2026 NFL Combine: Defensive backs set record pace

The 2026 NFL Combine showcased the fastest defensive back class in history, with cornerbacks burning up the turf and safeties making them look slow. A 4.41‑second 40‑yard dash from Texas safety Michael Taaffe was considered slow, while the fastest time of the day was a 4.32 by Missouri’s Toriano Pride Jr., a record‑setting performance that highlighted the depth of the secondary.

Standout prospects included Charles Demmings of Stephen F. Austin, who posted a 4.41 40‑yard dash, a 40‑inch vertical and an 11‑foot broad jump, and Daylen Everette of Georgia, who ran a 4.38 40‑yard dash. Washington’s Tacario Davis also impressed with speed and length, while safeties like Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman added to the class’s reputation as the deepest defensive back group in Combine history.