2026 NFL Scouting Combine Preview - TE & DB

The NFL Scouting Combine on field events and drills is the last nationally-organized scouting event of the season and it is scheduled to take place from Thursday, February 26 through Sunday, March 1 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. In total, 319 prospects have been invited to the world’s largest televised job fair, and approximately 90+% of the 257 draft picks in April’s draft will be comprised of NFL Scouting Combine participants, based on historical precedence. Let’s take a look at some of the prospects who are expected to put on a show, a few of the prospects that need to impress to improve their odds of getting drafted in Pittsburgh. We’ll also take a look some candidates poised to challenge Xavier Worthy’s 4.21 40 and some notable snubs who should be in Indianapolis.

TE

For the third time in the past four seasons, the college TEs entering the NFL are a loaded class of potential starters and significant contributors with the physical attributes and production that NFL teams covert. Although there is only one prospect who ranks as elite – Kenyon Sadiq / Oregon – the TE class offers more than two dozen potential future NFL starters and contributors. This continues a trend where college football is well-aligned with the NFL in developing TEs. The TE depth looks so deep that several UDFA from this class are likely to have long and productive NFL careers. Let’s take a look at a few of the TE prospects who will likely either show out or need to impress with the draft less than two months away.

Josh Cuevas / Alabama – A fast-rising prospect who is coming off a good week at the Senior Bowl, Cuevas has a tantalizing combination of size, speed, and strength that fits the NFL prototype. If Cuevas runs a sub-4.75 40 and moves smoothly through position drills, he is likely to go within the first 100 picks in April.

Oscar Delp / Georgia – Delp is one of the most well-rounded TEs in this class and he should excel in the sled drills. If Delp runs well and displays agility in space, he should rapidly shoot up draft boards.

Justin Joly / North Carolina State – Joly is a quick, sure-handed, seam threatening receiving threat who projects as a possible mismatch piece in the passing game – too big and strong for Safeties and too quick and fast for LBs. But Joly lacks ideal size, and although he will not be expected to line up and smash heads, he needs to prove that he has enough blocking ability to competently hold his own. Joly’s performance on the sled drills is worth monitoring.

Jaren Kanak / Oklahoma – A converted LB, Kanak seems like a natural, old-school FB with intriguing upside to be used as an H-back in the NFL. Kanak flashes as a blocker and displays good athleticism in space. Kanak has over 100 career tackles and should excel on special teams. A productive day on Friday and Kanak should earn a day three pick in April.

Sam Roush / Stanford – Roush looks the part of an NFL in-line TE with upside as a downfield threat. However, Roush’s hands are suspect after dropping seven passes this past season. Roush needs to display the hands and concentration skills of an NFL TE during route running drills to earn an early day three selection.

Notable TE Combine Snubs

Since the vast majority of the prospects who get drafted are combine participants, it is noteworthy which prospects do not get a call to participate in Indianapolis this week. The selection committee did a solid job putting together this TE class working out on Friday. Only two notable prospects, both possible late round selections, did not earn an invitation.

Seydou Traore / Mississippi State – Traore lacks NFL size (6034 / 233 lbs) and strength but is quick and fast and flashes suddenness that could be his ticket to an NFL training camp. But if Traore does not improve his blocking ability, his stay in the NFL will be a short one.

Matt Lauter / Boise State – A victim of a deep class, Lauter has potential to be developed into an H-back / FB with special teams upside. His combination of hands and agility makes him an intriguing practice squad candidate.

DB

The first group of speedsters to arrive in Indianapolis, the CBs and safeties are an athletic and long group of secondary prospects who display the skills to play in the NFL. But none of these prospects are flawless and each one of them has some things to prove to scouts on Friday.

Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock / CBs / Washington – The Huskies’ duo has similar strengths – ideal height and length with grapevines for arms – and weaknesses – tightness in their hips and ankles make covering quicker WRs a challenge. How well Davis and Prysock run and cut during drills will impact their draft position in April.

Mansoor Delane / CB / LSU – Delane enters the Combine as the best CB prospect in this class as a fluid mover with the agility, quickness, and burst to be effective in man coverage. Getting a complete picture of Delane’s measurements, 40-yard dash time, vertical and broad jumps, and on-field performance will likely confirm Delane as a top ten pick.

Charles Demmings / CB / Stephen F. Austin – The challenge with scouting FCS and smaller school prospects is trying to assess their athleticism against their peers who do not typically have their skills or athletic ability. Fortunately for scouts, Demmings earned an invitation to Indianapolis which allows the scouts to calibrate what they watched on film against his workout in Indy on Friday. If Demmings runs a good 40 time, record good jumps on the vertical and broad jumps, and displays agility during on-field drills, he could earn a top 100 pick.

Hezekiah Masses / CB / California – Masses is one of the most instinctive ball hawks in this class but there are concerns about his speed and explosiveness. Masses needs to run a good 40 time (< 4.55), record a good broad and vertical jump to address concerns about his athleticism, and move smoothly during on-field drills.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren / S / Toledo – EMS is a rapidly ascending prospect and is generating a ton of draft buzz as a likely first-round draft pick in April. But EMS needs to prove he has the speed, range, and leaping ability to project as a starter in the NFL. Everything from measurements to 40 time, to vertical and broad jumps, to on-field performance in drills will be closely scrutinized Friday evening.

Zakee Wheatley / S / Penn State – Wheatley could end up improving his draft status the most of any DB in attendance on Friday. Wheatley will provide outstanding measureables, should run and move well, and should show out when he performs the vertical and broad jumps. An excellent workout could get Wheatley drafted in the first 50 picks in April.

Speed Merchants

Although the majority of the fastest prospects at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine are WRs, the DBs in attendance are far from slow-footed. So, which DB prospects could push the Combine 40-yard dash record of 4.21 seconds set by Xavier Worthy in 2024? Keep an eye on Chris Johnson / San Diego State, Will Lee / Texas A&M, Devin Moore / Florida, Toriano Pride / Missouri, and Zakee Wheatley / Penn State.

Notable DB Combine Snubs

The NFL Scouting Combine selection process picked a solid group of prospects who should contribute early in their NFL careers. However, a couple of prospects who have earned draftable grades were excluded from this event.

Brent Austin / CB / California – Austin formed one of the best CB duos in the nation, along with Hezekiah Masses, and was surprisingly excluded. Austin may be a rare draft pick who did not participate in Indianapolis after a solid season in Berkeley.

Ceyair Wright / CB / Nebraska – A former 5-star recruit at USC who really came on this past season in Lincoln as a well-rounded CB with the size and willingness to support against the run and the hips and fluidity to handle man coverage. If Wright goes undrafted, he will be a high priority UDFA.

DQ Smith / S / South Carolina – A big, physical enforcer against the run, Smith was exposed too often in space against quicker receivers. But Smith has the size and physical style to carry TEs in coverage. Special teams will be his ticket to earning an NFL job.

Isaiah Nwokobia / S / SMU – Nwokobia entered the 2025 season as a potential top 100 selection but the relative strength of the safety class depressed Nwokobia’s value. Nwokobia has excellent ball skills having recorded 9 INTs and 13 passes defensed over his college career.

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