This year’s NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and teams now have plenty of information to sort through as the draft approaches. Let’s talk about a few players whose stock rose and fell, and what that means about where they might end up.
Jeremiah Love’s Speed Was on Display
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love already had plenty of buzz around him prior to arriving in Indy to show off his athletic gifts. All those assembled at Lucas Oil Stadium got a good look at Love’s 4.36-second 40-yard dash, which easily made him the standout among the backs in the 2026 group.
Teams looking for explosive playmaking from the backfield should be salivating when they look at Love. His draft projection was already in the top half of Round 1, but now, front offices picking in the 20s will need to decide whether they should consider trading up. If they don’t, it’s virtually guaranteed that Love will be gone by the time they’re on the clock.
How Noteworthy Is Spencer Fano’s Arm Length?
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano is also worth discussing. At 6-foot-5½ and 311 pounds, Fano has the physical gifts to reasonably project as one of the first linemen off the board. However, the Combine revealed his 32 1/8-inch arms, slightly below the 33-inch threshold many clubs like to see in NFL tackles.
How much does this single number reframe how teams view Fano? It’s genuinely difficult to say. Fano has expressed openness to moving inside if needed. This signals to front offices that he’s more focused on fit than on insisting he’s a left tackle.
This could shift his projection from a top-10 blindside protector to a broader “OL” label. Teams that were looking for help with their O-line might still have a shot at Fano in the late teens or early 20s. Several squads with shaky interior protection should instantly emerge as top contenders, including the Browns, Giants, and Titans.
Who Else Impressed in Indy?
As for other prospects who performed well, Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell was a standout. He ran a 4.31 in the 40, and his 6-foot-5 wingspan means getting taken in the middle of the second round seems realistic. He could be a legitimate WR2 if his route running improves.
On defense, Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings turned some heads. His 4.41 40 and a 42-inch vertical leap are an enticing combination, suggesting he could be a top-100 pick.
Casinos.com, which ranks real money slots in Canada, regards Caldwell and Dennings the same way as long-shot payouts that occasionally pay dividends. There’s no guarantee either will turn a franchise’s fortunes around, but these less polished recruits could be diamonds in the rough that eventually reveal more upside than their original projections showed.
Emmett Johnson’s Stock May Be Falling
There are always just as many losers after the Combine as winners, and Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson could well be seen as a member of that group. At running back, Johnson seemed ticketed for Day 2 status. However, he ran a 4.56 in the 40, one of the slowest times in his position group. His lateral agility is also a question mark.
Realistically, Johnson now feels more like a third-round option, especially if he lands with a team that already has a home-run hitter and just needs a committee back. In a running-back-heavy class, being seen as average athletically is a tough sell early on, and it’s hard not to categorise Johnson that way after his performance in Indy.
Could Fernando Mendoza Have Fallen from the Number One Pick?
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the presumptive number one pick, elected not to throw in Indianapolis. Instead, he will show off his arm at Indiana’s pro day on April 1.
Mendoza publicly claimed this decision was because he wanted to work with his own receivers in a more familiar environment. Will this make the Raiders shy away from what is commonly regarded as the top QB pick of this year’s draft?
That seems improbable. Skipping throwing drills isn’t unprecedented for a top quarterback, and it’s unlikely to torpedo Mendoza’s status. Because teams must now wait an extra month for live throws, the somewhat mercurial quarterback and his camp have more control over the circumstances under which he performs.
This sends a strong signal that Mendoza is confident he doesn’t need to use the Combine as his showcase. He seems to feel that clubs will come to Bloomington to see him on his terms, and why shouldn’t that be the case? If his pro day shows him to be the same player who just won a Heisman and a national championship for Indiana, he’ll still be starting under center for Las Vegas in September.
The Tiers Have Been Reshuffled
Coming out of Indianapolis, it’s unreasonable to say that the Combine completely rewrote the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, it probably gave it a modest reshuffling.
The tiers underneath the obvious blue-chip prospects might look a little different, with Love’s speed likely locking him into the upper reaches of Round 1 and Fano’s arm length causing him to potentially slide a few spots. As for role players like Caldwell and Demmings, they may have moved from sleeper picks into Day Two contention.
Meanwhile, a player like Johnson faces a tougher climb back into the top-50 conversation. A standout pro day and strong interviews might counter what could be seen as his athletic mediocrity.
As always, the time of year leading into the draft is an exciting one for NFL fans. While not every team has a chance to walk away with a potential superstar in the making like Mendoza, every squad has the opportunity to significantly better their standing with a couple of savvy picks and a little luck on their side.
