2026 NFL Combine results: 5 winners from the centers group

The offensive line fittingly closed out the 2026 Scouting Combine as one of the most pressing — and heavily analyzed — needs for the Detroit Lions. It ultimately proved to be their primary vulnerability during an underwhelming 2025 season. The weakest link was at center, and while the front office could pursue an immediate stabilizer in free agency, there’s also a strong case to target a long-term successor to Frank Ragnow in the middle to late rounds. Hoping to hit pay dirt in the meat and potatoes portion of the draft.

It was a smaller group in Indianapolis, with only six centers participating in athletic testing and eight in on-field drills. Still, there were several intriguing options who capitalized on the spotlight and helped themselves on Sunday.

Sam Hecht, Kansas State (6-foot-4, 303)

Hecht, the former Kansas State walk-on, saw his massive and powerful backside become the non-mullet talk of the town in Indianapolis on Sunday. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah even joked you could read a book off of it. But that attention wasn’t the only reason he stood out.

Hecht popped immediately with a 1.73 10-yard split (84th percentile), second best among centers, and followed it up by turning in one of the stronger on-field drill performances in the first offensive line group. He moved with power and strong body control—traits that clearly stem from his lower-half and core strength. His kick slide was fluid, and his feet were notably agile on pull drills, arguably making him one of the best movers among the centers on Sunday.

His measured height and weight (60th percentile) met solid size thresholds. The lone blemish was his 31.75-inch arm length (13th percentile), which will invite some projection questions. He also surprisingly underwhelmed in the explosive jump drills, which was unexpected considering that power plant of a caboose. Overall, he posted a respectable 8.13 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) as one of the few centers to complete the agility testing.

Parker Brailsford, Alabama (6-foot-2, 289)

While Brailsford is one of the more undersized center prospects in this class, his 289-pound weigh-in was respectable, and he more than made up for any size concerns by showcasing high-end athleticism. His explosive play style was validated by testing numbers that led the offensive line group: a 1.70-second 10-yard split, a 9-foot-10 broad jump, and a center-best 32.5-inch vertical.

During on-field drills, Brailsford moved effortlessly with light, quick feet. He was the fastest to pop up in the wave drill and consistently looked like a natural fit for pulls and screen work. There weren’t many blocks in space that the Lions didn’t ask Frank Ragnow to execute, and Brailsford has the range to reach virtually any landmark. His hands were quick, his mirror drill was smooth, and he operated with a confident, balanced base throughout.

This workout environment played directly into his strengths, and he capitalized.

Jager Burton, Kentucky (6-foot-4, 312)

Burton boosted his draft stock with a strong showing at this year’s Shrine Bowl and continued that momentum in Indianapolis. The four-year, 47-game starter for the Wildcats offers legitimate versatility, logging at least nine starts at left guard, center, and right guard before finally settling in at the pivot this past season—a move that helped clarify his projection in a center class that’s thin at the top but crowded in the 75–150 range.

He brought rock-solid size and strong hands (10 1/8-inches, 73rd percentile). While his 10-yard split wasn’t eye-popping, his 4.94-second 40-yard dash ranked second among centers and landed in the 96th percentile historically at the position. His 9.93 RAS was the best among centers on Sunday (without agility drills factored in).

Burton did have a few early missteps during on-field work, briefly struggling to keep his legs under him in the wave and pull drills. But he quickly settled in and started flashing what stands out most on tape: heavy hands and a powerful punch. By the end of the workout, Burton looked like one of the more forceful yet smooth movers in the group, operating with a strong, controlled base.

Logan Jones, Iowa (6-foot-3, 299)

Jones has firmly landed on the radar of Lions fans, showing up consistently in mock drafts, and he only strengthened that buzz with an impressive workout. Slightly undersized, he compensates with power and movement skills, though his lack of length will be a legitimate hurdle at the next level. His 30.75-inch arm length (second percentile) is a clear outlier, meaning his fluidity and footwork will have to carry even more weight in his projection.

A known workout warrior and athletic specimen at Iowa, Jones backed up that reputation in Indianapolis. He led all offensive linemen with a 4.90-second 40-yard dash, added a solid 1.75-second 10-yard split, and posted a 32-inch vertical along with a 9-foot-2 broad jump.

On the field, Jones looked like a technician. His feet were rapid and controlled through drills, and he maintained a strong center of gravity on the move. In pass protection work, he consistently played square with a stable, sturdy base, showing natural lateral mobility and strong post-leg stability.

Trey Zuhn, Texas A&M (6-foot-6 1/2, 312)

While both Jake Slaughter and converted tackle Brian Parker boosted their stock with strong athletic testing, my fifth and final center standout is Trey Zuhn—a prospect who only participated in measurements and on-field drills.

Zuhn forced my hand. His performance throughout the offensive line workout demanded a closer look. The two traits that stood out most were how explosively he jumped out of his stance—arguably the best backward first-step quickness of any center on the day—and his acceleration once he got moving in space.

A four-year starter at left tackle for the Aggies, Zuhn will have some transition ahead of him at center. But the movement skills translate. He operated with a strong, balanced base, consistently kept his feet underneath him, and showed quick, typewriter feet both laterally and on the move.

Zuhn was also the most imposing presence in space, largely because he was the biggest center in either workout group. From a build standpoint, he most closely resembles the size profile that Frank Ragnow brought to the position (6-foot-5, 312), giving evaluators a clearer picture of how that frame can function at the pivot.