NFL Combine winners and losers: Updates on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NFL knows how to maximize viewership on every day of the football calendar. As such, it's no surprise that it saved the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers for Saturday's NFL Scouting Combine festivities.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, and a stacked class of wide receivers headlined the position groups on paper, but with opt-outs and strategic testing decisions, it was the depth behind them that made this crop so exciting. There's an open race for RB2, plenty of room for movement under center, and dozens of receivers vying for draft capital.
Ultimately, Love quickly reminded everybody why he was the class's top running back, and Mike Washington Jr. made himself a lot of money with a position-best 40-yard dash at 223 pounds. Most of the top receivers didn't run, but it was some of the biggest receivers -- Jeff Caldwell and Colbie Young -- that stood out.
Their performance, both during athletic testing and position drills, will matter to NFL evaluators, giving us a glimpse into how stocks can change in an instant.
We kept track of the best and worst performances from Day 3 of Combine drills as we race our way to the 2026 NFL Draft.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWinners and losers from Day 3 of NFL Combine drills
Winner: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
That didn't take long. Love's run was highly anticipated, particularly regarding the 4.40 threshold. He cleared it with relative ease, posting a 4.36 40-yard dash. There was little debate about Love's ability to hit the home run, but confirming that he has Jahmyr Gibbs-level explosiveness is helping make the case that he's more than just RB1.
MORE: Why isn't Jeremiyah Love running the three-cone drill?
He's firmly in the discussion to be a better prospect than last year's No. 6 pick, Ashton Jeanty, and comparable to Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson from recent years. This is a special prospect, and while his 40-yard dash couldn't do much to improve his stock, it was an exciting moment of confirmation bias.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLoser: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
Johnson's game is built around explosiveness within structure and an ability to match his footwork and vision to win between the tackles. That left the door open for some minor concerns about his ability to hit home runs at the next level.
He didn't help himself out during the 40-yard dash.
Johnson's 4.56-second 40-yard dash wasn't disastrous by any means. But it was the slowest of the group (partly a selection bias issue), and certainly wasn't ideal when matched with a 202-pound frame. It's reminiscent of Kaleb Johnson from last year, whose disappointing Combine performance reignited concerns about his big-play proclivity.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWinner: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
Nobody helped their stock more during the 40-yard dash portion of the RB workout than Washington, who let the tears flow after a potentially life-changing run.
At 6'1", 223 pounds, Washington was the fourth-biggest back at the Combine. He was also the fastest. His 4.33-second 40-yard dash was elite, and adjusting for size makes it one of the most impressive marks of the weekend. That alone is enough to be a draft pick, and there's no doubt he's moving up boards as we speak. It was the definition of a "call the family" moment, and he took full advantage.
Winner: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky
As much attention as the 40-yard dash gets, it's not the end-all, be-all. In fact, there's an argument to be made that explosiveness proxies are even more important.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat takes us to the vertical and broad jumps, meant to showcase how springy athletes can be and how much power their lower halves provide. McGowan led the pack of running backs in both jumps, posting a 42.5-inch vertical and 10'11" broad jump. Likewise, both of his jumps were at least three inches better than the next-best back, generating 98th- and 97th-percentile marks, respectively.
For teams that value short-area burst over long speed, McGowan's Combine will make a difference.
Winner: Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
The Combine is an underwhelming event under center. Many quarterbacks don't throw, and even more don't care to run, skewing numbers and making for a shorter circuit.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGreen, who had legitimate room to move up boards, took full advantage.
He set the Combine record for quarterback vertical jumps with an incredible 43.5-inch leap. On the fast track, his 4.37 40-yard dash would be an elite number for any position. It left every other quarterback in the dust on Saturday. Mobility has always been a big part of his game, but proving it's truly 80-grade should only help his stock.
Loser: Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
Daniels, as a Day 3 hopeful with promising athletic tools, had a similar challenge to Green. Where the Arkansas quarterback showed out, the Kansas passer was overshadowed.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDaniels' 4.66-second 40-yard dash would be an 80th-percentile mark, rather than the elite number he was looking for. As a less proven passer than Green, Daniels' athleticism is paramount to his stock. If he's not running at the next level, there's little path to success. Daniels didn't jump, either, leaving some questions for his pro day later this spring.
Loser: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
While his teammate blazed his way to a strong Combine day, Fields was far less impressive. He was never going to challenge Love for the fastest member of the Fighting Irish, but posting the slowest time for the first batch of receivers (4.61 seconds) remained underwhelming.
Fields' 6'4" frame made him a catch-point specialist who doesn't need elite speed to win at the next level. But the reason his stock blossomed late in the cycle was due to optimism about his athletic upside and well-rounded game. That didn't come to fruition on Saturday, and his jumps suggested merely pedestrian burst.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWinner: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Branch, at 5085 and 177 pounds, is tiny. That's not new information. But with an insanely heavy dosage of screens, there are both physical and production questions in his profile.
Branch needed a sub-4.40 time to stay in the top-100 conversation. Guys of his size don't work without elite speed, especially in roles that demand more than just gadget usage. At 4.36 seconds, Branch checked that box, suggesting that he has enough juice to succeed in an ancillary role and perhaps a little more upside to unlock. It wasn't the kind of run that dramatically changed his trajectory, but staying afloat in a crowded class of receivers is a victory in itself.
He also looked smooth during the gauntlet drill, giving some positive signals to his hands and coordination.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWinner: Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
Every so often, a receiver comes around with the height/weight/speed combination that makes deities jealous. This year, it's Cincinnati receiver Jeff Caldwell.
At 6'5", 216 pounds, Caldwell is well-positioned to make noise in Indianapolis. When it came time to test, he met the moment. His 4.31-second 40-yard dash was second among receivers in the early going. His 10-yard split led the group. He jumped out of the building, too, posting the second-best vertical jump (42 inches) and best broad jump (11'2") at the position.
It's a recipe for a 10.0 RAS score and upward momentum heading into pro day season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWinner: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
It's always nice to see small-school and lower-level prospects showing up to the Combine and matching, if not surpassing, their Power 4 peers. Payton stood out as an athlete at the FCS level and continued to look the part in Indianapolis.
His vertical (40 inches) and broad (10'10") jumps were both second among quarterbacks, trailing only the aforementioned Green.
Payton then ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, a 92nd-percentile mark that cements him as one of the more athletic passing prospects in recent memory. There are questions to answer regarding his level of competition, and as a lefty their may be additional hesitancy. Payton may have made himself money before the throwing portion of his evening.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLoser: Emmanuel Henderson Jr., WR, Kansas
Henderson ran earlier in the day and posted a good time (4.48 seconds). However, the 185-pound receiver struggled through the rest of the circuit.
He posted an average (35-inch) vertical jump and underwhelmed on the broad jump (10'), posting the third-worst mark of the group. During position drills, Henderson struggled, particularly on the gauntlet drill, where he struggled to stay on the line and wasn't great at the catch point.
Winner: Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
Lane is a fairly polarizing prospect because of his big-bodies archetype. Winning at the catch point is cool, but if he's turning lucrative opportunities into contested catches, it's because he can't separate.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRunning a fast 40 was a good way to put those concerns to rest, and a 4.47-second 40-yard dash was better than I anticipated. He's another prospect who may not have raised his stock, but he certainly didn't hurt it, either. That's half the battle, and getting under the 4.50 threshold was promising.
It's worth noting that he also looked great during the gauntlet drill.
Winner: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
Thompson didn't break the 40-yard dash record as many had hoped, but when you post the fastest time of the weekend (sorry, offensive linemen), it goes down as a good day.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThompson needs every bit of that speed to make an impact at 5'9" and 164 pounds. That kind of burst allows him to be a multi-level threat, taking designed touches to the house and taking the top off of defenses.
Loser: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate came into Indianapolis as a headliner. Nothing went horribly wrong for Tate; his only athletic testing was the 40-yard dash. However, at 4.53 seconds, Tate slightly underperformed.
While coming in a tick or two shorter than anticipated, not breaking the 4.50 threshold is mildly concerning. His stock won't take much of a hit -- he may still be WR1 come April. But a better performance would have helped make the case for him as a truly elite receiver prospect. Perhaps that leaves some work for him to do at Ohio State's pro day.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWinner: Colbie Young, WR, Georgia
Young tested well, specifically for his size, posting a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at 6'5" and 218 pounds.
That's a win in itself, but where Young caught my eye was during the position drills, both for receivers and quarterbacks. He ran a good gauntlet and showed off consistent hands when asked to run timing routes and track deep balls.
When working as a prop for the passing portion of practice, he continued to flash, adjusting to errant balls, helping his quarterbacking counterparts, and showing off quality body control and catch technique.
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