🏈 NFL Combine Hub 2026: Schedule, Betting Markets & Players To Watch

The crown jewel of the NFL draft cycle is here, with the NFL Scouting Combine kicking off on-field workouts on Thursday, Feb. 26, and our NFL combine hub has you covered with the schedule, betting markets, and players to watch in each event.

From Mississippi State's Brenen Thompson in the 40-yard dash to South Carolina's Brandon Cisse in the vertical jump, our NFL combine hub highlights the top contenders in every marquee drill as players attempt to boost their 2026 NFL Draft odds at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 

📺 NFL combine 2026: Schedule & TV info 

Check out all of our NFL offseason content to prepare for NFL free agency and the NFL draft.

🥇 NFL combine betting markets

NFL odds for NFL Scouting Combine via DraftKings.

40-yard dash

• Fastest 40-yard dash time last year: 4.28 seconds (Maxwell Hairston, CB)
• Players to watch: Brenen Thompson, WR (Mississippi State), Malik Benson, WR (Oregon), Barion Brown, WR (LSU), Chris Hilton, WR (LSU)

Thompson is the player to watch in Indianapolis during the 40-yard dash. Though he has a slim shot at breaking the NFL combine record, he should run sub-4.28. He had a GPS time of 23.7 MPH in the preseason. However, it's a blazing wide receiver group, and several players will likely run sub-4.35.

Bench press

• Most bench press reps last year: 32 reps (Ethan Downs, DL/CJ Dippre, TE)
• Players to watch: Francis Mauigoa, OL (Miami), Rueben Bain Jr., DL (Miami), Keylan Rutledge, OG (Georgia Tech), Tim Keenan III, DL (Alabama), Peter Woods (Clemson), Vega Ioane, OG (Penn State)

Not every player participating in the on-field portion of the NFL Scouting Combine tends to bother with the bench press. But if either projected top-10 pick out of Miami (Francis Mauigoa, Rueben Bain Jr.) decides to throw up 225, they'll put on a show. And surely, some barrel-chested short-armed lineman will come out of nowhere to make some major noise under the barbell.

20-yard shuttle

• Fastest 20-yard shuttle time last year: 4.03 seconds (Kitan Crawford, SAF)
• Players to watch: Kendrick Law, WR (Kentucky), Kaden Wetjen, WR (Iowa), KC Concepcion, WR (Texas A&M), Genesis Smith, SAF (Arizona), Chandler Rivers, CB (Duke), Desmond Reid, RB (Pittsburgh)

The 20-yard shuttle has become a frequently skipped event in recent years at the NFL combine, but there's a strong shot we get some jaw-dropping times if a few of these wide receivers and defensive backs participate. Kentucky's Kendric Law has the perfect combo of straight-line speed and change-of-direction skills to make some noise. And don't count elite return man Kaden Wetjen out.

3-cone drill

• Fastest 3-cone drill time last year: 6.65 seconds (Tez Johnson, WR)
• Players to watch: Zachariah Branch, WR (Georgia), D'Angelo Ponds, CB (Indiana), Deion Burks, WR (Oklahoma), Eric Rivers, WR (Georgia Tech), Kevin Coleman Jr., WR (Missouri)

Like the 20-yard shuttle, the 3-cone has seen less participation in recent years, but this year's crop could put up big-time numbers if they opt to do it in Indy. With so many jitterbug slot receivers and twitchy nickels in this year's NFL draft, someone should approach running sub-6.58 in Lucas Oil Stadium. 

Broad jump

• Longest broad jump last year: 138 inches (Nick Emmanwori, SAF)
• Players to watch: Jeff Caldwell, WR (Cincinnati), Sonny Styles/Arvell Reese, LB (Ohio State), Dillon Thieneman, SAF (Oregon), Jake Golday, LB (Cincinnati), Nyjalik Kelly, DL (UCF), J. Michael Sturdivant, WR (Florida)

Last year, we saw Nick Emmanwori jump out of the gym in Indianapolis before going on to star for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. This year, we've got a plethora of freaks that could approach Emmanwori's jump. Jeff Caldwell is the most obvious player to watch for the broad, but Sonny Styles will hit a ridiculous number for a linebacker.

Vertical jump

• Highest vertical jump last year: 43 inches (Nick Emmanwori, SAF)
• Players to watch this year: Brandon Cisse, CB (South Carolina), Bryce Lance, WR (North Dakota State), Kenyon Sadiq, TE (Oregon), Jack Kelly, LB (BYU), Eli Stowers, TE (Vanderbilt)

An early prediction to win the NFL combine this year is Brandon Cisse, who happens to come from the same school Emmanwori did (South Carolina). Cisse's vertical is going to be 40-plus, but again, several players could hit big numbers here. Bryce Lance, Trey Lance's younger brother, is a sleeper to have the best vert in Indianapolis.  

❌ Key players not participating in NFL combine

Despite attending the NFL Scouting Combine, the following key players will not be participating in the on-field portion of the event:

• Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
• Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
• Skyler Gill-Howard, DL, Texas Tech

❓ NFL combine FAQs

When is the NFL combine?

The NFL Scouting Combine began on Monday, Feb. 23. Televised on-field workouts are set for Thursday, Feb. 26, to Sunday, March 1.

What time does the NFL combine start?

The on-field portion of the NFL Scouting Combine begins Thursday, Feb. 26, at 3 p.m. ET with the defensive linemen, linebackers, and special teams players. It continues Friday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. ET with the defensive backs and tight ends.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers start at 1 p.m. ET. And the final day on Sunday, March 1, with the offensive line starts at 1 p.m. ET.

Who is participating in the NFL combine?

This year, 319 prospects are in attendance at the NFL Scouting Combine. You can find the full list of participants here.

Where is the NFL combine?

The NFL Scouting Combine is held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It's been held in Indianapolis since 1987.

Where can I watch the NFL combine?

The on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine will be televised on NFL Network and streaming on NFL+.