2026 NFL mix: Prime draft prospects, greatest exercises, risers

INDIANAPOLIS — Particular person drills for prospects within the 2026 NFL draft began Thursday, with defensive linemen and linebackers taking the sphere. Defensive backs and tight ends can be subsequent Friday, adopted by quarterback, working again and vast receiver prospects Saturday. Offensive linemen will end the mix with on-field exercises Sunday.

Who ran properly within the 40-yard sprint? Who dominated the remainder of the on-field work? Draft consultants Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Discipline Yates are recapping all 4 days of the mix exercises, evaluating the highest performances from each place, choosing prospects who’re rising (or probably falling) and addressing notable under-the-radar showings.

Let’s get into the breakdown of all of the motion at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Bounce to a piece:
DL/LB: Takeaways | Risers | Prime names | Notes

Day 1: Defensive linemen and linebackers

Notables who didn’t work out: CJ Allen (Georgia), Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), Akheem Mesidor (Miami), Peter Woods (Clemson)

What are the largest takeaways from Thursday’s exercises?

Reid: This linebacker class is superior. From testing to on-field drills, the gamers who have been anticipated to be standouts actually delivered. Sonny Types (Ohio State) would be the discuss of the place group, however the depth shined as properly. Jake Golday (Cincinnati), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) and Kyle Louis (Pitt) are three others who helped their draft inventory. Golday and Hill are considered as top-50 prospects, whereas Louis is taken into account a Spherical 3 participant. The competitors degree on the place was on full show, because it appeared they have been jostling with one another to catapult up the draft board.

Miller: Arm size was the subject of the day, as Bain (30 7/8 inches) and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell (30 1/4) measured below 31 inches. Based on ESPN Analysis, these lengths could be the shortest for any defensive lineman drafted within the first spherical since ESPN began monitoring mix information in 2003.

Will NFL basic managers wager that they are outliers? I’ve talked to some groups that had barely completely different measurements, ranging as much as 32 inches for Bain, however the level stands that no edge rusher with sub-31-inch arms has had 10-plus sacks in a season since 1999. So which crew will wager towards these numbers? The seemingly result’s that every falls from their present rankings primarily based on movie — Bain is my No. 10 prospect and Howell my No. 23 — nevertheless it’s unlikely that both falls out of Spherical 1.

Yates: We have reached a unique period of the mix, as participant participation has been a sizzling subject in Indy this week. Although there are gamers whose participation might positively affect their draft inventory (i.e., Caleb Banks), extra gamers are cognizant of the minimal upside of understanding.

At first, I figured sources across the NFL would discover this pattern disappointing, however the preferred sentiment that I’ve gathered is certainly one of understanding. The gamers should decide that’s greatest for their very own outlook, and in some circumstances, their faculty movie is greater than sufficient to rubber stamp the place they belong within the draft.

Who’re the largest risers from Day 1?

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Banks did not want to complete the on-field exercises to rank as certainly one of Thursday’s winners. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound defensive deal with wowed with a 32-inch vertical soar and a 5.05-second 40. Banks missed most of final season due to a foot damage, however his upside is thru the roof. He might have moved into the primary spherical together with his instances Thursday. — Miller

Zane Durant, DT, Penn State

With an eye-popping 4.76 40-yard sprint, it did not take the 6-foot-1, 290-pound Durant lengthy to be amongst one of many greatest standouts of the defensive position group. He adopted that with a 33 ½-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-4 broad soar. Identified for his first-step explosion, Durant confirmed his quickness and burst all through the exercise. Considered as an early Day 3 prospect, he has positioned himself to be a possible top-100 decide. — Reid

Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

Halton was one of many extra spectacular performers from the primary group of prospects, as he posted a 36½-inch vertical soar, the third highest of any defensive deal with over the previous 20 years. He additionally ran a 4.83 40. The 6-foot-3, 293-pound Halton had a mixed 8.5 sacks over the previous two seasons, with 26 pressures in 2025. When taking notes on Halton for my scouting report, I discussed that he jogged my memory of a wrestler on the soccer discipline, with a capability to play with leverage and get beneath inside offensive linemen. I imagine he has an opportunity to go inside the highest 100 picks. — Yates

Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

The phrase juice at all times involves thoughts when watching Lawrence’s movie, the kind of burst that confirmed up throughout his mix exercise. Lawrence ran a 4.52 40, second to solely Bailey amongst defensive linemen, and regarded buttery easy throughout on-field exercise drills. Lawrence screams off the sting as a rusher, creating 60 pressures over the previous two seasons. He had two seasons with not less than seven sacks in his faculty profession. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence might be the primary participant taken from this yr’s Shrine Bowl and is perhaps in play for Spherical 2. — Yates

Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt

After a standout Senior Bowl week, the 6-foot, 200-pound Louis continued his robust predraft course of with spectacular numbers within the vertical (39½ inches) and broad (10-foot-9) jumps and a 4.57 40. The hybrid linebacker/security prospect is a prime 100 choice on my board, and groups I’ve spoken with point out his instant affect as a weakside linebacker. He’d be preferrred for a crew just like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. — Miller

Kaleb Proctor, DT, SE Louisiana

Proctor continues to construct momentum within the pre-draft course of. After a standout week on the Shrine Bowl, his inventory continued to rise Thursday, as he ran a 4.8 40 and leaped 33 inches within the vertical. Proctor is undersized at 6-foot-2, 291 kilos however has the potential to be an possibility within the center rounds for groups trying to find an explosive 3-technique. Scouts incessantly level to his two-sack efficiency final season towards LSU when discussing him. — Reid

How did different prime prospects look on Day 1?

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey’s participation was noteworthy, and he delivered. The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder ran the quickest 40 of any defensive lineman, posting a blazing 4.5 to go together with a 35-inch vertical soar and 10-foot-9 broad soar. Bailey got here into the mix having a robust probability of being picked as excessive as No. 2, with a ground that in all probability wasn’t a lot beneath No. 5. Bailey’s testing numbers, mixed with the violence and energy he confirmed throughout bag drills, reminded folks why he is ranked so excessive. — Yates

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Although Faulk didn’t run the 40, he did the jumps and took part in on-field exercises. Faulk confirmed physique management and steadiness throughout on-field work, particularly when doing the “run the ring” drill. That aligns with Faulk’s tape, although he stays a participant whom I’ve had a troublesome time evaluating. Faulk has check-the-box measurables at 6-foot-6, 276 kilos and was glorious in 2024 with seven sacks, however his tape this previous season was much less exhilarating. Faulk has versatility, is a ready-made run defender and one of many youngest prospects within the class — together with A-plus character — which can assist him land within the first spherical. However he should be way more disruptive and constant within the NFL. — Yates

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald entered the day with a late first-round grade on my board and the potential to be the primary nostril deal with drafted. Regardless of not working the 40-yard sprint, he opted in on the exercises. His efficiency was uneven, because the 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald struggled together with his footing throughout a number of drills, however he confirmed the upper-body energy that made him the most effective run stuffers in faculty final season. The late first spherical remains to be in play, however Ohio State’s professional day carries significance for his last grade. — Miller

Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

Opting to run solely the 40-yard sprint and take part in on-field drills, Reese nonetheless was a giant a part of the Day 1 dialogue. Working a blistering 4.47 40 sprint time, the explosive burst and velocity of the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Reese did not disappoint. A mini-competition between him and teammate Sonny Types ensued as each ran an identical unofficial instances (Types’ official time was barely higher). The bend of Reese additionally was on full show, as his fast motion expertise and swift change-of-direction have been easy throughout drills. Reese helped himself as he continues to be one of many strongest contenders to be chosen by the New York Jets at No. 2. — Reid

Sonny Types, LB, Ohio State

Types’ efficiency was the discuss exiting Day 1. The towering center linebacker prospect (6-foot-5, 244 kilos) jumped a formidable 43½ inches within the vertical, one of the best leap for a participant at that place relationship to 2003, per ESPN Analysis. He additionally jumped 11-foot-2 within the broad soar and ran a 4.46 40. Types was anticipated to have outlandish testing numbers, but he surpassed everybody’s expectations. Labeled as a top-10 decide getting into the mix, I am not so positive he makes it out of the highest 5. His mixture of measurement, instincts and vary makes him the most effective center linebacker prospects in current reminiscence, as he might be the primary top-5 decide on the place since Devin White in 2019. — Reid

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Buckeyes’ Sonny Types reaches 43-5 on vertical on the mix

Ohio State LB Sonny Types jumps a formidable 43-5 on the vertical on the NFL mix.

Zion Younger, Edge, Missouri

Younger was amongst a number of defensive linemen who ran the 40-yard sprint, however he confirmed out when performing positional drills. Younger’s “wave” drill was clear, displaying fast ft and good physique management at 6-foot-6 and 262 kilos. His quickness in drills matched his tape, and his standing as a late Spherical 1 participant on my board is unchanged after one of many higher positional drill showings in his group. — Miller

Extra notes, ideas and issues we heard and noticed on Day 1

Miller

• Cashius Howell had a day that’ll little question ship scouts again to his tape. We already famous the Texas A&M edge rusher’s subpar arm size, however he then ran an elite 4.6-second 40, which included a 1.59-second 10-yard cut up. These numbers are within the 88th and 87th percentile, respectively, for edge rushers since 1999. Brief arms will be overcome with velocity, and Howell proved he has that. Regardless of leaving positional drills after a leg damage, the 6-foot-3, 253-pounder seemingly secured a late first-round choice.

Reid

• The revival of T.J. Parker’s draft inventory continues. After a disappointing last season at Clemson, he has continued to construct on his spectacular Senior Bowl week with a superb efficiency on the mix. Parker ran a 4.68 40 and had a 34-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 263 kilos. Parker’s ascension has resulted in him being again within the image to be picked on the finish of Spherical 1.

Yates

• Texas Tech defensive deal with Lee Hunter’s leads to the vertical and broad jumps have been mentioned by scouts Thursday, as he managed only a 21½-inch vertical and an 8-foot-4 broad soar. Although Hunter’s recreation isn’t predicated upon explosion, these numbers are removed from preferrred. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound Hunter had flashes of absolute dominance — none extra so than towards Oregon within the playoffs — but additionally different video games that weren’t at that degree. My greatest forecast is him touchdown someplace within the second spherical.