2026 NFL Combine: Reese, Bailey & Styles Headline Historic DL & LB Testing

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine opened with defensive linemen and linebackers — and by multiple accounts, including NFL Network, this may be the fastest front-seven group in Combine history. Historically, wide receivers remain the fastest position group overall (4.52 average since 2003), with defensive backs close behind (4.53). This year, however, the front seven blurred traditional positional lines. Unlike the 2019 linebacker class — which featured sub-4.5 speed from Devin White and Devin Bush — the 2026 group stands out for its size-adjusted explosiveness. Interior defensive linemen near 290 pounds and linebackers weighing 240+ pounds posted numbers typically reserved for edge rushers and defensive backs. Sonny Styles became the first linebacker since 2003 to run sub-4.5 while also recording a 40+ inch vertical and 11+ foot broad jump at over 230 pounds — a rare size-speed-explosion combination. For front-seven defenders, the first 10 yards matter more than the final 30. Explosive short-area acceleration translates directly into disruption — and in 2026, those traits tested at a historic level. Below, we break down the metrics that matter most — and how performances from Zane Durant, David Bailey, Sonny Styles, and Arvell Reese confirm what shows up on tape heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. Defensive Line & Linebacker Combine Metrics That Translate Core Translation Metrics 10-Yard Split  — First-step burst and acceleration; the clearest indicator of get-off and penetration. Vertical Jump  — Lower-body explosion and power conversion. Short Shuttle (LB) / Broad Jump (DL/EDGE)  — Lateral agility and horizontal force. Linebacker Historical Baseline Linebackers have averaged 4.71 seconds  in the 40-yard dash since 2003, but short-area movement has proven more predictive than straight-line speed. Since 2003, elite linebackers have averaged roughly a 1.51-second 10-yard split , a 40.9-inch vertical , and a 4.04-second shuttle  — benchmarks that better reflect range and coverage fluidity than the full sprint. Fastest 40 ever: 4.38 — Shaquem Griffin Sub-4.4 occurrences since 2003: 3 total 40-yard sweet spot: 4.5–4.6 range Elite explosion profile: ~1.51 split | 40.9” vertical | 4.04 shuttle Defensive Line Historical Baseline Defensive linemen average 4.94 seconds  in the 40-yard dash, but evaluation must be separated by role. Since 2003, top interior defenders have averaged a 1.65-second 10-yard split , a 34.9-inch vertical , and roughly a 9’10” broad jump , while elite edge rushers cluster closer to the 1.60 split range  with verticals near 39–40 inches . EDGE 40 average: 4.83 | Sweet spot: 4.5–4.6 EDGE explosion profile: ~1.60 split | ~39–40” vertical DT 40 average: 5.11 DT explosion profile: ~1.65 split | ~35” vertical | ~9’10” broad When 240+ pound linebackers run in the 4.4s, and 290-pound interior linemen post elite 10-yard splits, they are operating outside traditional positional norms — and that’s where testing begins to validate draft projection. 2026 NFL Combine Defensive Line & Linebacker Standouts Zane Durant | IDL | Penn State | 6’1” | 290 lbs Durant’s 1.66-second 10-yard split places him in an elite historical tier among interior defensive linemen. Within a 25-player sample of top Combine DT testers, that mark ties him with names like Fletcher Cox, Devonte Wyatt, and Khalil Davis, with only 10 faster times recorded. That same group carries a median 40-yard dash of 4.81 seconds, and Durant’s 4.75 ranks tied for 4th out of 25 — reinforcing that his speed profile is historically strong for the position. The numbers confirm what the film shows: Durant wins with first-step burst, lateral quickness, and penetration ability. He is not built to anchor and absorb double teams — his value lies in disruption. His acceleration allows him to cross faces, win early in gaps, and stress protection before blocks can fully develop. In attacking one-gap systems, those traits translate directly. David Bailey | EDGE | Texas Tech | 6’4” | 251 lbs David Bailey’s 4.51-second 40-yard dash places him tied for 16th among premier edge testers, alongside Travon Walker, Yaya Diaby, and Cliff Avril. He sits one-hundredth behind Bruce Irvin and Lorenzo Carter (4.50) and just ahead of Haason Reddick (4.52). The median time within that elite sample is 4.50 seconds, positioning Bailey firmly in high-end EDGE athletic territory. More importantly, his 1.62-second 10-yard split and 35-inch vertical validate the tape. Bailey wins with rare short-area explosion, bend, and acceleration through contact. His get-off consistently stresses tackles out of their stance, and his ability to widen the rush track while building momentum mirrors the fluid, slashing profile noted in his evaluation. While anchor strength caps his run-defense ceiling, the testing confirms legitimate Pro Bowl upside as an odd-front rush linebacker with translatable sack production. Sonny Styles | LB | Ohio State | 6’5” | 244 lbs Sonny Styles delivered one of the most impressive performances of the Combine, running a 4.46 in the 40 at 6’5”, 244 pounds while posting a 43.5-inch vertical — the best ever recorded by a linebacker — and an elite 1.56-second 10-yard split. His NFL.com production score (91) and athleticism score (92) both ranked first among linebackers, driving a position-leading total score of 95. The size-speed-explosion combination places him in rare territory for the position. The testing mirrors the tape. Styles plays with exceptional range, length, and closing speed, gaining depth effortlessly in zone coverage and carrying vertical routes like a defensive back — a natural extension of his safety background. He triggers downhill with force, separates from blocks with violent hand usage, and finishes tackles cleanly in space. In a league that prioritizes size and coverage versatility at linebacker, Styles profiles as a day-one impact defender firmly in the Top 10 conversation. Arvell Reese | LB/EDGE | Ohio State | 6’4” | 241 lbs Arvell Reese backed up his Pro Bowl-caliber grade with elite movement numbers, running a 4.46 in the 40 with a 1.58-second 10-yard split at 241 pounds. That combination of size and acceleration placed him among the top EDGE testers in this class, reinforcing a rare speed profile for a hybrid defender. His production score (84) and total score (84) both rank inside the top four at his position, underscoring that this isn’t just projection — the traits and impact are already aligning. The testing mirrors his versatile deployment on film. Reese can align off-ball or as a stand-up rusher, flowing quickly once he triggers and using length and active hands to disrupt blocking surfaces. His rush is kinetic, blending speed-to-power with developing counters, while his pursuit speed and lateral twitch allow him to finish in space. Still just 20 years old, Reese remains a traits-forward prospect whose explosiveness and alignment flexibility give defensive coordinators a movable chess piece with true impact upside.