The annual NFL Draft is about to start, this year in Pittsburgh. There are likely to be a few surprises this year too, with many talents increasing their value once again, especially thanks to the Combine. ran shows five players who could therefore be drafted higher than initially thought.

The final position at which a college player is drafted into the NFL depends on several factors. Adam Peters, general manager of the Washington Commanders, said during a discussion about putting together a franchise’s scouting staff last year, “You basically work on it every year for an entire year.”

And further, “From spring through the season to the Combine, Pro Days, visits and back to next spring when the scouts look at the calendar to see where they’re going to go first. The actual shifts in players and evaluations during that time probably take place way earlier than you might think.”

Monroe Freeling (Offensive Tackle, Georgia)

At the beginning of the season, Monroe Freeling was still considered a third-round pick at best. After all, he had yet to play a single college game as a full-time starter. But that changed quickly, as the offensive tackle was in the starting lineup 13 times last season.

His pass protection technique and hand placement in particular have improved greatly. At the Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds – an impressive speed for an offensive tackle, especially given his height of 2.01 meters and his weight of 143 kg.

This agility allows him to hold his own against top-edge rushers and react perfectly to inside counters. The 21-year-old is currently expected to be a top-25 pick – it’s even possible that his name could come up in the first ten picks.

Dillon Thieneman (Safety, Oregon)

A few months ago, Dillon Thieneman was also considered a second- to third-round pick in a strong safety class. He played all three of his seasons in college as a regular, totaling 302 tackles and eight interceptions.

However, he also caused quite a stir at the Combine: There, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds and put up a vertical leap of about 41 inches (104 cm) – two outstanding stats for his position and in general.

Many experts, including NFL Network host Rhett Lewis, see the 21-year-old as a perfect fit for the Minnesota Vikings at No. 18. Thieneman’s style of play in particular would fit in well with Brian Flores’ aggressive defensive philosophy.

Ted Hurst (wide receiver, Georgia State)

Ted Hurst was rated as a 0-star prospect coming out of high school. He then went to NCAA Division II with the Valdosta State Blazers and was able to make a name for himself with a total of 1,000 receiving yards and ten touchdowns in his first two seasons there. This aroused the interest of the Georgia State Panthers, who signed him.

The explosion of performance followed in Georgia: in 2024 Hurst caught balls for 961 yards and nine touchdowns, in 2025 he broke the 1,000-yard mark (1,004 receiving yards) and scored six touchdowns. The Georgia State Panthers recorded 3,059 passing yards in the past season. The 21-year-old was responsible for one-third of the passing offense.

In January, Hurts was still considered one of the players who was worried about even hearing his name called at the draft. At the Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds and, together with his height of 1.93 meters, represents an interesting option for some franchises. Many experts now expect him to be drafted in the second or third round.

Max Iheanachor (Offensive Tackle, Arizona State)

Max Iheanachor moved from Nigeria to the United States as a teenager and played football for the first time at East Los Angeles College. He later transferred to Arizona State. In his first season in 2023, he was only in the starting lineup five times, but after the following two seasons he made 26 college starts.

Iheanachor was able to show what he is made of, especially in the game against Texas Tech University. He and Arizona State University defeated them 26-22, handing them their first loss of the season.

In addition, Iheanachor has been consistently impressive in Senior Bowl workouts. For some scouts, the draft is more about potential than performance, which is why the 22-year-old, who still has some rough edges to smooth out, is trending higher with some experts than others.

However, with his size, agility (4.95 seconds for 40 yards) and 6-foot-11 wingspan, he has the perfect tools offensive line coaches look for in a tackle. One franchise often mentioned for Iheanachor is the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN draft expert Field Yates talked about how they could take the tackle as early as No. 23.

Jeff Caldwell (wide receiver, Cincinnati)

Many experts disagree about Jeff Caldwell. The wide receiver still has some rough edges to his game and is definitely considered more of a talent than an immediate backup. Nevertheless, the wide receiver could be of interest to one or two franchises.

He played for the Lindenwood Lions from 2022 to 2024. In his final season there, he recorded 1,011 receiving yards and scored eleven touchdowns. He then moved to the Cincinnati Bearcats. In a stronger conference, Caldwell was only solid in the past season and ended up with 478 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

At the Combine, however, the 23-year-old was completely convincing: At 1.96 meters, he was the tallest receiver at the Combine and his 4.31 seconds over 40 yards was the second-fastest time among the receivers who completed the run. Previously considered a late Day 3 pick, Caldwell’s name is now likely to come up early in the day.

Written by Michael