The top tier of the 2026 NFL Draft quarterbacks is already largely known. Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson are largely expected to be the top passers off the board in April, with Mendoza as the likely No. 1 overall pick and Simpson as a late-first or early-second rounder.
However, beyond those two, there has been some potential room for a quarterback to move up draft boards. Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck, Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar are expected to be mid-round options — but with his performance at the NFL Combine, Taylen Green could also be building a case to be selected above his initial late-round projection.
Green, coming out of Arkansas, set two new quarterback records at the combine with his massive jumps, then put up a blazing-fast 40 time for a passer. He showcased some elite athleticism while already being considered one of the better dual-threat options in the class.
Here's a look at Green's historic combine performance.
NFL COMBINE HQ: Live results | SN's 2-round mock draft | Top 140 big board
Taylen Green 40-yard dash time
The former Razorbacks quarterback had an outstanding performance in the 40-yard dash, one of the fastest times ever recorded by a player at his position at the NFL Combine.
Green posted an unofficial 4.37 on his first run — which would be the third-fastest combine time ever by a quarterback.
WOW. @RazorbackFB QB Taylen Green with a 4.37u.
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/60dbFCVSAx
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026
Green was seen beaming on the bench afterward, certainly satisfied with his time.
.@RazorbackFB QB Taylen Green is very happy with that 4.37u
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/va4zGZKDFj
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026
MORE:Diego Pavia's results from 2026 NFL Combine
Best QB 40-yard dash times at NFL Combine ever
Green didn't quite make quarterback history at the combine, but he came pretty close. Counting only quarterbacks who ran the 40 at the NFL Combine and not a pro day — which removes Lamar Jackson's 4.34 at his Louisville Pro Day, among others — Green's time was the third-fastest ever recorded by a passer.
Vick had a 4.33 at the combine coming out of Virginia Tech in 2001, while Reggie Neal posted a 4.35 in 2006. Vick's 4.33 isn't included in the NFL's official combine record book, which is only fully reliable going back to 2005, so the league now has Green as the second-fastest quarterback time ever behind Neal.
Here's a look at the NFL Combine's fastest quarterback 40-yard dashes:
Rank Player College Year Time
1 Michael Vick Virginia Tech 2001 4.33
2 Reggie McNeal Texas A&M 2006 4.35
3 Taylen Green Arkansas 2026 4.37
4 Robert Griffin III Baylor 2012 4.41
5 Anthony Richardson Florida 2023 4.43
MORE: Fastest 40 times ever at the NFL Combine
Taylen Green broad jump
Before he ran in the 40, Green was already making a name for himself. In the broad jump, he set a new NFL Combine quarterback record with a 11'2'', which surpassed Anthony Richardson's mark of 10'9'' in 2023.
and then he followed it up with another QB record, an 11'2" broad jump @taylengreen17 | @RazorbackFB https://t.co/vUOTvgExWB pic.twitter.com/DNoocWFa2L
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026
Taylen Green vertical jump
Green wasn't done making combine history. He also posted a new quarterback record in the vertical jump, recording a 43.5''.
That also surpassed Richardson's 2023 record of 40.5''.
.@RazorbackFB QB Taylen Green just shattered the QB vertical jump record.
A 43.5" vertical at 6'6", 227 pounds. 🫢
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ty5ihbZ0I4
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026
Green's unreal performance for a quarterback left NFL Network without many physical comps among former passers — so it resorted to one of the largest wide receivers ever in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers' D.K. Metcalf.
Green is a bit taller and lighter than Metcalf was at the combine, and Metcalf was slightly faster, but the two had fairly comparable numbers.
QB Taylen Green being compared to WR DK Metcalf 😳 pic.twitter.com/zOpFwLhxQY
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 28, 2026
MORE: Jeremiyah Love impresses at NFL Combine as top RB prospect
Taylen Green height, weight
Green was officially recorded at 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds at the 2026 NFL Combine.
The average NFL quarterback is typically around 6-foot-2, so Green is already trending to become one of the larger passers in the league.
Taylen Green NFL Draft projection
One thing's for sure — Green participating in the combine will only help his draft stock.
NFL Mock Draft Database, which complies average rankings from media outlets everywhere, has Green currently as the No. 193 overall player and No. 8 quarterback in the draft, which puts him in range to be a sixth-round pick.
In his NFL.com prospect profile, Green was given a grade of 6.15, which is in the "good backup with the potential to develop into starter" range. It's unlikely he skyrockets into the first or second round due to his combine performance, but it is certainly possible a team takes a shot on Green in one of the middle rounds, aiming to develop him into a strong dual-threat passer.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that Green is a "long, rangy, dual-threat quarterback with upside" but "his ceiling will only track with his growth as a passer." While his size and athleticism are considered rare at quarterback, it's Green's pocket-passing, processing and other key quarterback areas that likely need improvement to become an NFL starter.
Regardless, Green had a historic combine — the kind that hasn't been seen by a quarterback since Richardson in 2023.
Taylen Green has broken TWO quarterback records at the NFL Combine 🤯
43.5" Vertical Jump
11'2" Broad Jump pic.twitter.com/xwby5Bkwee
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 28, 2026
MORE: How tight end Kenyon Sadiq dominated the 2026 NFL Combine