The first day of on-field workouts at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine are done and dusted. We were treated to the defensive line, EDGE, and off-ball linebackers on the first day.
It’s possible, perhaps even likely, that we got to see at least one future New York Giant today. This was a highly impressive class of defenders with some incredible athletes at each position, with very few disappointing workouts.
However, there are always winners and losers in every Combine. And, as usual, these workouts will reshuffle draft boards and the accompanying mock drafts. So which players helped their draft stock, and who still has work to do?
Winners
Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) – Styles started off winning by declaring that he’d work out at the Combine, then kept winning with a phenomenal weigh-in. He came in at 6-foot-5, 244 pounds with 32⅞ arms and 10-inch hands. That’s bigger and longer than Arvell Reese, who’s being considered as an edge defender and a top four prospect. He followed that up with a workout that’s in line with the likes of Nick Emmanwori, D.K. Metcalf, Saquon Barkley, or Calvin Johnson
- 4.46-second 40-yard dash
- 43 1/2-inch vertical (Combine record)
- 11-foot-2 broad jump
Styles may have just made Bobby Okereke expendable… Assuming he lasts to the No. 5 overall pick.
Kyle Louis (LB, Pittsburgh) – Louis is an undersized linebacker at 6-foot and 220 pounds, and he tested like a defensive back with a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-9 broad jump. That isn’t as absurd as Styles’ workout, but he definitely established himself as an elite athlete. Louis would probably play something like a STAR safety/linebacker hybrid at the NFL level, but that’s a position that teams will be looking for to help combat modern offenses.
Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech) – Today was an awesome day for the Red Raiders’ defensive front, and J-Rod might have helped himself the most. He won every possible award a linebacker could in last year, and he’s widely regarded as the most instinctive defenders in the draft. That said, there were questions as to whether Rodriguez has the athleticism to translate to the NFL. Well, his 4.57-second 40-yard dash answered those questions, and he likely cemented his draft stock as a Day 2 prospect.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr (LB, TCU) – Elarms-Orr set the tone for a great linebacker workout with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Daniel Jeremiah noted in the broadcast that there were questions about his long speed, but those questions were answered emphatically. Elarms-Orr had a good day in the field drills as well, showing that his athleticism translates to the more practical matter of playing linebacker.
Bryce Boettcher (LB, Oregon) – It was a bit disappointing that Boettcher didn’t run the 40, but that might be because he couldn’t hit anyone at the end. Boettcher is an incredibly physical linebacker (who is a former baseball player) and absolutely relishes contact on the field… Or even in warm-ups. That said, he’s much more than just a downhill thumper and is a good all-around linebacker. Boettcher looked very comfortable in the field drills and is the kind of smooth athlete we’ve come to expect from the Oregon Ducks.
Zane Durant (DT, Penn State) – The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and that’s why quarterbacks hate interior gap penetration. Durant is “undersized” at 6-foot-1, 290 pounds, but he threw down a 4.75-second 40-yard dash with a 1.66-second 10-yard split (which ranks between Milton Williams and Jordan Davis among defensive tackles). His height means natural leverage, while his explosiveness and speed are self-evident. He followed that up with some impressive performances in the field drills, to show off his movement skills and the pop in his hands. Durant could definitely see his stock rise for teams that run one-gap attacking defenses.
Kaleb Proctor (DT, Southeastern Louisiana) – The Combine is a prime opportunity for small school and under-the-radar prospects to show up and show out. Proctor did just that with a 4.79-second 40-yard dash as well as a 33-inch vertical, and some great work in the position drills. He’s another 1-gap pass rushing lineman at 6-foot-2, 291 pounds, but he’s definitely sent scouts back to his tape. Proctor may have worked himself into the second day of the draft.
Chris McClellan (DT, Missouri) – McClellan has been just on the radar in the second tier of defensive tackles. He has the size to play a 1 or 0-technique, but also showed some juice as a pass rusher through the A and B-gaps. McClellen had one of the better workouts in the defensive line position group with 5.05 second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4, 314-pounds. He was also very quick and smooth in the field drills despite his size.
T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson) – Like most of the Clemson products, Parker suffered a significant tumble down draft boards compared to his pre-season rankings. Parker was considered one of the top edge defenders in the class and a potential Top 10 pick, but had a disappointing year. He began to repair his draft stock with a strong finish to the season and then a great week at the Senior Bowl. Parker performed as expected in the 40, with a strong 1.62-second 10-yard split but a slightly slow (for a modern EDGE) 4.68 seconds on the full 40 yards.
Malachi Lawrence (UCF) – Lawrence has been on the fringes of the Day 2 conversation, but he might have put himself firmly in Day 2 with his measurable workout. He threw down a great 1.58 10-yard split and a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, as well as a 10’10” broad jump and a 40-inch vertical. He was also quick and fluid in the field drills to go along with his impressive measurables. The UCF edge led his team in tackles for a loss and sacks, and could make a real impact in the NFL in 2026.
Losers
Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) – Bain didn’t work out at the Combine, and that’s part of why he’s a loser here today. Top prospects like Styles and Arvel Reese took the opportunity to work out and compete, while Bain eschewed his workout in favor of Miami’s pro day. That’s understandable considering Miami played two more games after beating Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs, but teams still love to see prospects take every single opportunity to compete that they’re afforded.
Worse, Bain weighed in lighter than expected at 267 pounds with extremely short 30⅞ inch arms. The average arm length for an edge defender is 33.5 inches, with a standard deviation of roughly 1.0 inches. That would put Bain’s arm length in the bottom 1 percentile. He was dominant on tape in college, but he’ll fall below some (or even many) teams’ thresholds.
Peter Woods (Clemson) – Woods was widely expected to blow up the Combine and put on a show, seizing the opportunity to repair his draft stock after a hugely disappointing 2025 season. Instead, he didn’t work out, eschewed the opportunity to compete and show off the athleticism that had him reckoned a Top 10 prospect before the season. He’ll have a lot of work to reassure teams that he’s worth a significant investment.
Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M) – Howell was expected to have short arms, but he was also expected to be one of the fastest edge defenders in the class. Unfortunately, his arms measured even shorter than expected at 30¼ inches. He had a good showing in the 40 with a 1.6-second 10-yard split and 4.59-second 40 time, though that was still slower than expected. He’ll still be drafted highly, but perhaps not as highly as we would have thought with his college tape.
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