Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields showcased explosive jumps but a slower 40-yard dash, leaving draft stock in flux after a mixed combine performance.
Out of all six players invited to the NFL Combine from Notre Dame, receiver Malachi Fields had the most to benefit from a strong showing down in Indianapolis. After his stellar performance at the Senior Bowl down in Mobile, Alabama, the Virginia native sky-rocketed up draft boards and analysts like Daniel Jeremiah had him as a borderline first-round draft pick. Entering the NFL Combine, Fields was already one of the biggest and most physically impressive athletes at the combine. Here are his measurables and numbers from today's performance:
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 6-4
Weight: 218-pounds
Arm Length: 32"
Hand Size: 9"
TESTING NUMBERS
40-Yard: 4.61
10-Yard: 1.63
Vertical Jump: 38"
Broad Jump: 10'4"
3-Cone Drill: 6.98
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.35
Combine Performance Recap
It was an up and down day for the Virginia native in Indianapolis this afternoon. His official 40-yard dash time of 4.61 ranked last in the receiver group he worked out with but his explosive testing numbers, the vertical jump and broad jump, matched up well amongst the other group of receivers. His 36" vertical was tied for sixth amongst the group of receivers, but considering his size at 6-4, 218-pounds makes it that much more impressive. Field's 10'4" broad jump ranked 9th amongst the receiver group, but again, factoring in his size plays a factor here.
Fields entered the combine as one of Daniel Jeremiah's Top 50 draft prospects after he turned a lot of heads with his performance down in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl. After popping in the film and seeing him in person, Jeremiah had this to say about the big-bodied boundary receiver from Notre Dame:
"Fields is a big, physical wide receiver and a phenomenal ball winner," Jeremiah explained. "He powers through press coverage and runs clean routes. He isn't super twitchy, but he's efficient with his footwork at the top of routes and works back to the quarterback well. He wins a lot of 50/50 balls down the field and in the red zone. He is a bully when the ball is in the air."
"To see him at his best, watch the Pitt game; he makes several impressive plays, including a remarkable one-handed grab," Jeremiah continued. "After the catch, he lacks elite pull-away speed, but he's tough and competitive. Overall, Fields will fill that power forward role at the next level and should be a real weapon in the red zone."
Overall, his performance in the on-field drills was solid. He was inconsistent during the gauntlet drill after dropping two passes, but didn't decelerate throughout the drill and finished strong. Routes on air is where Field's ability really started to shine. He ran crisp routes and was clean in and out of his breaks. There were a couple of times the routes he ran had him waiting for the throw from various quarterbacks. Penn State Drew Allar, who has one of the strongest arms in the 2026 quarterback class, underthrew Fields on a go-route after misjudging his long speed down the field.
His frame and physicality are still undeniable, but some of the traits that made him such a good boundary receiver throughout college are difficult to showcase in a combine setting. Despite some inconsistencies with his performance at the combine, I still believe the Virginia native is still in a great position to go day-two in the NFL Draft, the question is where and when he will go.
Fields still has the opportunity to improve his draft stock with a performance at Notre Dame's Pro Day which will happen later in the spring. He will likely join tight end Eli Raridon in participating in the pro day in South Bend to further increase their draft stock. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Fields may still sneak into the first round of the NFL draft, but his 40-yard dash time will have to improve during his pro day performance.
Film, and collegiate production, will continue to play a major role in when and where Fields will get drafted. Over the course of his career, the 6-4, 218-pound receiver recorded 165 rec., 2,479 yards, averaged 15.0 yards per catch and caught 16 touchdowns. His an aggressive contested-catch winner and a strong runner with the ball in his hands. The former Notre Dame boundary receiver will still be a solid pickup wherever he gets taken whether it's day one or day two in the NFL Draft.
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