Speed always reshapes the conversation in Indianapolis. For wide receivers, the 40 yard dash is not everything, but it is the fastest way to change how teams stack the board. The 2026 group has a few legitimate track level athletes and several game speed players who could surprise if the start is clean and the transition stays smooth.
NFL Combine 2026 Wide Receiver 40 Yard Dash Projections
| WR Prospect | Projected 40 Time | Speed Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Brenen Thompson | 4.36 | Pure vertical speed with smooth stride |
| Chris Hilton Jr. | 4.37 | Top gear burst when fully healthy |
| Zachariah Branch | 4.42 | Elite short area acceleration |
| Barion Brown | 4.42 | Build up speed that shows in space |
| Zavion Thomas | 4.45 | Quick first phase with solid carry |
| Aaron Anderson | 4.46 | Slot quickness with efficient turnover |
| KC Concepcion | 4.47 | Compact runner with clean early steps |
Brenen Thompson 40 Time Projection
My expectations for a 5'9"/170 WR who run 4.2s was not that he'd play on the outside on 86% of his snaps and only have 4 receptions on screens.
Brenen Thompson earned all 1,054 yards vs. a SEC schedule. pic.twitter.com/6YgMHt8HpR
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) February 25, 2026
Thompson profiles as the most natural straight line runner in the class. His projected 4.36 reflects a balance between true field speed and realistic electronic timing correction. If his start is sharp, he has room to shade lower. Even at 4.36, he likely lands among the fastest wide receivers at the combine.
Some projections have him in the 4.2s, and he could easily outperform our projection here and hit that. That kind of pace would put him among the fastest receivers in the NFL.
Chris Hilton Jr 40 Yard Dash Prediction
My pick for fastest 40 at NFL Combine:
Chris Hilton, #LSU WR
Been a fan of his for 2+ years now, though he wasn’t able to show his elite talent at LSU. Wildly impressed this draft process, including at @ShrineBowl.
ELITE burst/top end speed. Mid to low 4.2s certainly in play pic.twitter.com/Dvjj37UbMU
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) February 23, 2026
Hilton carries legitimate deep speed on tape. The 4.37 projection assumes a clean ramp up and no hesitation in the first 10 yards. His stride length allows him to close strong through the final phase, which is why his number sits firmly in the low 4.3 to high 4.3 tier.
Zachariah Branch 40 Yard Dash Prediction
Branch may not post the top overall 40, but his acceleration should show immediately. A projected 4.42 pairs with what should be one of the better 10 yard splits in the receiver group. Teams looking for instant separation will focus on that first phase as much as the final time.
Barion Brown 40 Time Projection
Brown’s projected 4.42 reflects steady, repeatable speed rather than pure track burst. His game film supports that number. If the start is clean and relaxed, he can flirt with the low 4.4s officially, which would keep him in the upper half of the testing group.
Fastest 40 Yard Dash At The NFL Combine For Wide Receivers
With these projections, the fastest official receiver time in 2026 likely lands between 4.34 and 4.38. Thompson and Hilton appear best positioned to challenge for the top mark. The better indicator of long term success will still be how those times pair with clean splits and fluid on field drills, but the stopwatch will drive the early headlines.
