Nfl Combine: 2026 highlights — David Bailey’s 4.51, Zane Durant, George Gumbs Jr. and Rodgers debate
The 2026 nfl combine in Indianapolis has become one of the last major chances for draft prospects to change evaluators’ minds, running Feb. 23 through March 2 with on-field workouts Feb. 26 through March 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Early workouts and interviews this week are already reshaping perceptions of several defensive prospects and stirring broader league conversations.
David Bailey’s 4. 51 and Texas Tech breakout
Texas Tech defensive lineman David Bailey posted a 4. 51 time in the 40-yard dash during on-field workouts, a mark that amplified his standing among evaluators. The 22-year-old is expected to be a first-round pick and has been called a likely Top 5 selection. Bailey recorded 52 tackles, 14. 5 sacks and three forced fumbles in his first season at Texas Tech after spending his first three collegiate seasons with Stanford.
Zane Durant’s 4. 75 and elite size-speed company
Penn State defensive lineman Zane Durant turned heads with a 4. 75 in the 40-yard dash at roughly 290-plus pounds. Only three players since 2005 posted faster 40s at that weight: Mario Williams in 2006 at 4. 71, Terron Armstead in 2013 at 4. 71 and Lane Johnson in 2013 at 4. 72. Tracking by next-generation stats showed Durant’s max speed at 20. 81 MPH among interior defenders in the workouts.
The same max-speed roster for defensive tackles listed Kaleb Proctor at 20. 95 MPH, Gracen Halton at 20. 92 MPH, DeMonte Capehart at 20. 90 MPH, Zane Durant at 20. 81 MPH and Albert Regis at 20. 75 MPH.
Nfl Combine workout schedule, dates and Indianapolis setup
Organizers scheduled position-group on-field workouts across several days: Thursday began with kickers, defensive linemen and linebackers; Friday was set for tight ends and defensive backs; Saturday for quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs; and Sunday for offensive linemen. The full event window is Feb. 23 through March 2, with the on-field portion concentrated Feb. 26 through March 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
George Gumbs Jr. ’s near-record vertical and position history
Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. posted a 41-inch vertical jump, a mark that currently led all combine participants and fell a half inch short of the edge-rusher record of 41. 5 inches set by Nolan Smith. Gumbs measured in at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, and he is coming off his fifth NCAA season and second at Florida. He previously spent two seasons as a tight end at Northern Illinois before moving to defense; with the Gators he totaled 7. 5 sacks across 22 games.
Raiders, Aaron Rodgers and the conversations unfolding in Indianapolis
Matt Lombardo said he had planned to return to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine for the first time since 2023, with meetings lined up with agent- and team-side contacts and an eye toward the week’s conversations and social moments — including tasting a SunKing stout. A blizzard that paralyzed the Northeast on Sunday canceled his flight and left no viable way to reach Indy in time, so he remained in his home office/Football CommandCenter, using his cellphone to check in with league contacts about free agent storylines.
At the combine podium in Indianapolis, Steelers general manager Omar Khan said, “The door’s open to have Aaron Rodgers back …” Khan added: “It was a great experience with Aaron. He knows how we feel, we’ve had some good conversations, pretty certain we’ll have an answer sooner or later. ” The comments prompted debate about whether the 42-year-old quarterback should return to Pittsburgh.
Those comments gained sharper pushback from a rival NFL scouting director who spoke on the condition of anonymity: “I can’t understand them. ” That scouting director criticized recent personnel moves and leadership, saying, “Rodgers simply isn’t the answer, but they don’t have any other options, either. The trades for DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey were awful for the locker room, and adding selfish players. Mike Tomlin had more of a hand in personnel and it backfired on them. So, he got out. It seems similar to Sean Payton in New Orleans. It’s like he ruined the roster and quit. ”
The scouting director’s critique framed a broader contrast: the Pittsburgh Steelers once produced legendary coaches Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin and won six Super Bowls in 34 years; now, evaluators say, the franchise is searching for identity beyond a defense that still carries nostalgia but has left the team farther than ever from a Super Bowl return. Strong accusations, but not necessarily unfair ones.
The 2026 nfl combine’s on-field numbers and Indianapolis conversations are already affecting prospect boards and roster chatter alike, as teams weigh measurable upside — like Bailey’s 4. 51 and Durant’s rare speed — against veteran maneuvers and franchise direction highlighted in week-one discussions.
