Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine featured quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers — and it was arguably the most explosive workout group of the entire week. Elite speed times, record-level quarterback athleticism, and several strong throwing sessions reshaped offensive draft boards, while a few prospects confirmed lingering concerns about speed, injuries, or athletic ceilings.

Here are the biggest winners and losers from Day 3 in Indianapolis.

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Winners

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Love delivered one of the most impactful performances of the entire Combine, erasing any lingering questions about his long speed with back-to-back 4.36–4.37 forty times. His testing confirmed elite explosiveness and reinforced his standing as a top-tier offensive prospect.

Beyond the raw speed, he looked natural in drills and maintained the same fluid movement and burst that shows up on tape. For a back already viewed as a potential early selection, verified elite testing likely solidified — rather than created — his high draft status.

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Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

Green was one of the true athletic headliners of Day 3, posting record-setting quarterback testing numbers, including a 4.36 forty, 43.5-inch vertical, and an 11’2” broad jump.

At his size, that level of explosiveness is rare and significantly boosts his upside projection as a dual-threat developmental quarterback. While he remains raw as a passer, the Combine confirmed elite traits that NFL teams covet in modern quarterback development profiles.

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Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Simpson took advantage of the full workout opportunity and delivered a strong, composed throwing session. With other high-profile quarterbacks limiting participation, his willingness to throw and overall consistency helped him stand out in a competitive QB group.

He showed solid ball placement and rhythm on intermediate throws, reinforcing a steady, pro-style evaluation rather than relying purely on athletic traits.

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Skyler Bell, WR, UConn

Bell emerged as one of the biggest wide receiver risers thanks to strong athletic testing and clean positional drills. His 4.40 speed and elite explosion numbers, including a 41-inch vertical, validated his athletic ceiling and route-running upside.

He also looked reliable in gauntlet and catch drills, which matters heavily for mid-round receivers trying to separate in a deep class.

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Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma

Burks helped himself significantly in a historically fast receiver group by posting strong speed and explosive testing. In a workout where over 20 players ran sub-4.40 times, Burks still stood out as one of the better overall athletic performers at the position.

That type of verified speed aligns directly with his vertical-threat profile and strengthens his projection as a dynamic offensive weapon.

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Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Allar did not rely on athletic testing, but his throwing session drew positive evaluations, particularly on deep balls and velocity. The ball jumped off his hand, and he showcased one of the stronger arms in the quarterback group during on-field drills.

For quarterbacks, throwing performance often carries more weight than raw testing, making this a meaningful stock stabilization — and potential boost.

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Losers

Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

Fields’ 4.61 forty confirmed pre-existing concerns about top-end speed, which is a significant factor for boundary receivers projecting to the NFL level.

In a receiver class loaded with sub-4.40 speed, that number stands out negatively and may shift his projection toward Day 2–3 rather than early-round consideration.

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Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Tate did not have a disastrous workout, but average speed testing in an exceptionally fast receiver group effectively functioned as a relative stock loss. With multiple receivers posting elite times, failing to separate athletically allowed others to gain momentum on draft boards.

This is a classic “comparison loss” rather than a true performance failure.

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Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska

Johnson underwhelmed in both drills and athletic testing compared to a loaded running back group that featured multiple elite performers.

When the positional baseline is explosive, merely average testing can significantly impact mid-round running back evaluations.

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Injured / Non-Participating Skill Prospects

Injuries and missed workouts created a quiet but real loser category on Day 3. Prospects who did not test lost valuable opportunities to validate speed and explosiveness in one of the most athletic offensive classes in recent memory.

In a Combine environment built on direct athletic comparison, visibility and participation matter heavily for momentum.

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Biggest Takeaways from Day 3

Speed Dominated the Narrative

Day 3 featured a historically fast offensive group, with numerous sub-4.40 forty times across running backs and wide receivers reshaping athletic benchmarks for the class.

Quarterback Athleticism Stole Headlines

Elite testing from dual-threat quarterbacks, especially Taylen Green, highlighted the NFL’s continued shift toward athletic upside at the position rather than purely traditional pocket profiles.

Verified Testing Confirmed — Not Created — Top Stocks

For elite prospects like Love, the Combine didn’t elevate them out of nowhere. Instead, it validated film traits such as burst, speed, and explosiveness, which is the ideal outcome in the pre-draft process.

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Final Stock Summary

Major Risers:

• Jeremiyah Love
• Taylen Green
• Ty Simpson
• Skyler Bell
• Drew Allar
• Deion Burks

Notable Stock Concerns:

• Malachi Fields (speed concerns confirmed)
• Carnell Tate (average testing in elite WR group)
• Emmett Johnson (underwhelming testing)
• Injured/non-participating skill players

Day 3 ultimately reinforced a clear draft theme: elite verified speed and explosiveness at the skill positions dramatically shaped perception, and in a historically athletic offensive group, even average testing could quietly translate into a relative drop in draft momentum.