The biggest event before the NFL Draft starts today. The NFL Combine will run from Feb. 23 to March 2, with all 32 teams traveling to Indianapolis for a week of meetings, discussions, and analysis of NFL prospects undergoing athletic testing.
Check out the full schedule for the event:
The Full Schedule of Drills for the 2026 NFL Combine
The drills involved in each NFL Combine include the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump, bench press, 3-cone drill, and the 20-yard and 60-yard shuttles.
Each player works with their positional group, which will be taking the field in the following days:
- Thursday, Feb. 26: kickers, defensive linemen, and linebackers
- Friday, Feb. 27: tight ends, cornerbacks, and safeties
- Saturday, Feb. 28: quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs
- Sunday, March 1:Â offensive linemen
All positional groups have the bench press the day after the workouts.
What On-Field Drills Matter at the NFL Combine?
Some drills matter more from one position to another, depending on what the players are expected to do on the field. For example, the 40-yard dash is more important for running backs, wide receivers, and cornerbacks than for offensive linemen, while the 3-cone drill is of greater importance for defensive linemen and wide receivers.
The 40-yard dash is the drill that gets the most attention from NFL fans. Xavier Worthy, who currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, holds the record for the fastest 40-yard dash in the history of the event. The receiver ran an official 4.21 seconds in 2024 and became a first-round pick in the draft.
Success in the drills doesn’t always translate to success in the NFL. John Ross, the previous record holder, was the 9th overall pick of the 2017 draft after running a 4.22 that year. Ross struggled in the NFL, recording just 963 yards over six seasons, and is currently out of the league.
Players are allowed to skip some of the drills, if not all. Some agents also advise their clients not to participate, as a poor performance at the NFL Combine could hurt their draft stock. Star players might travel to Indianapolis to interview with teams and speak with the media, but skipping some drills is also common.
319 players were officially invited to attend the 2026 NFL Combine. The event coverage will be available from February 26. on NFL Network and NFL+.
Each positional group will speak to the media one day before they take the field for on-field workouts.
