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NFL teams in need of wideout help, rejoice. This year's draft is, once again loaded with receiving talent.
The 2026 NFL Draft will likely feature at least three first round wide receivers for the seventh straight year (just missing the cut: 2019, where the two first round wideouts were Hollywood Brown and, sigh, N'Keal Harry). There's a deep pool of downfield burners, slot wizards and chain-moving possession machines to choose from in April.
The Scouting Combine is where they'll make their case for a premier draft slot. Saturday will be the backdrop to blazing 40-yard dashes and crisp routes on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. Who has the most to gain -- or lose -- when workouts begin?
1. Makai Lemon, USC
Lemon showcased some of college football's best separation skills en route to All-American honors this winter. Even so, he's slipped behind Ohio State's Tate Carnell and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson on some draft boards in the race to be 2026's first wideout selected. A sub 6-foot frame plays a role, but it will be tough to prove he plays bigger on the field (he does) across a spectrum of drills. What he can do, however, is showcase burner speed, quick cuts and the elite hands that made him so dangerous at USC, potentially locking him in to a top 15 pick.
2. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Concepcion's current draft stock puts him somewhere around the late first round and early second. A big showing in Indianapolis can lock in a Day 1 slot despite a dense lineup of receivers dotting 2026.
Like Lemon, a modest frame could limit him to the slot, but a big performance at Lucas Oil Stadium could provide the evidence he can win split wide while maintaining the same explosive playmaking that shined as an Aggie. On the other hand, a shorter-than-expected wingspan, relatively slow 40 time or continued issue with drops could relegate him to the middle of Day 2.
3. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Cooper and teammate Elijah Sarratt each look like Day 2 selections who could find themselves the apple of any team's eye left out of the wideout sweepstakes in the first round. Sarratt is a little bigger and slightly less explosive. Cooper is the one who did this:
There probably isn't a wrong answer between the two, but Cooper can showcase the vertical speed to pair with absurd hands and body control to make him some team's huckleberry late in the first round.
4. Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Lance followed his brother to North Dakota State and now to the combine. He'll have to hope things work out better on Sundays than it did for Trey, the former third overall pick now on his third team in four seasons.
He has an NFL frame at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, but proving he can thrive against elite defensive backs will be a very different task than carving up the Missouri Valley Football Conference. If he can crack the 4.6-second threshold in the 40 it would be key evidence he can operate as an outside receiver and deep threat on Sundays.
5. Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Thompson played four seasons across three different SEC schools. He had one year with more than 20 catches. But despite that limited track record, he might wind up being the biggest riser at the combine for one simple reason. He's fast as hell. He's got potential to top the combine 40 record of 4.21 seconds set by Xavier Worthy, though he's more likely to land in the high 4.2s or low 4.3s... which is still just absurdly quick.
6. Skyler Bell, Connecticut
Bell felt like he was on the brink of a breakout at Wisconsin, only to suffer the same fate of most Badger wideouts since Jared Abbrederis. After falling to the wayside he found greener pastures in Storrs, earning All-American honors for UConn and playing a key role on half the Huskies' nine-win teams in school history.
He shines hardest coming out of his routes, planting his foot and exploding away from defenders. If he can showcase solid speed and run crisp routes (albeit against zero competition), he can work his way into a Day 2 selection.
Here's a list of all the wideouts invited to this spring's combine, in alphabetical order.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 6 wide receivers to watch at the 2026 combine, starring Makai Lemon
Continue reading...
The 2026 NFL Draft will likely feature at least three first round wide receivers for the seventh straight year (just missing the cut: 2019, where the two first round wideouts were Hollywood Brown and, sigh, N'Keal Harry). There's a deep pool of downfield burners, slot wizards and chain-moving possession machines to choose from in April.
The Scouting Combine is where they'll make their case for a premier draft slot. Saturday will be the backdrop to blazing 40-yard dashes and crisp routes on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. Who has the most to gain -- or lose -- when workouts begin?
Which wide receivers will be under the most scrutiny at the 2026 NFL combine?
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1. Makai Lemon, USC
Lemon showcased some of college football's best separation skills en route to All-American honors this winter. Even so, he's slipped behind Ohio State's Tate Carnell and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson on some draft boards in the race to be 2026's first wideout selected. A sub 6-foot frame plays a role, but it will be tough to prove he plays bigger on the field (he does) across a spectrum of drills. What he can do, however, is showcase burner speed, quick cuts and the elite hands that made him so dangerous at USC, potentially locking him in to a top 15 pick.
2. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Concepcion's current draft stock puts him somewhere around the late first round and early second. A big showing in Indianapolis can lock in a Day 1 slot despite a dense lineup of receivers dotting 2026.
Like Lemon, a modest frame could limit him to the slot, but a big performance at Lucas Oil Stadium could provide the evidence he can win split wide while maintaining the same explosive playmaking that shined as an Aggie. On the other hand, a shorter-than-expected wingspan, relatively slow 40 time or continued issue with drops could relegate him to the middle of Day 2.
3. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Cooper and teammate Elijah Sarratt each look like Day 2 selections who could find themselves the apple of any team's eye left out of the wideout sweepstakes in the first round. Sarratt is a little bigger and slightly less explosive. Cooper is the one who did this:
There probably isn't a wrong answer between the two, but Cooper can showcase the vertical speed to pair with absurd hands and body control to make him some team's huckleberry late in the first round.
4. Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Lance followed his brother to North Dakota State and now to the combine. He'll have to hope things work out better on Sundays than it did for Trey, the former third overall pick now on his third team in four seasons.
He has an NFL frame at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, but proving he can thrive against elite defensive backs will be a very different task than carving up the Missouri Valley Football Conference. If he can crack the 4.6-second threshold in the 40 it would be key evidence he can operate as an outside receiver and deep threat on Sundays.
5. Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Thompson played four seasons across three different SEC schools. He had one year with more than 20 catches. But despite that limited track record, he might wind up being the biggest riser at the combine for one simple reason. He's fast as hell. He's got potential to top the combine 40 record of 4.21 seconds set by Xavier Worthy, though he's more likely to land in the high 4.2s or low 4.3s... which is still just absurdly quick.
6. Skyler Bell, Connecticut
Bell felt like he was on the brink of a breakout at Wisconsin, only to suffer the same fate of most Badger wideouts since Jared Abbrederis. After falling to the wayside he found greener pastures in Storrs, earning All-American honors for UConn and playing a key role on half the Huskies' nine-win teams in school history.
He shines hardest coming out of his routes, planting his foot and exploding away from defenders. If he can showcase solid speed and run crisp routes (albeit against zero competition), he can work his way into a Day 2 selection.
Which wide receivers will be at the 2026 NFL combine?
Here's a list of all the wideouts invited to this spring's combine, in alphabetical order.
- Aaron Anderson, LSU
- Vinny Anthony II, Wisconsin
- Chris Bell, Louisville
- Dillon Bell, Georgia
- Skyler Bell, UConn
- Malik Benson, Oregon
- Germie Bernard, Alabama
- Denzel Boston, Washington
- Zachariah Branch, Georgia
- Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
- Barion Brown, LSU
- Deion Burks, Oklahoma
- Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati
- Josh Cameron, Baylor
- Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri
- KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
- Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
- CJ Daniels, Miami
- Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech
- Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
- Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kansas
- Chris Hilton Jr., LSU
- Jordan Hudson, SMU
- Ted Hurst, Georgia State
- Caullin Lacy, Louisville
- Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
- Ja'Kobi Lane, USC
- Kendrick Law, Kentucky
- Makai Lemon, USC
- Eric McAlister, TCU
- Donaven McCulley, Michigan
- Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech
- Chase Roberts, BYU
- Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
- De'Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi
- J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida
- Carnell Tate, Ohio State
- Zavion Thomas, LSU
- Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
- Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
- Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech
- Harrison Wallace III, Mississippi
- Jalen Walthall, Incarnate Word
- Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
- Antonio Williams, Clemson
- Colbie Young, Georgia
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 6 wide receivers to watch at the 2026 combine, starring Makai Lemon
Continue reading...
