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# 2026 NFL Combine: 6 Potential Seahawks Targets Who Impressed on Day 1 of Workouts
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/nfl-combine-2026-seattle-seahawks-day-1-workouts-impressed/
- Published: 2026-02-27T17:44:15.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:56:13.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: Analysis, Seahawks, 2026 NFL Draft, Jacob Rodriguez, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Mason Reiger, Malachi Lawrence, Kyle Louis, Kaleb Elarms-Orr

Ushering in the next stage of the NFL offseason for the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams, the annual NFL Scouting Combine kicked off in earnest on Thursday with linebackers and EDGE defenders participating in on-field athletic testing and drill work.

Which players who could be on Seattle’s radar heading into the 2026 NFL Draft improved their stock the most? Here are six prospects who starred on Day 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium:

### Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

An inside linebacker who finishes with votes in Heisman Trophy balloting shouldn’t be viewed as an overlooked talent or a sleeper going into the NFL draft process. But even after racking up over 250 combined tackles, five interceptions, and 10 forced fumbles in his final two seasons dominating in Lubbock and earning All-American honors, Rodriguez entered the combine with questions about his production being able to translate to the next level due to athleticism concerns.

It’s safe to say Rodriguez squashed those concerns like a bug underneath his cleats. The dynamic playmaking linebacker put on a show on Thursday, running a sub-4.60 40-yard dash at 4.57 seconds at 231 pounds while also posting impressive results in the vertical jump (38.5 inches) and the 3-cone drill (6.90 seconds), leading all players at his position in the latter drill as he showcased elite change of direction skills. Beyond his testing numbers, he demonstrated outstanding fluidness in coverage drills, which should put any teams who still had reservations about him being athletic enough to cover in the league at ease.

Renowned for his high football IQ and work ethic after transitioning from being a quarterback at Virginia in his first collegiate season to a Nagurski Award winning linebacker, Rodriguez would be a fascinating talent to pair with Ernest Jones in the middle of Mike Macdonald’s defense. With that said, after Thursday’s performance in Indy, it’ll be a surprise if he isn’t off the board in the first 50 picks, which may be way too rich for Seattle given other positional needs.

### Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

While he wasn’t quite the tackling machine Rodriguez was over the previous two seasons, Louis dominated in his own right in the center of the Panthers’ defense as an athletic, disruptive do-it-all linebacker. Finally breaking into the starting lineup in 2024, he tallied 101 tackles, seven sacks, and 15.5 tackles for loss while also intercepting four passes and returning one of those picks for a touchdown. Though he didn’t quite match those numbers last season, he still had three sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions, but after taking a step back production-wise, he needed a strong combine to reaffirm his place as one of the top linebackers in this draft class.

Excelling across the board in testing, Louis did just that on Thursday, starting with a blazing 4.53 40-yard dash and a 39.5-inch vertical jump, ranking in the top five among linebackers in both drills. His most impressive results came in the change of direction drills, however, as he finished second behind Rodriguez with a 6.97-second 3-cone drill time and posting a 4.26-second short shuttle, scoring in the 88th percentile or better in each of the drills he participated in. The only concern coming out of Indy is his lack of size weighing in at just 220 pounds, but in today’s NFL, teams have been trending towards lighter, faster linebackers in the box anyway.

Because of his slight frame, Louis won’t be a fit for every team. But Macdonald has always valued linebackers who can run sideline to sideline while also being quick to diagnose and attack downhill, two areas of strength for the speedy defender. He’s also strong in coverage, presenting some flexibility in terms of how he can be used schematically next to Jones and chess piece Nick Emmanwori, making him a possible Seahawks target on Day 2 with their second or third round selections.

### Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU

Finishing off his collegiate career on a strong note in his second season with the Horned Frogs, Elarms-Orr racked up 150 combined tackles, four sacks, and 11 tackles for loss in 2025, earning a First-Team All-Big 12 selection. Despite that production, he entered the draft process hovering under the radar, with most outlets viewing him as a Day 3 selection outside of the top 100 prospects. Such players can receive a major boost by holding their own at the combine and the Hayward, California native couldn’t have helped himself out much more than he did on Thursday.

For one, the 6-2 Elarms-Orr measured in well before taking the field, weighing in at 234 pounds with a closer to traditional linebacker build than several of his peers. Booking out of the gates on his 40-yard dash, he nearly paced the field with a 4.47 time, trailing only consensus top-10 pick Sonny Styles. He also shined in explosive testing, finishing just behind Styles with a 40-inch vertical jump and posting a rock solid 124-inch broad jump, hitting the 91st percentile or better on both drills. If there was a negative for him, he did not perform well in the short shuttle with a 4.41-second time that sits in the 44th percentile for the position.

Up and down production over four seasons at California and TCU likely will keep Elarms-Orr from hearing his name called in the first three rounds, and his change of direction testing coupled with subpar coverage numbers at the college level remain potential concerns. But for a team like the Seahawks who could be in the market for depth at the linebacker position and values athleticism at the position, he could be an enticing option on Day 3, especially if John Schneider orchestrates a trade down or two to recoup additional draft capital.

### Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Playing the entirety of his college career in Orlando, which has become quite the rarity in today’s college football landscape with NIL and the transfer portal, Lawrence was a beacon of consistency, producing at least five sacks in each of his final three seasons with the Knights. He finished off his college career on a strong note with 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, earning First-Team All-Big 12 distinction, but to truly put his name on the map as a viable option in early rounds for NFL teams, he needed to cement his status as one of the most athletic prospects at his position.

Measuring in at 6-4, 253 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms, Lawrence hit all of the benchmarks size-wise, marking his first big win in Indianapolis. Exhibiting outstanding burst at north of 250 pounds, he rocketed past the finish line in the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, the third-fastest time among EDGE defenders, bolstered by a sub-1.60 10-yard split. He also flourished in the explosion testing, finishing second in the vertical jump (40 inches) and broad jump (130 inches), dominating in two drills that often draw the most attention for pass rushers from pro scouts and NFL evaluators.

A twitchy EDGE with plus length and burst, Lawrence immediately comes to mind as a top candidate to replace Boye Mafe, who could leave the Seahawks as an unrestricted free agent. If Mafe does bolt, look for the former UCF star to be near the top of Seattle’s big board, especially after acing his job interview between the lines on Thursday.

### Mason Reiger, EDGE, Wisconsin

Playing his first three seasons at Louisville before sitting out the 2024 campaign with a knee injury, Reiger was only on the peripheral radar of NFL teams when he transferred to Wisconsin last season. But while he posted modest numbers with five sacks and six tackles for loss for the Badgers, he did amass 45 pressures as a disruptive presence who caught the attention of Big Ten foes, leading to a prime opportunity for him to improve his draft stock with a combine invite.

Now more than a year removed from knee surgery, Reiger weighed in at 251 pounds, a solid result for a player who sat in the 230s for much of his time at Louisville, and he certainly passed the eye test in on-field drill work. While he didn’t score well in the 40-yard dash with a 4.78-second time, he did post a solid 1.61 10-yard split and rivaled Lawrence in the explosive testing department, equaling his counterpart for second among EDGE defenders with a 40-inch vertical jump and coming up just behind him with a 125-inch broad jump, scoring in the 95th percentile or better on each drill.

Medicals will be a key part of the evaluation for Reiger, whose production didn’t always match up with the athletic tools displayed in Indianapolis in part due to injuries, and will have a strong bearing on when he hears his name called in April. But he’s a tough-minded EDGE who can rush the passer and defend the run, offering potential three-down value as a developmental rotational piece, something the Seahawks will be in the market for.

### Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

Formerly a coveted five-star recruit who took his talents to Happy Valley, Dennis-Sutton enjoyed a strong college career with the Nittany Lions, though it can be argued he never quite reached the game-wrecking level envisioned when he committed to Penn State. He did demonstrate consistency as a quarterback hunter, reaching 8.5 sacks in each of his final two seasons, while forcing five fumbles as a strip sack artist, wrapping up a pair of Third-Team All-Big Ten selections. The combine provided a chance for him to re-establish himself as one of the top EDGE prospects in this year’s class and he did well to maximize on the opportunity.

Built with prototypical defensive end size, Dennis-Sutton measured in just short of 6-6 and 256 pounds with 33 1/2-inch arms, towering over most of his peers. Using his long strides to his advantage, he posted an impressive 4.63 40-yard dash time, but what may have been most surprising was how well he performed in explosive drills. Despite being much taller, he nearly equaled Lawrence and Reiger with a 39.5-inch vertical jump and edged both of them with a 131-inch broad jump, finishing first in the position group in the latter drill. He also shocked with a stunning 6.90-second 3-cone drill, showcasing rare agility for a player of his size.

Dating back to high school, Dennis-Sutton has long been a ballyhooed prospect due to his tantalizing blend of size and athleticism, confirming the latter in front of NFL scouts in Indianapolis. He just needs to land in a situation where his tools can be properly developed and with him being a scheme-diverse EDGE who could play with his hand in the dirt or in a two-point stance, he may be a top candidate for consideration as early as pick No. 32 in the first round due to untapped upside.