2026 NFL Combine Live: Today's Schedule, Top Prospects, and Biggest Storylines in Indianapolis
The 2026 NFL Combine is in full swing at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On-field workouts run Thursday, February 26 through Sunday, March 1, with 319 prospects — including 16 quarterbacks — performing in front of NFL coaches, general managers, scouts, and player evaluators ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Today, Friday, February 27, the action centers on defensive backs and tight ends.
2026 NFL Combine Schedule: What's Happening and When
The day-by-day NFL Combine schedule is straightforward and position-driven. Thursday, February 26 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM ET featured defensive linemen and linebackers. Friday, February 27 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM ET covers defensive backs and tight ends — the group currently taking the field today.
Saturday, February 28 at 1:00 PM ET is the marquee session, with quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs all taking the field. Sunday, March 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM ET closes out the week with offensive linemen. The 2026 NFL Draft begins April 23 at Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park in Pittsburgh, with the Las Vegas Raiders holding the first overall pick and the Seattle Seahawks selecting 32nd.
Rueben Bain Jr. Arm Length Dominates NFL Combine Day One Headlines
Thursday's biggest storyline was not a blazing 40-yard dash or an explosive vertical leap — it was a tape measure. Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. measured in at just 30 and 7/8 inches of arm length on Thursday at the 2026 NFL Combine, setting off a wave of debate across league circles and media.
NFL analyst Jared Dubin pushed back on the hand-wringing, noting that Bain will indeed need to be a physical outlier to find great success at the next level — but that was already known before the official measurements. Teams should factor it into their evaluation without letting it overshadow his tremendous traits and production from his college career. Bain remains one of the most physically gifted pass rushers in the entire class.
Texas Tech's David Bailey Posts Fast Unofficial 40 on Thursday
Texas Tech's David Bailey is expected to be one of the first — if not the first — edge rusher taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. He posted an unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.51 seconds on his first run Thursday, with the strong expectation that he can improve on that mark with a faster start on his second attempt.
Bailey's performance drew strong reviews from scouts watching on the Lucas Oil Stadium sidelines. His combination of pass rush production, athleticism, and high football IQ has made him a consensus top-15 lock entering draft season, with multiple teams in the top ten monitoring him closely.
Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese Lead the Saturday Storylines Ahead
The NFL Combine's biggest spotlight moment arrives Saturday when quarterbacks take the field. Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza — examined this week by ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano — made headlines by deciding not to throw at the 2026 NFL Combine, a calculated decision that scouts and analysts are actively debating.
Ohio State's Arvell Reese, meanwhile, continues to generate the loudest buzz of any non-quarterback in Indianapolis. Reese confirmed Wednesday that he has already met with the Jets, who hold the second overall pick, and is widely viewed as a top-three talent regardless of final position designation. His Saturday showcase will be among the most closely watched of the entire week.
How to Watch the 2026 NFL Combine Today and This Weekend
Live NFL Combine coverage streams on NFL Network and fuboTV, with Thursday's defensive line workout beginning at 3:00 PM ET. NFL+ also carries full streaming of drills, live press conferences, and insider analysis for each position group across all four days on both connected TV and mobile devices.
ESPN's NFL Combine coverage today, Friday February 27 ET, includes NFL Draft Daily at 3:00 PM ET on ESPN2, NFL Live on site from Lucas Oil Stadium at 4:00 PM ET, and SportsCenter at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN2. With Saturday's quarterback and skill position workouts looming, the 2026 NFL Combine is only getting started.
