The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has officially wrapped up, meaning that the Pro Day circuit and Top-30 visits are what’s left for the 2026 NFL Draft process. The greatest thing about Combine week in Indianapolis is that you have all the decision makers, coaches, scouts, players, agents, and media members under one roof. This is where information starts to really surface, both in terms of the draft and free agency. This is the inception of the real off-season rumor mill.

To get the most information out of the week, the best practice is to drink, speak, listen, and cycle through that sequence every night. You have to be able to separate the truth from the lies, posturing, and deception, and I did that the best I could while in Indianapolis. Leaving the week, however, there are several things that I feel really good about when discussing this particular draft. A lot more information will surface over the next several weeks, but for now, here are ten things that I trust the most.

These are the things I learned (and trust most) in Indianapolis.

2026 NFL Scouting Combine Intel 

Jordyn Tyson’s medicals surface 

As I reported while on site in Indianapolis, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson got some good news regarding his medicals this past week. With a long and troubling history of injuries at both Colorado and Arizona State, including a catastrophic knee injury in 2022, a broken collarbone in 2024, and a nagging hamstring this past year, many were terrified about what the medicals would show. With a clean bill of health, Tyson would have a strong argument to be selected inside the top-10 of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

According to a source in the league, Tyson’s medicals came back “clean”, which was some great news. When Tyson takes his visits to organizations leading up to April, they will have their own team doctors to test him out further, but this was a great early sign. While Tyson isn’t out of the woods just yet, hearing that his medicals cleared in Indianapolis gave some optimism that the 18 games he missed due to injury while in college could be behind him – hopefully anyway. 

Treydan Stukes solidified second round status 

Even before the NFL Scouting Combine, there were several teams that had second round grades on Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes. The versatile safety-nickel prospect is an older player (turning 24 years old before his rookie season), but the flexibility that he brings to a defense is outstanding. Barring everything coming back clean with his medicals, Stukes seemed to have locked himself into the top-64 selections following his performance in Indianapolis, which included a 4.33-second forty-yard dash, as well as posting a 38-inch vertical jump and a 10’1” broad jump. Stukes isn’t a secret anymore, and really never has been to NFL teams. 

Charles Demmings is going higher than many think 

In the not-so-wonderful world of the Transfer Portal and NIL, the FCS ranks are more and more getting taken advantage of each offseason, seeing bigger programs raiding the talent pool. That has caused less representation from the FCS in terms of legitimate NFL Draft talent. The exception in this cycle is Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings, one of the best press man scheme fits in this class. There were some top 1oo grades on Demmings before Indianapolis, and it feels like he solidified things with his athletic showing. With a tremendous character report, great size, and elite athletic testing (4.41 in the forty, 42-inch vertical, and 11-foot broad jump), Demmings is the Day Two (rounds 2-3) defender that not enough people are talking about.

Eli Stowers continues to rise  

Heading into this past week, Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers was already receiving second round feedback around the league. Then the talented pass catchers proceeded to test as one of the best athletes we have ever seen at the tight end position, including a 45.5-inch vertical jump, 11’3″ broad jump (both tight end combine records), and a 4.51-second forty-yard dash. There is a growing belief that Stowers could eventually become a sneaky selection in the back end of Round One, similar to Evan Engram in the 2017 NFL Draft to the New York Giants.

Medicals will make-or-break Akheem Mesidor 

Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor has been a consistent fixture in first round mock drafts leading up to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. The talented pass rusher is fresh off a tremendous year with the Hurricanes in 2025, ended the year with 63 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks. While there is an appreciation for Mesidor as a nuanced pass rusher, the opinions on him around the league are all over the place. You could sell me on him going inside the top-20 selections, or falling until the third round. There may not be a wider range of outcomes for any player in this class due to durability concerns, his age, and inconsistent production.

Philadelphia Eagles linked to Blake Miller 

There was some time this offseason when it seemed uncertain whether All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson would be back for a fourteenth season. With Johnson turning 36 years old before the season, as well as durability becoming a major concern, it’s my understanding that the Philadelphia Eagles are going to exhaust all efforts to try and find the heir apparent to Johnson this offseason in preparation. 

Clemson standout Blake Miller is worth keeping a close eye on. He has been connected to the Eagles early on, and there appears to be a ton of interest in the talented right tackle prospect. The buzz for Miller at the back end of round one is growing. 

High demand for KC Concepcion 

With the medicals checking out, I think there is a good chance that the wide receiver run begins a bit earlier than some are expecting. Whenever the runs do start ahead of expectation, that can cause the board to fluctuate a bit. From conversations with folks in the know, I get the impression that there could be a lot of wide receiver demand, and there could be several teams at the top of the second round trying to trade back into the first. 

The main wide receiver in demand seems to be former Texas A&M star Kevin “KC” Concepcion. The former NC State standout brings some dynamic ability after the catch. The space weapon is extremely well-liked around the league right now. His unique skill set in space, especially with how NFL offenses function today, seems to be making him a very hot commodity. 

I’d keep my eye on the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets, especially. 

Taurean York’s decision to declare  

Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York chose to only do the agility drill portion of the Combine, and there is probably a reason for that. When it comes to the jumps and forty-yard dash, the 5-10, 230-pound defender isn’t expected to test overly well. A beloved Aggie, many were surprised when York opted to declare early for the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving a year of eligibility on the table. 

For anyone who knows anything about York, he is an extremely intelligent young man, and it wasn’t surprising to hear that he searched for every opinion he could when making the decision whether he should declare. That included speaking with multiple Southwest area scouts he had developed a relationship with since the last offseason. The feedback that York received was mostly to return to College Station for another season. Despite that, York decided that he was ready for the NFL. 

York feels like a candidate to go a bit later than people expect right now. He is a pretty consistent fixture in three-round mock drafts right now, but it feels like he is destined to go somewhere on Day Three (rounds 4-7). While I wouldn’t make it a habit of betting against York, both as a player and person, leaving a year of eligibility on the table (especially when he is beloved by the Aggie faithful) does feel a bit perplexing. 

The battle for OT1 

The offensive tackle boards are all over the place, according to scouts that I have spoken to. Utah star Spencer Fano is a popular player around the league, as is his teammate Caleb Lomu. Miami standout Francis Mauigoa also has his fans in the NFL, as does Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. 

When it comes to Freeling, he is the offensive tackle I feel best about being the first off the board after my trip to Indianapolis. There is a growing sentiment from around the league that he is the surest bet to be a plus starting left tackle on the NFL level, which matters. When you compare him to the players he’s competing with for the honor, Freeling also checks the most boxes. That really is what this process is all about – having as few question marks as possible. 

Fano has some frame concerns, particularly with his shorter arms (32 ⅛ inches) and underdeveloped lower half. Even before getting that verified measurement last week on his arms, some folks around the league were split about Fano’s best position, and whether he might thrive better inside at either guard or center. A similar debate has happened with Mauigoa, while teams are hot and cold with Lomu as a player right now. 

Freeling has every opportunity to continue to ascend, and potentially crack the top-10 selections when April gets here. 

The biggest question with Brandon Cisse 

From a pure talent perspective, there is a lot to love about star South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse. Viewed as a potential first round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft class, the former NC State defender has experience at both outside cornerback and nickel, while being an explosive athlete with long speed. He is one of the more physically gifted cover men in the entire class. There shouldn’t be much concern about the overall talent. 

There is, however, a slight concern about Cisse from around the league when it comes to his overall confidence and competitiveness as a football player. 

According to a couple of current area scouts, there was a habit for Cisse to request out of the game whenever he gave up a big play while with the Gamecocks. The cornerback position is one that requires so much confidence. You are isolated on a high percentage of plays, and you are going to fail at times. That lack of confidence isn’t obviously anything criminal, or even really a character red flag. It has, however, caused some split opinions on the talented cover man around the league.

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