Some talents used the NFL Combine to attract the interest of NFL teams. For others, the performance tests backfired completely.

The value of the NFL Combine is debatable.

Some consider the performance tests to be very important, others consider them to be completely overrated. And yet, year after year at the NFL Draft, it is clear that some decision-makers are influenced by the performances at the Combine.

This year’s Combine took place from Thursday to Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Some talents recommended themselves for an early pick, while others delivered disappointing performances.

Winner: Sonny Styles

Sonny Styles recommended himself as a top 10 pick. The Ohio State linebacker ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds – no linebacker was faster this year.

Even more impressive were his jump measurements: 43.5 inches (110.5 cm) in the vertical jump and 11 feet 2 inches (3.40 m) in the broad jump. The son of Super Bowl winner Lorenzo Styles Sr. is often compared to Fred Warner – there are worse comparisons.

Winner: Taylen Green

Taylen Green was actually considered a late pick. But his performance at the combine was historic. The Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback achieved 43.5 inches (around 1.10 meters) in the vertical jump and landed at 11 feet and 2 inches (around 3.40 meters) in the standing long jump. Until now, Anthony Richardson held the respective records among quarterbacks. Green’s speed was also impressive. He ran the 40 yards in 4.36 seconds. He was only 0.03 seconds slower than Michael Vick, who set the best time for quarterbacks in 2001. Green should be of interest to any team looking for a young and athletic quarterback.

Winner: Brenen Thompson

Brenen Thompson set a school record in Mississippi with 1,054 yards. And yet there were doubts about his NFL suitability, as the receiver is rather lightweight at 1.75 meters tall and weighing 74 kilograms. This makes it all the more important to at least be fast.

And that’s Thompson: he clocked the fastest time at the combine in the 40-yard sprint with 4.26 seconds. That was just shy of the all-time record: in 2024, wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who was subsequently picked by the Kansas City Chiefs, completed the sprint in 4.21 seconds.

Winner: Kenyon Sadiq

Kenyon Sadiq was already considered the best tight end in the NFL Draft. The 20-year-old from Oregon had his best college season in 2025, recording 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns.

At the Combine, he played his way even further into the spotlight. He ran the fastest 40 yards of any tight end since at least 2003 with a time of 4.39 seconds – an impressive feat for someone of Sadiq’s stature (1.91 meters, 100 kilograms). He also delivered in the other performance tests. He is now considered a likely top-10 pick.

Loser: Malachi Fields

Malachi Fields spent last season at Notre Dame, catching passes for 630 yards and five touchdowns.

However, the Combine raised concerns that he lacks the speed for the NFL. The wide receiver ran the 40 yards in 4.61 seconds. This is not a good time for a receiver who mainly runs deep routes. He also dropped a few balls on his routes.

Loser: LT Overton

A few years ago, it was assumed that LT Overton would go through college as a superstar and then be hotly sought after by NFL teams. He was once rated a five-star recruit. In fact, however, the defensive end at Texas A&M and Alabama only managed seven sacks in four years.

His performance at the combine has increased the doubts. He ran the 40 yards in a slow 4.87 seconds. There was little positive to report from the other tests either.

Loser: Diego Pavia

Diego Pavia made it clear in his interview with ESPN: “I don’t care what other people think of me.” Perhaps that explains his strange tactics at the Combine. Although the Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback is considered a strong runner (862 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns in 2025), he skipped the 40-yard dash. At 1.78 meters and 93 kilograms, he is not the prototype of a playmaker anyway. The fact that Pavia likes to seek advice from former draft flop Johnny Manziel is also likely to raise eyebrows among many NFL teams.
Loser: R Mason Thomas

That backfired spectacularly. Defensive end R Mason Thomas was asked at the Combine how he could compensate for his lack of size – 1.88 meters and 109 kilograms – in his position. His answer: “Mass times acceleration equals power.” Meaning: he would compensate for his lack of power with speed.