2026 NFL Combine

[mayoclinic]

Coming up in 3 weeks!

NFL combine 2026 is here: What to know about the schedule, draft order and top prospects

Everything you need to know about the NFL's biggest pre-draft event.

www.cbssports.com

I don't see the Combine having a huge effect this year, but always interesting to get measurements and testing results.

Interviews and medicals will be important.

 

[manxman2601]

Aside from one rather big game, we're on a 3 week football hiatus. Happily, we'll move from the combine to the FA pretty quickly and then it's countdown to the draft with everything being much clearer.

 

[mayoclinic]

FA starts in just over a month. Really short when you make the SB.

Fortunately we at Patsfans have tried to lay out a path and do some of the grunt work.

 

[Clonamery]

FA starts in just over a month. Really short when you make the SB.

Fortunately we at Patsfans have tried to lay out a path and do some of the grunt work.

And...thank you both. It's the best of distractions.

 

[scott99]

The Combine is one of my favorite times of the year. It starts with the East-West Shrine Game, then the Senior Bowl, and then the Combine & Pro Days. I will admit I’m not as invested as prior years. I feel the team can help the 2026 team with another good draft, but I’m not gonna get overly upset with whoever they take. Right now it’s about setting up the future. They are already a very good team. So if they they take a Guard with their pick, I’d be fine with it. I trust Vrabel big time.

 

[manxman2601]

One off-season does not a pattern make but I have noticed something. Of the four OL we acquired as starters, three have the following in common.

Garrett Bradbury - 4.92 forty, 31" VJ, 4.53 shuttle, 1.7 10 yard
Jared Wilson - 4.84 forty, 32" VJ, 4.56 shuttle, 1.72 10 yd
Will Campbell - 4.98 forty, 32" VJ, no shuttle, 1.76 10 yd

I'm not including Morgan Moses because his combine performances are irrelevant at his age.

It might be nothing, but I'm going to be particularly interested in OL with sub 5 second forties, 10 yard splits around the 1.7s, 30" plus verts and sub 4.6 shuttles.

 

[mayoclinic]

The above suggests that the Pats coaching staff are interested in athletic OL with good movement skills, over road-grader types. Maybe not the most powerful OL initially - that is something they seem to feel can be developed.

 

[mayoclinic]

FWIW:

Rashawn Slater: 4.91 40, 1.68 10-split, 33" VJ, 4.45 SS

Joel Bitonio: 4.97 40, 1.68 10-split, 32" VJ, 4.44 SS

Quinn Meinerz: 4.99 40, 1.73 10-split, 32" VJ, 4.58 SS

Joe Thuney: 4.95 40, 1.71 10-split, 28" VJ, 4.54 SS

Ali Marpet: 4.98 40, 1.74 10-split, 30.5" VJ, 4.47 SS

Frank Ragnow: 4.99 40, 1.74 10-split, 33.5" VJ, 4.51 SS

Seems like guys with that combo turn out to be pretty good OL.

 

[mayoclinic]

Also of interest:

Zach Tom: 4.94 40, 1.70 10-split, 33" VJ, 4.47 SS

Tristan Wirfs: 4.85 40, no 10-split, 36.5 VJ (!), 4.68 SS

Armand Membou: 4.91 40, 1.74 10-split, 30" VJ, no SS

 

[mayoclinic]

Tom Cable, former Raiders HC and offensive line guru, uses a metric called a Trench Explosion Factor (TEF) to evaluate OL explosiveness:

TEF results plus speed & agility testing for the 2025 offensive linemen – Seahawks Draft Blog

seahawksdraftblog.com

TEF focuses more on power and explosive burst (BP, VJ, LJ).

Prospects with strong TEF scores and superior quickness/agility (10-split, SS) probably have the physical tools to dominate.

 

[mayoclinic]

Here's my athletic standard for RTs:

Sebastian Vollmer RAS

Sebastian Vollmer was drafted by Patriots with pick 58 in round 2 in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Houston. He recorded a Relative Athletic Score of 9.98, out of a possible 10.0. RAS is a composite met…

ras.football

5.13 40, 1.77 10-split, 36.5" VJ, 4.5 SS. TEF around 3.45.

 

[manxman2601]

Here's my athletic standard for RTs:

Sebastian Vollmer RAS

Sebastian Vollmer was drafted by Patriots with pick 58 in round 2 in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Houston. He recorded a Relative Athletic Score of 9.98, out of a possible 10.0. RAS is a composite met…

ras.football

5.13 40, 1.77 10-split, 36.5" VJ, 4.5 SS. TEF around 3.45.

36.5 VJ for a OL is outrageous. I don't think a single OL at last years combine had a 4.5 shuttle last year either. Tough ask to match those numbers. It just goes to show what a beast he was.

Just saw this

The record for the highest vertical jump by an offensive lineman at the NFL Scouting Combine is 37 inches, set by BYU's Blake Freeland (6'7", 302 lbs) in 2023. This jump broke the previous record of 36.5 inches held by Tristan Wirfs in 2020. These performances highlight elite explosive power in modern blockers.

Freeland...Freeling. Maybe it's in the stars.

 

[mayoclinic]

Tristan Wirfs also with 36.5" VJ.

I remember watching video clips of Vollmer after he was a surprise 2nd round pick in 2009, and being blown away by how he moved.

 

[dliverey44]

One off-season does not a pattern make but I have noticed something. Of the four OL we acquired as starters, three have the following in common.

Garrett Bradbury - 4.92 forty, 31" VJ, 4.53 shuttle, 1.7 10 yard
Jared Wilson - 4.84 forty, 32" VJ, 4.56 shuttle, 1.72 10 yd
Will Campbell - 4.98 forty, 32" VJ, no shuttle, 1.76 10 yd

I'm not including Morgan Moses because his combine performances are irrelevant at his age.

It might be nothing, but I'm going to be particularly interested in OL with sub 5 second forties, 10 yard splits around the 1.7s, 30" plus verts and sub 4.6 shuttles.

I think it was underdog fantasy that did a video a year or 2 ago that implied a connection between success and short shuttle sub 4.5. I am going off memory so the time on the SS could be wrong

 

[manxman2601]

I think it was underdog fantasy that did a video a year or 2 ago that implied a connection between success and short shuttle sub 4.5. I am going off memory so the time on the SS could be wrong

No you're right although to be pedantic it's 4.47.

 

[mayoclinic]

Emmanuel Pregnon and Chase Bisontis have both made Bru e Feldman's 'freaks' in the past. Both are extremely strong, but also have quickness and movements skills, topping out at over 17 mph. Pregnon reportedly had a 1.68 10-split. It will be interesting to see their Combine numbers.

USC's Zachariah Branch, Emmanuel Pregnon named to The Athletic's 2024 Freak List

Two Trojans are named in the 2024 Freak List via The Athletic.

247sports.com

Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis makes The Athletic's Freaks List

Texas A&M offensive lineman Chase Bisontis made The Athletic's Freaks List that is put forth by writer Bruce Feldman each season.

247sports.com

 

[mayoclinic]

The NFL Combine Will Turn These 3 Prospects Into Risers Overnight

Every year, the NFL Combine reshapes the draft conversation.

substack.com

 

[manxman2601]

Combine schedule at a glance

 

[manxman2601]

 

[manxman2601]

I'm disappointed in Cole Wisniewski and Rohan Jones not being on the list. I was really looking forward to seeing what Jones would run.