🏈 NFL Combine Prop Bets 2026: Expert Picks & 40-Yard Dash Odds

More than 300 NFL prospects will descend upon Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis over the next few days to be poked, prodded, and put on full display in front of coaches, general managers, and scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Ahead of on-field testing getting underway, I'm breaking down the NFL combine prop bets for each major event highlighted in our NFL combine betting guide and which players could top the board, from the 40-yard dash to the bench press.

💰 Best NFL combine prop bets for 2026

NFL odds for NFL Scouting Combine via DraftKings.

Fastest 40-yard dash: Slower than 4.265 seconds (-115)

• All-time record: 4.21 seconds (Xavier Worthy, 2024)
• 2025 best time: 4.28 seconds (Maxwell Hairston, CB)
• 2026 prediction: 4.28 seconds (Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State)

The line on the 40-yard dash is set shockingly fast at our best NFL betting sites. Over the last eight years, just four players have run faster than 4.27. In the modern combine era, only seven players total have run 4.26 or better.

My best bet for the fastest 40 this year is Mississippi State's Brenen Thompson, who won a Texas 3A 200-meter state title (21.27). LSU receivers Chris Hilton Jr. and Barion Brown should also approach sub-4.3 times. While this year's crop of wide receivers has some blazers, I don't expect anyone to run sub-4.27.

Most bench press reps: Over 35.5 (-115)

• All-time record: 49 (Stephen Paea, 2011)
• 2025 most reps: 32 reps (Ethan Downs, DL/CJ Dippre, TE)
• 2026 prediction: 37 reps (Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami)

Nobody will approach Stephen Paea's 49 reps, but hitting 36 is certainly possible for this year's group of linemen at the NFL combine. From 2018 to 2021, 18 different players hit at least 36 reps, and while a deemphasis of the event has led to no players reaching 36 reps since, this is a strong year to see that rebound.

There are so many powerful maulers on the O-line, like Miami's Francis Mauigoa, and space-eating nose tackles on the D-line, like Lee Hunter, that we should see several players approach 36 reps. Illinois' Gabe Jacas is a sleeper here; he's on record for benching 225 for 30-plus reps.

Fastest 20-yard shuttle: Faster than 3.965 (-115)

• All-time record: 3.81 seconds (Brandin Cooks, 2014/Jason Allen, 2006)
• 2025 best time: 4.03 seconds (Kitan Crawford, SAF)
• 2026 prediction: 3.95 seconds (Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky)

At the last five NFL combines, three of them had a player run faster than 3.965 in the short shuttle, and that's even with fewer prospects opting to participate in agility drills in recent years.

While I'm not expecting a ton of sub-4.3 40-yard dash times from the wide receiver and cornerback groups, I do expect them to showcase their fluidity, body control, and burst in the agility drills.

Kentucky's Kendrick Law should shine; he ran a 10.4 in the 100-meter in high school, hit 23.2 MPH on the GPS, and his lateral explosion pops on tape. Iowa's Kaden Wetjen is another name to watch - he had six return touchdowns the last two years for a reason.

Fastest 3-cone drill: Slower than 6.585 (-120)

• All-time record: 6.28 seconds (Jordan Thomas, 2018)
• 2025 best time: 6.65 seconds (Tez Johnson, WR)
• 2026 prediction: 6.62 seconds (D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana)

More and more players have skipped the 3-cone in recent years, with it being one of the last events of the day. And at the six NFL combines since Jordan Thomas set the record, only five players have run sub-6.6.

While I think we see several explosive route runners and twitchy nickels run sub-6.75, I don't expect anyone to clock faster than 6.59.

My pick for the fastest, though, is Indiana's D'Angelo Ponds. The national champ was a track star in high school - he won state with a 10.37 100-meter - and his closing speed and change-of-direction skills helped him turn into an All-American for the Hoosiers.  

Longest broad jump: Longer than 137.5 inches (-125)

• All-time record: 147 inches (Byron Jones, 2015)
• 2025 longest jump: 138 inches (Nick Emmanwori, SAF)
• 2026 prediction: 140 inches (Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati)

The last three NFL Scouting Combines each had one player hit at least 138 inches on the broad jump. That trend should continue this year with such an explosive group of pass catchers, defensive backs, and even front-seven players.

The biggest reason I'm projecting the broad jump trend to continue this year is because of Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell. He put himself on the radar as a D-II transfer from Lindenwood when he hit a 141-inch broad jump ahead of his lone FBS season.

This is also a spot where several high-profile names can bolster their 2026 NFL Draft odds. Ohio State's Sonny Styles and Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love should thrive during the explosive testing.

Highest vertical jump: Higher than 43.25 inches (-110)

• All-time record: 45 inches (Chris Conley, 2015/Donald Washington, 2009)
• 2025 highest jump: 43 inches (Nick Emmanwori, SAF)
• 2026 prediction: 43.5 inches (Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina)

Just like with the broad jump, a handful of players are poised to put on a show during the vertical jump this year. Last year, a South Carolina star turned Super Bowl champion, Nick Emmanwori of the Seattle Seahawks, fell just short of 43.5 inches, a number six players have hit in the last eight years of the combine.

One player who could approach the number this year is another Gamecock, Brandon Cisse. Nicknamed "Glitch" due to his ridiculous athleticism, he's expected to hit a 40-plus-inch vertical.

He's not the only one, either. North Dakota State's Bryce Lance, Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq, BYU's Jack Kelly, Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers, Ohio State's Arvell Reese, and Styles could all hit at least 40 inches. 

❓ NFL combine betting FAQs

Where can I bet on the NFL combine?

Although not all sportsbooks are offering betting odds for the NFL Scouting Combine, a few of our best sports betting sites are offering different markets. DraftKings leads the way with a betting market for every major event at the combine.

Who is expected to run the fastest 40-yard dash?

Mississippi State's Brenen Thompson is a popular pick to run the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Fellow wide receivers Chris Hilton Jr. (LSU), Barion Brown (LSU), Malik Benson (Oregon), and Zachariah Branch (Georgia) are among the other players expected to run the fastest in Indianapolis.

What's the NFL 40-yard dash record?

The 40-yard dash record at the NFL Scouting Combine is 4.21, set by former Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy in 2024. Worthy, who was drafted in the first-round by the Kansas City Chiefs, broke the 2017 record of 4.22 set by former Washington wide receiver John Ross.

What's a good NFL 40-yard dash time?

There's no catch-all time that's defined as "good" when it comes to the 40-yard dash; it's very size and position-specific. The following are a good range for each position, with any time fast being consider great to elite: wide receiver (4.45-4.5), cornerback (4.45-4.5), running back (4.5-4.55), safety (4.55-4.58), linebacker (4.6-4.7), edge rusher (4.65-4.75), tight end (4.65-4.75), defensive tackle (5.05-5.2), offensive tackle (5.1-5.25), interior offensive line (5.2-5.3).

When is the 2026 NFL Draft?

For those wondering, when is the NFL draft? It's slated for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.