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EspañolIn recent seasons, many of the top draft prospects have opted not to participate in the NFL combine. It doesn't appear that trend will continue in 2026.
Fans hoping to see Fernando Mendoza – who is heavily favored to be the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft – will be disappointed. He won't be working out until his pro day, where he will get to work alongside his Indiana teammates who helped him win a national championship last season.
But aside from Mendoza, most of the consensus top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft are planning to work out at the combine.
Of course, that could change in the lead-up to the event. Players sometimes opt out of workouts on the day-of due to injuries; others simply decide to call it a day once they've shown what was needed in the 40-yard dash or across some of the other on-field drills.
But for now, just a handful of players are known non-participants in the 2026 NFL Combine drills. Here's what to know about their absences.
Prospects skipping NFL combine drills
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Mendoza is not planning to throw at the combine. That has long been the plan for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, who outlined in a Feb. 6 appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" he was planning to instead throw at Indiana's pro day.
"At the combine, you’re throwing to different receivers, the whole different thing," Mendoza said. "I want to make sure that I give my guys the best chance, so I want to throw at pro day with my guys, with my running backs and be there with the boys."
The last three quarterbacks to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick – Bryce Young (2023), Caleb Williams (2024) and Cam Ward (2025) – all chose not to throw at the NFL Combine. Mendoza will look to make it four in a row.
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Tyson – a consensus first-round receiver who could end up going in the top 10 selections – won't be working out at the 2026 NFL Combine. The 21-year-old's decision comes as he continues to work his way back from an in-season hamstring, per The Athletic's Dane Brugler.
Tyson will still be in attendance at the combine, where he will meet teams and undergo medical evaluations.
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
McCoy is not expected to work out at the NFL combine, per ESPN's Jordan Reid. He won't participate in position drills either, but NFL teams will pick up valuable information during his medical exams at the combine.
McCoy tore his ACL in January 2025 and missed the entire college football season as a result. He is now more than a year removed from the injury and has widely been projected as a first-round selection in this year's draft.
Edge Derrick Moore, Michigan
Moore suffered a strained hamstring in training two weeks ago and will not run at the 2026 NFL Combine, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It isn't clear whether the 23-year-old end will participate in the on-field drills.
Moore – a Day 2 hopeful – generated a career-best 10 sacks for Michigan last season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fernando Mendoza among those skipping drills at the NFL combine