Nfl Free Agency Start: Day 4 Combine Moves That Could Reshape Draft Boards

The final day of workouts for offensive linemen at the 2026 combine produced clear winners and losers — and that redistribution of draft stock matters now because it alters team priorities as the Nfl Free Agency Start approaches and the draft (April 23–25) nears. Rather than repeat every measurement, this piece focuses on the roster-level consequences of those performances and which profiles teams are likely to pursue or shelve when free agency opens.

Nfl Free Agency Start: Immediate consequences for team strategy

Here’s the part that matters: several interior and tackle prospects delivered workouts that pushed them closer to Day 1 selections, while measurable red flags for others reinforce a path toward a later pick or a pro day bounce-back. That reshuffle affects teams in two ways—how they allocate draft capital, and how they approach the open market when free agency starts. Teams that prioritize zone-blocking fits now have clearer first-round targets; clubs more worried about length and functional traits may shift to veteran signings or trade options once free agency begins.

Teams that like athletic, movable linemen will take note of quick 40 times and strong short-area drills, while those focused on physical traits—arm length and hand size—will be more cautious about prospects who under-measured. The real question now is which front offices will prioritize technique and performance over raw measurements when free agency decisions collide with draft-day opportunities.

Day 4 details — who rose, who must rebound

Instead of cataloging every drill, below are the clearest outcome signals from the final day of the combine, grouped by those who boosted their standing and those who need a pro day to repair it. The list reflects on-field drills and key measurables highlighted during the workouts.

• Notable upward moves
  • Bisontis — 40-yard dash 5. 02, 32-inch vertical; looked comfortable in pass-protection drills and displayed short-area quickness that projects as an immediate starter at the next level.
  • Burton — 40-yard dash 4. 94 (1. 76 10-yard split), 9-3 broad jump; four-year starter at guard/center who showed fluid movement for interior play and a path into the top-100.
  • Iheanachor — 40-yard dash 4. 91 (1. 73 10-yard split), 9-7 broad jump at 321 pounds; fluid kick-slide and a punch that supports a Day 1 right-tackle outlook.
  • Jones — measured 6-2 7/8, 299 pounds with a 32-inch vertical, 7. 46 3-cone and 4. 90 40; movement and drill work drew zone-blocking comparisons that should lift him into the top 50 range for teams that value that profile.
  • Pregnon — 6-4 1/4, 314 pounds with 11-inch hands, 33 5/8-inch arms and a 35-inch vertical; despite a 5. 21 40, he showed functional strength and smooth line movement that could interest late-first-round decision-makers.
• Players who need a pro day to recover
  • Fano — posted an outstanding workout but measured with shorter-than-ideal arms (32 1/8 inches) and 9-inch hands; length concerns complicate his projection as an NFL edge protector and may push some teams to wait for more tape or a pro day confirmation.
  • One additional prospect was noted for uneven speed/athleticism or for electing not to perform in certain drills; those cases generally require a strong pro day to regain momentum before the draft.

It's easy to overlook, but Jones's combination of measurable quickness and manageable size produced a specific comparison to a recent center who succeeded in zone schemes; that signal will be especially potent for teams that build similarly.

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