Top 4 First Round Wide Receivers To Watch At 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
Summary
The NFL Scouting Combine begins February 23, 2026, in Indianapolis, where over 300 college prospects undergo evaluation ahead of the April draft. This event is critical for assessing players’ physical, medical, and mental abilities, with 46 wide receivers invited. Among them, four are projected first-round picks: Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, and Denzel Boston.
This wide receiver class is considered exceptionally deep and strong. Prospects like Brenen Thompson and Zachariah Branch could challenge the 40-yard dash record, adding to the Combine’s significance for shaping draft stock and generating significant attention from teams and bettors alike.
The annual invitation-only NFL Scouting Combine kicks off Feb. 23 and runs through March 2, 2026, in Indianapolis. Football coverage continues year-round as more than 300 top college prospects are evaluated by NFL coaches, general managers, and scouts as they perform physical, medical, and mental tests ahead of the April 23-26 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. That includes 46 invited wide receivers with 4-5 projected Round 1 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Personal interviews are also performed with the evaluation of talent through physical tests, driving the watch, and wagering action. The NFL Scouting Combine can make or break draft stock as NFL team personnel evaluate players and their athletic, analytical, and film profiles, along with character and competence through interviews.
Top online sportsbook BetOnline will post 2026 NFL Draft wide receiver odds in early April ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Last year, 13 wide receivers were drafted into the NFL in the first 100 picks. This year is considered a better and deeper wide receiver class, and the best positional group of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here are 4 elite wide receivers to watch as projected pre-combine Round 1 draft picks from the full list of 46 wide receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine. The top 3 listed are projected to go in the top half of the first round.
- Carnell Tate (Ohio State) – 6 foot 2”, 195 pounds
- Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) – 6 foot 1”, 195 pounds
- Makai Lemon (USC) – 5 foot 11”, 190 pounds
- Denzel Boston (Washington) – 6 foot 4”, 209 pounds
Check out the links above for player prospect profiles and an overview from NFL.com.
Next group of highly-rated wide receivers.
- KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) – 5 foot 11”, 190 pounds
- Malachi Fields (Notre Dame) – 6 foot 4”, 222 pounds
- Zachariah Branch (Georgia) – 5 foot 10”, 180 pounds
- Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee) – 6 foot 5”, 200 pounds
- Antonio Williams (Clemson) – 5 foot 11”, 190 pounds
- Germie Bernard (Alabama) – 6 foot 2”, 209 pounds
Other notable receivers considered in the top 100-125 players drafted overall.
- Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
- Chris Bell (Louisville)
- Ja’Kobi Lane (USC)
- Ted Hurst (Georgia State)
- Omar Cooper (Indiana)
- Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State)
- Jordan Hudson (SMU)
- Skyler Bell (UCONN)
- Deion Burks (Oklahoma)
- Bryce Lance (North Dakota State)
- Kevin Coleman, Jr. (Missouri)
National Title-winning wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is ranked near the top 10 of the 46 receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine. Hoosiers teammate and touchdown leader Omar Cooper is also projected among the top 125 players to be drafted by the end of Round 4.
Brenen Thompson is projected as the fastest receiver at the NFL Scouting Combine, along with Zachariah Branch. He’ll likely run the 40-yard dash under 4.3 seconds. Fans will be watching to see if the 40-yard dash record of 4.21 seconds could be broken. Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy set the record at the 2024 combine, breaking the previous record of 4.22 seconds by John Ross (2017).
Follow more NFL betting news, including big events and popular props throughout the offseason at BetOnline, where live/in-game wagering and prop bets will drive more watch and wager action.
