). "I've worked my whole life for this."

His hard work should continue to pay off. Washington, who rushed for a career-high 1,070 yards in 2025, could now be RB2 in the draft. 

"Love will be the first running back drafted, but Washington made a strong case in Indianapolis for why he should be a top-three back in April," wrote the Athletic's Dane Brugler.

Connecticut Huskies WR Skyler Bell 

Bell dominated in his final season with UConn, ranking fourth in the country in receptions (101) and second in receiving yards (1,278) and tying for third in touchdown catches (13). However, the Huskies are an FBS independent, meaning they don't face the same level of competition as football powerhouses in the Big Ten or SEC. 

Despite that, it doesn't appear Bell (6-foot, 192 pounds) was feasting on lesser opponents. At the combine, the wideout showed he has the traits to make it in the NFL. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash and logged the fifth-highest vertical jump (41 inches) among WRs. 

"Teams should trust the tape when they evaluate his ability to move the chains at the next level," wrote NFL.com's Chad Reuter in a story published Saturday. 

Iowa Hawkeyes C Logan Jones

Iowa is known for producing elite offensive linemen, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. Jones may be the next one. 

"At 6-foot-3, 299 pounds, he ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any offensive lineman at 4.90 seconds," wrote ESPN's Jordan Reid in a story published Sunday. "I expect Jones to be picked inside the top 100 picks and become a starter early on in his career."

Jones appears to be an elite run blocker, bolstering his stock. Per Sports Info Solutions, the Hawkeyes averaged a stellar 5.4 yards per carry when they ran behind the center in 2025.