The 2026 NFL Combine: Did Caleb Downs Make a Mistake Not Working Out?
The Fastest Defensive Class in NFL Combine History
The 2026 NFL Combine has officially introduced the fastest defensive class in NFL history. The defensive backs, in particular, stole the show, following in the footsteps of the fastest linebackers and defensive linemen. The cornerbacks set the pace, burning up the turf and jumping out of the gym, while the safeties made them look slow by comparison.
The New York Giants, who are in need of a strong defensive secondary, are likely to be impressed by this class. With both talent and depth, it's no wonder that many players have already confirmed their potential.
The Winners
Cornerbacks
Charles Demmings (Stephen F. Austin): A small-school prospect who shined at the Combine, Demmings impressed with his size (6-foot-1, 193 pounds, 32-inch arms, 10⅛ inch hands) and speed (4.41-second 40-yard dash, 40-inch vertical, and 11-foot broad jump). He finished the season with 4 interceptions, and his performance has definitely caught the attention of teams.
Toriano Pride Jr. (Missouri): Pride Jr. turned heads with his 4.38-second 40-yard dash, but he bettered it with a 4.32-second run, the fastest time of the combine so far. His enthusiasm and raw speed make him a valuable asset, and he's likely to be a nickel corner at the next level.
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Tacario Davis (Washington): Davis, at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, with 33⅜ inch arms, turned a 4.41-second 40-yard dash. While he showed some hip stiffness in field drills, this won't impact teams that use Cover 3 or Cover 4 schemes. He's a strong candidate for the Seattle Seahawks.
Chris Johnson (San Diego State): Johnson has excellent tape and is a player quarterbacks respect. He finished 2025 with 4 interceptions (2 pick-sixes) and 9 passes defensed. Despite some questions about his overall athleticism, he answered them with a 4.40-second 40, 38-inch vertical, and 10-foot-6 broad jump. He looked smooth and fluid in field drills.
D'Angelo Ponds (Indiana): Ponds is undersized at 5-foot 8⅝ inches, 185 pounds, and didn't run, but he jumped 43.5 inches in the vertical leap and looked remarkably fluid with lightning feet in field drills. He's one of the best pure football players in the draft and is expected to be drafted earlier than many expect.
Safeties
Lorenzo Styles Jr. (Ohio State): Styles Jr. stole the show on the first day of the combine. He started off with the fourth-best vertical (39 inches) at 6-foot½ inches, 194 pounds, and then followed it up with a scorching 4.27-second 40-yard dash, setting a new fastest time for the combine. He consistently showed up on tape this year, and there's no way he's under the radar any more.
Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina): Kilgore has been an intriguing prospect since this summer. He played all over the Gamecocks' secondary, and his performance at the Combine (6-foot-1, 210 pounds, with 32⅞ arms, 10-foot-10 broad jump, 37-inch vertical, and 4.40-second 40-yard dash) has earned him a place on many boards.
Dillon Thieneman (Oregon): Thieneman put everyone on notice with the second-best vertical (41 inches) and a 10-foot-5 broad jump. He then backed it up with a 4.35-second 40 at 6-foot, 201 pounds. Thieneman is a versatile safety with the ability to play any safety position, and his performance has shown that there isn't much separation between him, Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and Caleb Downs.
Honorable Mention: Genesis Smith (Arizona), Bud Clark (TCU), VJ Payne (Kansas State), Michael Taaffe (Texas)
Tight Ends
Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt): Stowers was already in heavy contention to be TE2 behind Kenyon Sadiq. While he won't pass Sadiq, who set a record with a 4.39-second 40, Stowers announced his presence with an 11-foot-3 broad jump and a 45.5-inch vertical (both combine records). He's a highly productive receiving tight end who can be a true moveable piece and weapon from all over the offensive formation.
Marlin Klein (Michigan): Klein is a big, long tight end at 6-foot-6, 248 pounds, and is a solid blocker who can line up in-line or detached. He had a nice day with a 4.61-second 40, a 36-inch vertical, and consistently caught the ball cleanly. Teams looking for a Y tight end will want to take a close look at Klein.
Jaren Kanak (Oklahoma): Kanak is going to make some team very happy later this year. He's not the biggest tight end at 6-foot-2, 233 pounds, and is new to the position, but he looked very good in receiving drills and showed great speed with a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He's a project, but could become a real weapon as a TE2 behind a more well-rounded TE1.
RJ Maryland (SMU): Maryland isn't high on many boards, but he's well regarded as a blocker despite being 234 pounds at 6-foot-4. He showed up big time in measurable drills, tying Eli Stowers for the second-fastest 40 at 4.51 seconds, and had a 10-foot-2 broad jump. He caught the ball well in field drills and could move up boards after today.
Riley Nowakowski (Indiana): Nowakowski is probably going to be a fullback or H-back in the NFL. His 4.66-second 40 was very solid for a guy weighing in at 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, and he showed some real receiving upside this year with 32 catches for Indiana. He'll likely be a late-round pick or a priority free agent, but he could catch John Harbaugh's eye.
The Losers
Cornerbacks
Jermod McCoy (Tennessee): McCoy needed to answer questions with his workout this week but elected to skip the on-field portion of the combine in favor of his Pro Day. This might not have been a big deal if he had played in 2025, but he didn't play at all last year after suffering a torn ACL. McCoy has been fully cleared, but his decision to skip the Combine will raise questions about his willingness to compete.
T.J. Hall (Iowa): Hall was visibly unhappy with his 40 times, and with a 4.59 and 4.60, it's tough to blame him. He measured at 6-foot-1, 189, which are good numbers for a cornerback, but his 40 time will make teams wonder whether he's a safety at the next level and whether he has the size to be one.
Safeties
- Caleb Downs (Ohio State): Caleb Downs skipped his workout at the Combine and opted to wait until the Ohio State Pro Day. While he doesn't have much to prove and his tape cemented him as a high first-round pick, his decision to skip the Combine has raised questions. Some believe that he didn't want to compete with the faster safeties, who simply blew the cornerbacks out of the water. This has led to speculation about why he didn't step to the challenge.
Tight Ends
- Tanner Koziol (Houston): Koziol was probably expected to be more athletic than he was. While he made his mark as a receiving tight end for Houston, a 4.71-second 40 is a poor time for a modern tight end, particularly one who isn't going to be a blocker. Koziol has solid size, but could slide down draft boards some, which also means he should be a good value and a potential sleeper.
