The NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books.<\/p>\n
Yes, Pro Days are still ahead. Yes, private workouts and medical re-checks will matter. But let\u2019s not kid ourselves: Indianapolis is where narratives are created, confirmed, or shattered. It\u2019s where Day 3 players suddenly enter Day 2 conversations. It\u2019s where fringe Round 1 prospects solidify top-20 status. And it\u2019s where some highly regarded names quietly lose momentum.<\/p>\n
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From a Seattle Seahawks lens, it was also interesting to note that reported formal meetings involving Seattle were fewer than usual, and that John Schneider was back in Seattle before on-field drills even began \u2014 something we don\u2019t recall happening recently. Not criticism. Just context.<\/p>\n
Now let\u2019s dive into the names who helped \u2014 and hurt \u2014 themselves the most.<\/p>\n
NFL Combine WinnersBrenen Thompson \u2013 WR, Mississippi State<\/p>\n
Thompson arrived in Indianapolis viewed primarily as a situational vertical threat. He left as one of the biggest financial winners of the week.<\/p>\n
At 5\u20199\u201d, 164 pounds, he blazed a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash, with a 1.54 10-yard split. That\u2019s elite acceleration and long speed \u2014 not just fast, but game-breaking fast.<\/p>\n
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In 2025, he started 11 games, posted roughly 900 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging over 16 yards per catch. At Mississippi State, he aligned primarily as a Z receiver and vertical slot weapon, running go routes, posts, and deep overs. Now? He\u2019s firmly in the conversation as a legitimate Day 2 vertical specialist.<\/p>\n
Germie Bernard \u2013 WR, Alabama<\/p>\n
Bernard entered the week as a strong receiver prospect. He left it cemented as one of the top players at the position.<\/p>\n
At 6\u20191\u201d, 206 pounds, he ran 4.48 \u2014 more than enough at his size \u2014 and posted elite agility numbers, including a 4.31 shuttle and 6.71 three-cone. Add in a 32.5\u201d vertical and 10\u20195\u201d broad jump, and you get a complete athletic profile.<\/p>\n
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He cleared 1,000 receiving yards in 2025 with 8 touchdowns at Alabama, functioning as a true featured target capable of winning after the catch and in contested situations. The Combine didn\u2019t create his stock \u2014 it solidified it.<\/p>\n
Jeff Caldwell \u2013 WR, Cincinnati<\/p>\n
Caldwell might have made himself millions.<\/p>\n
At 6\u20195\u201d, 216 pounds, he ran 4.31 with a 1.48 split. Then he exploded for a 42\u201d vertical and 11\u20192\u201d broad jump. That size-speed-explosion combination is rare \u2014 period.<\/p>\n
He posted around 1,100 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2025 as a full-time X receiver at Cincinnati, thriving against press coverage and in contested catch situations. Before Indy, he was under the radar nationally. After Indy? He\u2019s on boards everywhere.<\/p>\n
Dillon Thieneman \u2013 S, Oregon<\/p>\n
There was a time some Seahawks fans dreamed of landing Thieneman via a trade down at pick No. 32. That dream may be over.<\/p>\n
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At 6\u20190\u201d, 201 pounds, he ran 4.35, jumped 41\u201d in the vertical and 10\u20195\u201d in the broad. His positional drills were smooth, controlled, and explosive.<\/p>\n
He likely established himself as Safety 2 in the class and a legitimate first-round candidate.<\/p>\n
Tacario Davis \u2013 CB, Washington<\/p>\n
At roughly 6\u20194\u201d, 194 pounds, Davis has rare length for the position. He ran in the 4.41 range and posted a 37\u201d vertical with a 10\u20193\u201d broad.<\/p>\n
Previously projected as a potential first-rounder earlier in his career, his stock cooled during the season. But the Combine reminded teams why the traits are worth betting on. His coverage drills showed better fluidity than expected for a tall corner.<\/p>\n
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Day 2 feels much more secure now.<\/p>\n
Defensive Line Risers<\/p>\n
Gracen Halton of Oklahoma measured in at 6\u20193\u201d, 293 pounds and erased \u201cundersized\u201d concerns. He ran 4.82, jumped 36.5\u201d (third-best by a defensive tackle in the past 20 years), and showed elite agility for the position. His testing may push him into a similar range once occupied by explosive interior disruptors.<\/p>\n
DeMonte Capehart from Clemson (6\u20195\u201d, 313, nearly 34\u201d arms) it\u2019s a run-stuffer ready for NFL and flashed developmental upside as a pass rusher with a 4.85 40 and strong splits. His projection as a high-ceiling defensive tackle is trending upward.<\/p>\n
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Dani Dennis-Sutton of Penn State at nearly 6\u20196\u201d, 265 pounds, he ran 4.63 with explosive jumps. Already productive with around 10 sacks in 2025, he confirmed elite NFL traits, but needs refinement.<\/p>\n
NFL Combine LosersCashius Howell \u2013 EDGE \u2013 Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Howell\u2019s arm length came in historically short at 30 1\/4\u201d. While he has speed, the measurement significantly hurt his projection, especially when compared to other undersized edges who offer compensatory traits.<\/p>\n
Malachi Fields \u2013 WR, Notre Dame<\/p>\n
After a strong Senior Bowl, Fields needed a solid athletic showing. Instead, he ran a disappointing 40 and struggled with drops in the gauntlet drill. For a receiver who wins with physicality and timing, concerns about stiffness and separation resurfaced.<\/p>\n
Emmett Johnson \u2013 RB, Nebraska<\/p>\n
His 4.56 40 was the slowest among running backs at the event. While his tape doesn\u2019t scream \u201cslow,\u201d the lack of elite explosion numbers raised questions about his ceiling.<\/p>\n
LT Overton \u2013 EDGE, Alabama<\/p>\n
A 4.87 40 and middling split were tough blows for a player who needed to prove first-step explosiveness. His positional identity: Edge? Interior? Hybrid? \u2014 now becomes even more critical.<\/p>\n
Lee Hunter \u2013 DT, Texas Tech<\/p>\n
Hunter posted one of the lowest explosion profiles among defensive tackles, including a 21.5\u201d vertical and 8\u20194\u201d broad. Strong against the run on tape, but the lack of backfield burst limits his disruptive projection.<\/p>\n
Final Thoughts<\/p>\n
The combine doesn\u2019t finalize draft boards, but it absolutely reshapes tiers.<\/p>\n
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Some prospects confirmed what the tape already suggested. Others forced teams to re-evaluate ceilings and roles. For teams like the Seattle Seahawks, who historically value athletic thresholds and explosive traits, Indianapolis matters.<\/p>\n
Now we wait for Pro Days, medical clarity, and \u2014 eventually \u2014 draft night.<\/p>\n
But make no mistake: several careers changed in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books. Yes, Pro Days are still ahead. Yes, private workouts…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":515250,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[1214,64,63,256033,10027,231622,229254,255676,12268,934,257682,257685,232765,593,1254,85,257684,257683],"class_list":["post-515249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-alabama-crimson-tide","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-brenen-thompson","tag-cincinnati","tag-dani-dennis-sutton","tag-demonte-capehart","tag-germie-bernard","tag-indiana","tag-indianapolis","tag-jeff-caldwell","tag-lt-overton","tag-malachi-fields","tag-nfl","tag-seattle-seahawks","tag-sports","tag-tacario-davis","tag-vertical-specialist"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=515249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/515250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=515249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=515249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=515249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}