NFL Combine Winners and Losers 2026: Sadiq and Styles Shatter Records as Draft Boards Flip

The NFL Scouting Combine for 2026 is over, and NFL teams now have a lot of information to sort through, including some mythical performances. This year's event was marked by unprecedented athleticism, especially among the tight ends and safeties. 

As teams get ready for the 2026 NFL Draft, the main topic of conversation is the winners and losers of the NFL Combine in 2026. Several prospects are likely to get first-round status through raw testing. 

Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq and Ohio State’s Lorenzo Styles Jr. didn't just meet expectations; they dismantled long-standing records, proving that the modern NFL athlete is faster and more explosive than ever before. 

However, while some soared, others faced red flags in their measurements that could see them slide into Day 2.

Who are the Biggest NFL Combine Winners 2026?

The NFL Combine Winners category this year is headlined by players who paired elite college tape with freakish testing numbers.

• Kenyon Sadiq (TE,  Oregon): Sadiq delivered the most talked-about performance of the weekend. Measuring 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, he clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, breaking Vernon Davis’ 20-year-old record for the fastest tight end in combine history.

• Lorenzo Styles Jr. (S,  Ohio State): Speed runs in the family. After his brother Sonny Styles dominated Thursday, Lorenzo posted a blistering 4.27-second 40-yard dash, the fastest ever recorded by a safety since official tracking began in 2003.

• Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame): Solidifying his RB1 status, Love's 4.36-second 40-yard dash mirrored the elite speed of NFL stars like Jahmyr Gibbs, making him a virtual lock for the top 15.

• Monroe Freeling (OT,  Georgia): Perhaps the biggest riser on the offensive line, Freeling’s 1.71-second 10-yard split at 315 pounds showcased rare explosiveness for a tackle of his stature.

.@oregonfootball TE Kenyon Sadiq is having a day.

He ties the record for a tight end with a 4.4u on his first run.

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/8Ho1hIXbvZ

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

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NFL Combine Losers 2026: Whose Draft Stock is Falling?

The NFL Losers at the combine aren't always the slowest players; they're the ones whose physical tests or measurements didn't match the roles they were supposed to play.

• Spencer Fano (OT,  Utah): While Fano’s on-field drills were smooth, his 32 1/8-inch arms sent shockwaves through the scouting community. Historically, tackles with sub-33-inch arms are forced to move inside to guard at the NFL level, potentially lowering their draft ceiling.

• Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami): Bain entered Indy with massive hype, but his historically short arms for an edge rusher have scouts questioning his ability to disengage from NFL-sized tackles.

• Drew Allar (QB, Penn State): Allar didn't fail a test, but by opting out of most athletic testing, he missed a crucial opportunity to answer questions about his mobility compared to dual-threat stars like Taylen Green.

• Toriano Pride Jr. (CB,  Missouri): Even though he ran the best 40-yard dash of his career (4.32 seconds), Pride had a lot of trouble with ball skill drills, dropping several passes and having stiff transitions that could keep him from being a full-time player.

Check Out - NFL Combine 2026: Sonny Styles Shatters Records as Scouts Shift Focus to Secondary Drills

The 2026 NFL Combine showed that play speed and track speed are getting closer to each other. Now, teams care more about the 10-yard split and vertical explosion than the raw 40 times. This is good news for prospects like Monroe Freeling and Max Iheanachor.

As Pro Days get closer, the records set by Sadiq and the Styles brothers in the past have set a new standard for judging athletes. As scouts compare these top athletic traits to traditional game film, mock drafts will be very volatile.