Tight ends at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine reinforced why the position increasingly values straight‑line speed and short‑area quickness alongside reliable catching ability, along with the defensive backs that cover them.
Several prospects posted 40‑yard dash times that separated them from traditional in‑line blockers, and on‑field drills highlighted route‑running polish and contested‑catch technique that will matter in day‑two and day‑three evaluations. Reporters and scouts noted a handful of tight ends who paired above‑average testing with clean positional reps, forcing teams to reconsider how they value Y‑tight ends versus move‑TEs.
2 Tight Ends Stood Out Among the Rest
Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq showed why length and catch radius remain premium traits. Sadiq’s testing emphasized a strong vertical and broad jump that translated to contested‑catch feel in positional drills; his 40 time was a historic number at 4.39, and scouts praised his ability to high‑point the ball in traffic. This was as fast as many wide receivers, who will test on Saturday.
Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers impressed with short‑area quickness and reliable hands; his three‑cone and shuttle numbers suggested he can separate on intermediate routes, and his positional reps reinforced a polished release and consistent catch technique along with his fast 40 at 4.51.
Cornerbacks: historic speed and coverage testing
Cornerbacks produced some of the most eye‑popping speed numbers of the week, with multiple prospects posting sub‑4.4 40‑yard dash times that pushed evaluators to re‑examine recovery range and recovery speed metrics.
The group overall posted unusually fast averages, and several corners who combined elite 40 times with clean three‑cone and shuttle results emerged as clear Day‑1 or early Day‑2 prospects. That includes Missouri’s Toriano Pride Jr., Georgia’s Daylen Everette, Tacario Davis from Washington, and Domani Jackson from Alabama.
On‑field drills separated technicians from pure athletes: corners who translated timed speed into fluid hip turns, press‑to‑trail transitions, and consistent hand placement in one‑on‑ones earned the highest grades. D’Angelo Ponds, from Indiana, stood out and had the best vertical at 43.50″ despite his size at 5’9″.
Conversely, a few prospects with top‑end speed still raised coverage concerns when their footwork or recovery technique lagged behind their testing numbers. Teams will weigh measurable range against tape‑based instincts when projecting man‑coverage viability.
Safeties: range, processing, and the fastest defensive back
Safeties at the combine underscored the position’s dual demands for range and physicality. Players like Sonny Styles’ brother, Lorenzo Styles Jr., from Ohio State, broke the combine, as he had a 4.27 40, the fastest for a safety ever. He also had a 1.49 10-yard split, which led the group.
Others like Treydan Stukes from Arizona, Dillon Thieneman from Oregon, VJ Payne from Kansas State, and Jalon Kilgore from South Carolina also had great outings.
Several prospects posted 40 times that rivaled smaller defensive backs, elevating their profiles as single‑high range defenders with closing speed. Analysts highlighted how those times, paired with strong verticals and broad jumps, suggested the ability to make plays over the top and contribute in run support.
Drill work for safeties focused on reaction, downhill angles, and catch‑point ability on contested throws. Prospects who combined testing with clear processing in live drills, diagnosing routes quickly, and taking efficient pursuit angles, were singled out as immediate contributors in sub‑packages and special teams.
Those who showed both range and physicality will be prioritized by teams that play a lot of single‑high coverage or require safeties to match tight ends and slot receivers.
What the testing means and final takeaways
The defensive back and tight end groups produced a mix of measurable traits and tape‑validated skills that will reshape several draft boards.
Speed numbers for corners and safeties were unusually fast this year, prompting teams to weigh recovery range more heavily when projecting man‑coverage viability. For tight ends, the combine reinforced a trend: those who can threaten vertically while showing crisp route‑running and reliable hands will climb boards faster than traditional blockers who test poorly in short‑area drills.
Context remains crucial: medicals, interviews, and game tape still drive final evaluations, and teams will use combined data as one objective layer among many. The most immediate impact of the 2026 combine is clarity: prospects who pair elite testing with proven on‑field production, and who still need scheme fit or developmental time.
