India, Feb. 24 -- The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has returned to Lucas Oil Stadium at a pivotal moment for franchises recalibrating their futures. What unfolds this week will not simply be a series of timed sprints and scripted throwing sessions, but a defining chapter in how careers begin, and, in many cases, how they are ultimately remembered. For many prospects, the journey that starts here can determine how life unfolds after the spotlight, a reminder that the draft is not merely an entry point but the foundation of a professional arc.

More than 300 players have gathered in Indianapolis for medical evaluations, interviews and on-field drills that collectively shape April's draft order. Teams arrive with provisional boards; they often...