Xavier Worthy
Getty
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The NFL turns its full attention toward the offseason this week with the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis kicking into high gear with player workouts from Thursday, February 26, through Sunday, March 1.
The combine, which officially runs from February 23 through March 2, begins its televised portion on Thursday as 319 NFL prospects lift weights, run, jump, throw, catch and throw passes and do interviews with teams ahead of the 2026 NFL draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Before the draft, fortunes can be made and lost during the combine.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know to watch and follow the combine all 4 days
When: Thursday, February 26 to Sunday, March 1
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Indiana)
TV: NFL Network
Thursday, February 26 (3 p.m. EST): Punters, Kickers, Defensive Line, Linebackers
Friday, February 27 (3 p.m. EST): Tight Ends, Defensive Backs
Saturday, February 28 ( 1 p.m. EST): Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Running Backs
Sunday, March 1 (1 p.m. EST): Offensive Line
What Everybody Wants To See: 40-Yard Dash
While there will be a lot of different things players are physically tested on — broad jump, vertical jump and 225-pound bench press reps to name a few — the star of the show has been and always will be the 40-yard dash.
It’s not totally fair to say the other parts of the testing don’t matter, but we can almost certainly say that regardless of what a player does in any other individual drill, test or interview, if they run a fast 40-yard dash time no one really cares about anything else.
The last 2 years, the top 2 finishers in the 40-yard dash have all been 1st round picks, including Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who set the NFL scouting combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash in 2024
Here’s a look at the fastest 40-yard dash time at the combine over the last decade.
2025: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (4.28 seconds)
2024: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (4.21 seconds)
2023: DJ Turner, CB, Michigan (4.26 seconds)
2022: Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor (4.23 seconds)
2021: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia (4.31 seconds)
2020: Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama (4.27 seconds)
2019: Zedrick Woods, S, Mississippi (4.29 seconds)
2018: Donte Jackson, CB, LSU (4.32 seconds)
2017: John Ross, WR, Washington (4.22 seconds)
2016: Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia (4.31 seconds)
Key Players To Watch at Scouting Combine
The NFL has put out its list of the 319 players that will attend the scouting combine, which includes Indiana quarterback Fernandon Mendoza, who is projected as the No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders.
While Mendoza won’t throw at the combine — he’s saving that for Indiana’s Pro Day — there are plenty of other storylines concerning the prospects.
Bleacher Report predicts Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson will clock the fastest 40-yard dash time — the Bulldogs were his 3rd college stop after previously playing for both Texas and Oklahoma.
While it’s not a key player to watch, don’t be surprised if NFL trade rumors start springing up with all key coaches and executives gathered in one place. The biggest trade to keep an eye out for is a deal for disgruntled Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and 3-time NFL All-Pro A.J. Brown, who could easily be headed elsewhere if Eagles general manager Howie Roseman thinks the price is right.