Nfl Combine 2026: Team flashpoints from Lamar Jackson’s cap to Kelce’s future

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 23, 2026 4:22 PM ET

Nfl Combine 2026: Team flashpoints from Lamar Jackson’s cap to Kelce’s future

The nfl combine 2026 arrives in Indianapolis with a string of off‑season questions that could reshape rosters: Lamar Jackson’s contract and $74. 5 million cap number in Baltimore, Travis Kelce’s uncertain future in Kansas City, and a week of podium moments that may answer— or sidestep—those debates.

Lamar Jackson’s cap number and Eric DeCosta’s limited flexibility

Lamar Jackson’s contract status is described as hovering over another Ravens offseason, and his $74. 5 million salary cap number is central to the club’s decisions. If that figure is not lowered significantly, general manager Eric DeCosta will have little flexibility to add or retain key Ravens. Owner Steve Bisciotti made clear last month that the team will either extend Jackson or add void years to his deal to lower his 2026 cap number. The piece on these stakes stresses that the clock is ticking for the Ravens and Jackson to find a resolution.

Arizona’s roster, Monti Ossenfort’s reputation and the No. 3 draft pick

Arizona’s quarterback situation is the headline, but the spotlight falls on general manager Monti Ossenfort. Hired in 2023, Ossenfort steadily overhauled the Cardinals’ roster, avoided over‑spending on flashy free agents and built through the draft—only to watch everything fall apart last season. The account calls Arizona’s injuries unfortunate and the roster’s lack of depth jarring. How Ossenfort survived while coach Jonathan Gannon did not was described as head‑scratching. Fans were said to lack patience for another rebuild; Ossenfort must figure out the QB situation, identify an immediate difference‑maker with the draft’s No. 3 pick and find a way to keep Arizona competitive in football’s toughest division, a line framed by Doug Haller as: "What’s the plan?"

Kirk Cousins, Kevin Stefanski, Ian Cunningham and Michael Penix Jr. ’s recovery

One immediate quarterback question centers on Kirk Cousins, who is expected to be released before March 13 but could re‑sign with Atlanta if he does not find a better option or if his affinity for Kevin Stefanski tempts him to give the Falcons another chance. Beyond that, whether Michael Penix Jr. will be the long‑term answer remains open; he is expected to return from an ACL tear suffered last year in Week 11. Kevin Stefanski and new general manager Ian Cunningham are likely to face those questions repeatedly at the combine and, the account suggests, will offer a variety of phrasings that don’t fully answer the underlying issues, an observation attributed to Josh Kendall.

Buffalo’s reset after Sean McDermott’s firing and Brandon Beane’s next moves

Who the Buffalo Bills are beyond quarterback Josh Allen is posed as a major question. The front office chose to reimagine the roster by firing coach Sean McDermott, who holds the club’s win‑percentage record. The Cincinnati of identity, the reporting says, likely will not reveal itself in Indianapolis; it is expected to materialize in free agency when football boss Brandon Beane decides how to wield his consolidated power after years emphasizing cap control and perennial Super Bowl contention rather than going for broke. The original item cuts off mid‑sentence and the remainder is unclear in the provided context.

Nfl Combine 2026 schedule, invitees and how coverage will unfold at Lucas Oil Stadium

The NFL draft scouting combine opens this week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, and will feature over 300 athletes, including Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Miami’s Carson Beck. Live coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled to begin at 3 p. m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 26 and run through Sunday, March 1.

Daily live broadcast coverage will take place Thursday, Feb. 26, through Sunday, March 1, with commentary, drills and position‑group analysis on designated days. The daily lineup of shows and windows listed for the week includes:

Good Morning Football: 8 a. m. ET, encores at 10 a. m. and 12 p. m. ET.
NFL Combine Today: 2 p. m. ET on some days and 12 p. m. ET on others.
2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Linemen & Linebackers at 3 p. m. ET, encores at 8 p. m., 11 p. m., 2 a. m. and 5 a. m. ET; an encore at 6 a. m. ET also appears in the schedule.
2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Backs & Tight Ends at 3 p. m. ET with encores at 8 p. m., 11 p. m., 2 a. m. and 5 a. m. ET, plus encores noted at 9 a. m. ET and 6 a. m. ET on other days.
2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers & Running Backs at 1 p. m. ET, with encores at 8 p. m., 11 p. m., 2 a. m. and 5 a. m. ET and an additional encore at 9 a. m. ET on other days.

Coverage will air on a national sports television outlet, will stream on a subscription service, and live results will be provided on the league’s official website. The narrative notes that while 40‑yard dashes and bench‑press reps are the main attraction, it is the podium undercard—press conferences and interviews—that frequently steals the show in Indianapolis. Photographers Justin K. Aller and Johnnie Izquierdo were credited alongside that framing of the story.