2026 NFL Combine Shocker: Which Underrated Receivers and Running Backs Suddenly Became Must-Watch Prospects?

Cole Payton (North Dakota State) – Payton certainly showed that he belonged among SEC prospects coming from the FCS level. He was not only one of the most athletic quarterbacks on the property (4.56-second 40, 10-foot-10 broad jump, 40-inch vert at 6-foot-3, 232 pounds), but he threw the ball really well. The ball jumped off his hand and he was a very accurate passer in drills. Payton also has a baseball background and is able to throw accurately from pretty much any platform and arm slot. He’ll be a mainstay in the back end of my mock drafts as a 3rd quarterback and eventual primary backup to Jaxson Dart. Handedness aside (Payton is a lefty), they’re the same guy.

Taylen Green (Arkansas) – Green is going to be a “developmental” prospect at quarterback and is much more of an athlete playing QB than anything else right now… But what an athlete. He’s a huge passer at 6-foot 5 7/8 inches, 227 pounds, with 34 3/4 inch arms and 9 7/8 inch hands and started his day by shattering Anthony Richardson’s record of 40.5 inches on the vertical leap with a 43.5-inch vert. After that he had an 11-foot-2 broad jump, which broke the record by 5 inches, and a 4.37-second 40.

Some team is going to take a flier on Green, and even if it doesn’t work out at QB he might have a future as a pass catcher.

Hayens King (Georgia Tech) – King is an interesting prospect coming out of Georgia Tech. They’re a run-first offense that relies heavily on the triple-option offense, and he had 2,277 yards and 31 touchdowns on the ground. That’s in addition to 7,907 yards and 55 touchdowns through the air. King turned a fantastic 4.47-second 40-yard dash, which is good for the 6th-fastest time ever by a quarterback. He was overshadowed by Taylen Green, but he’ll have NFL decision makers taking a long look.