2025 All-Combine Team, Defense: CB Maxwell Hairston, Edge James Pearce Jr. impress in Indy

Best team fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins.

With Mason Graham and Walter Nolen not participating in on-field events in Indianapolis, there was room for a lesser-known name to rise to prominence. I liked two players for this spot: West and Tennessee's Elijah Simmons. West earns the nod, though, because he combined a high-quality on-field workout with enough positive testing results to complete a strong combine résumé. West ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash (with a 1.73-second 10-yard split) at 316 pounds, posted a 33-inch vertical jump and tied for the top Next Gen Stats athleticism score among all defensive linemen in the 2025 class. He then proved those explosive numbers translate to the field, delivering powerful, controlled reps on the bags and in the run and club drill (I felt bad for that poor blocking dummy), and fired out of the initial cut in the body control drill -- again showing his physical traits will shine between the lines. He'll win at the next level with these athletic abilities.

Best team fits: Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs.

Williams' collegiate production attracted plenty of attention entering the pre-draft process, and while he didn't test in Indianapolis, he backed up the tape with a stellar on-field workout. He essentially nailed every drill, showing off the skills that made him a key part of Ohio State's defense and has him projected as a borderline first-rounder. Williams has a full toolbox that is going to make him a run-stopping force in the interior at the next level. 

Best team fits: Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals.

Pearce set a high bar for the rest of Thursday's participants when he posted a blazing 4.47-second 40 (and a 1.56-second 10-yard split). That alone would've been enough for consideration, but then he sprinted out of the gate during the drills, making the bags look like light work. Every drill wasn't perfect, but when it came to showing off both his athleticism and body control, Pearce passed with flying colors, looking the part as an edge rusher in the hoop drill and thriving when asked to drop in coverage. Overall, he showed the most versatility and natural talent to handle every task as an edge rusher at the next level. 

Best team fits: New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions.

Jackson crushed the testing portion of his workout, posting a 4.68 40, 40.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 9-inch broad jump. That put him in the spotlight as the field work began, and he proceeded to display fluidity when moving laterally and excelling in the hoop drill, wasting zero steps while making a figure eight. When it came to changing direction, Jackson showed notable burst out of his cuts, then looked as smooth as butter in coverage drills, matching the testing results. At 264 pounds, his combine results were impressive and should register on the radars of teams interested in a long edge defender with plenty of upside.

Best team fits: Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans.

Campbell started his workout by running a 4.52 40 and posting a 10-foot-7 broad jump, largely living up to his reputation as a player who relies on his speed and athleticism to make plays. He looked the part in the drills, too, appearing springy while working through the sprint, shuffle and change-of-direction drill. Campbell showed power in pass-rushing drills and even stayed after to work through one more pass-rushing drill while the rest of his counterparts cooled off and exited the field, giving scouts an extra sample of how he could fit into their schemes. He's a natural in coverage, displaying soft hands and efficient footwork, and his athleticism shined among a group of linebackers who were difficult to separate. Campbell is a versatile player whose stock should only rise after proving he might be the most malleable linebacker in this class.

Best team fits: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys.

Asante led the linebackers in drills as LB01 and quickly set a standard for clean, precise execution Thursday in Indianapolis. The fundamentally sound linebacker paired a well-rounded workout with a 4.48 40 and examples of explosiveness that should benefit him at the next level -- even if his frame is relatively average at 6-foot 1/2, 223 pounds. When it came to elements he can control, Asante handled them expertly.

Best team fits: Washington Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks.

Most of these linebackers performed similarly in drills Thursday, but few were as consistent as Martin, who turned in a collection of quality reps regardless of drill and showed excellent burst, even in pass-rushing scenarios. At 5-11 1/2, he's clearly on the smaller side, but when it comes to physical tools, Martin certainly has a quality belt filled with them. His 4.53 40, 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad jump produced one of the best Next Gen Stats athleticism scores among all linebackers, rounding out a solid day for Martin.

Best team fits: Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants

Hairston earned the loudest reaction from the crowd Friday when he ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, then one-upped himself with a 4.28 on his second attempt. The results instantly attracted attention and Hairston delivered, showing off burst and speed in every drill. He moved through each rep with smooth confidence, making hands catches inside and outside of his frame and putting together the most complete performance of any corner in the group. I'm intrigued to see how these results affect his standing on big boards, especially in a class that doesn't include a number of top-tier prospects. I think Hairston made himself some money Friday.

Best team fits: Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints

Carried by a 4.33 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical jump, Ransaw's testing produced the second-best athleticism score among all cornerbacks in the session Friday, per Next Gen Stats, instantly placing him in consideration for recognition. He didn't quite provide the same athletic pop in his drills, but he was undoubtedly polished, the result of a lengthy collegiate career that included 31 starts between three years at Troy and a final season at Tulane. No matter the scenario, Ransaw was fundamentally sound and controlled and never seemed overwhelmed by whatever was asked of him. It will be interesting to see if the testing results carry over to the field at the next level, but I know that his technique is strong enough to make me want to track his future in the NFL.

Best team fits: New York Jets, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers

Azareye'h Thomas drilled well enough to earn a spot here but didn't test, so I'm choosing another player whose blend of solid testing results -- including an 11-foot-2 broad jump and a 4.39 40 -- and quality on-field performance caught my eye. Longerbeam turned in good reps in the vast majority of the drills in which the cornerbacks participated, made an impressive diving catch after tracking the ball 30-plus yards downfield from the passer and did enough overall to earn the third corner spot on my team. 

Best team fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Denver Broncos

Starks' testing wasn't necessarily spectacular -- a 4.5 40-yard dash and 33-inch vertical jump don't pop off the spreadsheet -- but his on-field work was excellent. He appeared springy in drills and was sharp throughout, producing strong reps and catching the ball with ease. Of all of the safeties who participated in field work, Starks was the most capable and consistent, justifying his place among Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 prospects (No. 34) in the class.

Best team fits: Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets

This should be Nick Emmanwori's spot on the team; the South Carolina product tested outrageously well. But because he sat out of drills, I chose Reed, the safety who ranked right behind Starks when it came to producing a complete on-field performance. Like Starks, Reed's testing numbers didn't stand out, but he looked like a natural on the field Friday, handling every drill as if he'd done each hundreds of times prior. He was incredibly smooth throughout the session, never appearing overwhelmed by the moment, and relied on his football instincts to succeed at every stop.