Nfl Combine Results: 2026 Day 1 Standouts, Sonny Styles Electrifies

The first night of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine produced fresh nfl combine results that shifted early draft thinking: defensive linemen and linebackers posted measurable workouts that elevated some prospects' standing ahead of the draft in Pittsburgh (April 23-25). Live coverage continues beginning at 3 p. m. ET on Friday and at 1 p. m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

Nfl Combine Results: Night One Standouts

Several players posted numbers that stood out in the defensive front-seven sessions. One interior defensive tackle listed at 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds ran a 4. 85-second 40-yard dash and posted a 33. 5-inch vertical; movement in drills and length helped his impression despite limited college production (4. 5 tackles for loss over his last 23 games). A linebacker measured at 6-2, 234 pounds ran a 4. 47 40 and produced a 40-inch vertical, pairing film credentials as a run defender with the speed to warrant Sam-coverage consideration. Another 3-technique at 293 pounds ran a 4. 82 40 and led defensive tackles with a 36. 5-inch vertical, showing quick feet and physical finishing in drills. A 253-pound edge rusher recorded a 4. 52 40, a 10-foot-10 broad jump and a 40-inch vertical, backing up a career total of 20 sacks and pushing his Day 2 prospects. Finally, a 6-foot-5, 244-pound linebacker — the son of a former NFL player — delivered a historic combination by becoming the first player to pair a sub-4. 5 40-yard dash with a 40+ inch vertical and an 11+ foot broad jump at 230+ pounds.

Top Defensive Linemen and Linebackers

The workouts emphasized speed, explosiveness and length among both tackles and edge types. Taller tackles with long arms who displayed field agility and burst reshaped evaluations that previously emphasized raw film productivity. Several athletes under 300 pounds at interior positions used quickness and high vertical marks to distinguish themselves in a crowded middle-round class. Linebackers who combined run-game tape with sub-4. 5 40 times and elite jump numbers moved into earlier draft conversations, while prospects who declined to perform or who showed limitations in timed drills face added scrutiny.

Patriots' Draft Needs at Edge

Team decision-makers highlighted edge rusher as a positional emphasis ahead of the draft, noting turnover and contract situations that create openings on the roster. Given a deep edge class, the team-project timeline and the club's late first-round slot make targeting a specific flavor of pass rusher a likely strategy — the depth could allow an impact defender to be available late on day one or into day two. The combine workout results will be weighed alongside meetings and pro-day performances as teams finalize draft boards before the April 23-25 draft in Pittsburgh.

• Key takeaways: impressive speed and jump numbers reshuffled some draft rankings; pro days remain important for those who underperformed.

Next steps: teams will integrate these nfl combine results with film, interviews and upcoming pro-day measurements. If the standout testing marks hold, several players named on Night One could see their draft range improve; conversely, prospects who left measurable questions may face pressure to answer them before the draft. Live coverage continues on the stated schedule in Eastern Time.