The first major event in the pre-draft process for prospective NFL players takes place this week, with the NFL Combine kicking off in Indianapolis. The Oregon Ducks are sending eight players to the combine — originally nine, but Isaiah World dropped out with a knee injury — and will get to see them work to improve draft stock with NFL coaches, scouts, and general managers looking on.
Workouts begin for defensive linemen and linebackers first, kicking off on Thursday, followed by defensive backs and tight ends on Friday, quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers on Saturday, and then offensive linemen on Sunday. Here's a look at which Ducks will be competing throughout the week:
- RB Noah Whittington
- WR Malik Benson
- TE Kenyon Sadiq
- OT Alex Harkey
- OG Emmanuel Pregnon
- LB Bryce Boettcher
- DB Jadon Canady
- S Dillon Thieneman
So, which of these Ducks has the biggest opportunity to increase their draft stock with stellar on-field workouts? We've got a few options to go through.
WR Malik Benson
Before coming to Eugene, it felt like nobody in the college football world knew about Malik Benson. After a breakout season with the Ducks, where he racked up 719 yards and six touchdowns, and was one of the most impactful players for Oregon. Now, with a chance to put his blazing speed and raw athleticism on display at the combine, it feels like the NFL world might take notice of Benson. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Benson brings great size and unmatched breakaway speed to the table.
DB Jadon Canady
Another one of the most unheralded transfers in Oregon's 2025 class, Jadon Canady proved to be one of the most valuable players of the year in Eugene, and he's started to generate some major buzz in pre-draft circles. I can see that buzz only increasing over the next week, as NFL teams get a look at Canady's versatility at the nickel position, and start to slot him higher on their draft boards.
RB Noah Whittington
This is a pretty loaded RB class going into the 2026 draft, and while Noah Whittington isn't getting looked at as one of the top players in the class, I think he could impress some people this week thanks to his size and his physicality. While he may not test out as one of the fastest or quickest RBs in the class, he will be among the strongest, and you have to think that he's going to interview well as one of the leaders on Oregon's roster.
LB Bryce Boettcher
Bryce Boettcher was one of the big winners at the Senior Bowl earlier this offseason, and I think his rise is going to continue this week as well, with more NFL eyes on him. Much like Whittington, Boettcher may not be the most dynamic player when it comes to raw metrics, but he plays as hard as anyone and is likely going to interview well when getting face time with franchises.
TE Kenyon Sadiq
This one feels a bit obvious, so I left it for the bottom of the list. Obviously, Kenyon Sadiq has already garnered a ton of draft buzz and is a likely first-round pick. However, I think when he goes through the testing, shows his speed and agility, and can display how well he moves at that size, some NFL teams are going to fall in love with him. I won't be surprised if, after the week, people are talking about Sadiq as a top-10 lock.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 2026 NFL Combine to provide proving ground for Oregon Ducks