INDIANAPOLIS — The stopwatches smoked. The turf melted. When evaluating the official Daniel Jeremiah 2026 NFL Combine standouts, the raw data tells a terrifying story for opposing defenses. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza proved he is the real deal, while a tight end out of Oregon shattered the record books. If you want to know who won the week, look no further. The athleticism on display in Indianapolis bordered on alien.
The Record Books Caught Fire
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq did not just run; he flew. Sadiq obliterated the 40-yard dash with a blazing 4.39-second run, becoming the fastest tight end to run the drill since at least 2003. He added a 43.5-inch vertical jump, proving he is a walking mismatch. Jeremiah sees him as the ultimate offensive weapon, heavily linking him to creative play-callers like the Chargers’ Mike McDaniel.
But the speed show did not stop there. Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. ripped off a staggering 4.27-second 40-yard dash. You could almost feel the tension in the air when the crowd held its breath as Styles dug his cleats into the line. He exploded out of his stance and logged a sub-1.50 10-yard split. He ran that time with a torn labrum. The toughness is off the charts. His brother Sonny had just crushed his own linebacker drills, making this a true family takeover.
Edge Rushers Feasting and A Quarterback Rises
Jeremiah pointed squarely at Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey as the premier pass-rushing talent. Bailey operates with terrifying suddenness. He does not just beat tackles off the snap; he teleports past them. Jeremiah noted Bailey possesses the absolute best get-off in this draft class. He currently projects him as a top-two pick, potentially landing with the New York Jets to terrorize AFC East quarterbacks.
Meanwhile, fresh off a national championship victory, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza solidified his status as the top signal-caller. Mendoza weighed in with excellent size and backed it up with brilliant interviews. Jeremiah compared Mendoza’s frame, arm talent, and competitive fire directly to Matt Ryan. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the number one overall pick, and Mendoza looks firmly locked into that slot.
“Teams have pretty much been asking me what I wanted to do, you know, just seeing where my mind was at. I think I’m an outside linebacker. Or an edge, potentially. I’m just beginning to scratch the surface of what I can do as a pass rusher.”
— Arvell Reese, Ohio State Edge/LB
Draft Implications / What’s Next
These athletic testing numbers drastically alter the first-round draft board. The explosive times from skill players like Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who clocked a 4.36-second 40, push defensive talent down the board. Quarterback-needy teams face a massive decision at the top. The Raiders taking Mendoza at number one feels inevitable, but the scramble behind them dictates everything. Teams like the Titans and Browns must decide if securing an elite edge rusher like Bailey or Ohio State’s Arvell Reese holds more value than reaching for the second-tier quarterbacks.
General managers leave Indianapolis with completely redrawn draft boards. Pro days kick off next week, where players who skipped testing—like Georgia linebacker CJ Allen—must prove their film matches the testing numbers set by this freakish class. The clock is ticking toward the draft in Pittsburgh, and the pressure on front offices just hit a boiling point.