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- The NFL Combine can do wonders for a player's draft stock. Every year, we pundits always have a pre-combine mock draft, only to see their order shuffle once they get a look at prospects' raw abilities up close. The 40-yard dash always seems to get the most buzz around the combine. Perhaps it's because it's the quickest event, and as any coach will say, you can't teach speed. Speed is becoming more and more important in today's NFL, as the passing game gains more and more importance. Receivers need the ability to separate, quarterbacks need to have mobility and of course, corners need to keep up with the increasingly speedy receivers. These players have proven though, that speed isn't everything, as their below-average 40-yard dash times was not a deterrent at all to their on-field careers.
Highlights
- The 40-yard dash is a key measure of speed, agility, and acceleration for NFL prospects, but it may not always accurately predict future success.
- Players like Davante Adams and Joey Bosa proved that a slow 40-yard dash time didn't hinder their on-field careers, excelling as top performers in the NFL.
- The combine numbers, including the 40-yard dash, can influence a player's draft stock and potentially impact their earning potential in the NFL.
Compared to the hard-nosed football of the NFL's golden years, today's game is all about speed and finesse...or is it? Year after year, we see potential prospects test out their skills and strength at the NFL combine, and one of the premier aspects of this scouting event is the 40-yard dash.
Historically, the 40-yard dash is used by scouts as a measure of speed, agility, and acceleration of NFL prospects. The basis behind the distance is that punts typically travel 40 yards and have an average hang time of 4.5 seconds. Therefore, if a player can run a sub-4.5-sec 40-yard dash, then he would be able to make it from the line of scrimmage to the punt returner before the ball is caught.
As for the players, the 40-yard dash can be a pivotal moment in their career, sometimes costing them millions of dollars. Perform well, and your draft stock may increase, netting you a lucrative rookie contract, but perform poorly, and teams may second-guess you on draft night. Whatever you think about using the 40's ability to accurately measure a player's on-the-field talents, it's still widely used by teams today.
The 10 Fastest 40-Yard Dash Times In The History Of The NFL Combine (& How Their Careers Turned Out)
The 40-yard-dash is arguably the most celebrated assessment at the NFL Combine, as the official times can make or break a player's draft stock.Although it's not always indicative of future NFL success, the 40 is always a hot pre-draft topic every spring. So, let's take a step back in time, and instead of looking at some blazing speeds from the combine, we'll cover a few players that seemed to have two left feet. Did their lack of speed cause there draft stock to slip? Was their snail-like sprint indicative of future success? We'll answer all those questions and more as we line up for 20 NFL players with surprisingly slow 40-yard dash times.
UPDATE: 2024/02/05 18:00 EST BY STEFANO MOCELLA
The NFL Combine can do wonders for a player's draft stock. Every year, we pundits always have a pre-combine mock draft, only to see their order shuffle once they get a look at prospects' raw abilities up close. The 40-yard dash always seems to get the most buzz around the combine. Perhaps it's because it's the quickest event, and as any coach will say, you can't teach speed. Speed is becoming more and more important in today's NFL, as the passing game gains more and more importance. Receivers need the ability to separate, quarterbacks need to have mobility and of course, corners need to keep up with the increasingly speedy receivers. These players have proven though, that speed isn't everything, as their below-average 40-yard dash times was not a deterrent at all to their on-field careers.
23 Davante Adams - 4.56 seconds
Dropped To 2nd Round In 2014
- Adams was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in round 2
- Adams became a perennial Pro Bowler in Green Bay
- Traded to the Oakland Raiders after the 2021 season
Davante Adams was arguably the best receiver in football for a good stretch of his time in Green Bay. While he has undoubtedly been a huge pickup for the Vegas Raiders, he hasn't had the type of quarterback play or the chemistry he had with Aaron Rodgers. Now, a 4.56-yard dash time is hardly considered slow for the average NFL player, but receivers do tend to get judged on harsher standards and Adams didn't have the eye-popping speed back at the 2014 Draft, and the Packers took him in the 2nd round.
Needless to say, speed was not a concern once the Packers saw Adams in action, as he and Rodgers wreaked havoc on secondaries for several years in Green Bay and Adams remains one of the game's best receivers in Las Vegas.
22 Joey Bosa - 4.86 seconds
Premier Pass Rusher For The L.A. Chargers
- Drafted 3rd overall in the 2016 NFL Draft
- NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Four-time Pro Bowler
Joey Bosa is one of the more explosive pass rushers in the NFL. While his younger brother Nick is probably the better overall player, Bosa has proven to be a stalwart for the Chargers since they selected him in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. While Bosa was highly touted heading into that draft, one of the concerns was his below-average 40-yard dash.
At the 2016 Combine, Bosa ran a 4.86. That did little to deter the Chargers, as they selected Bosa 3rd overall and that has proven to be the wise choice. Bosa never looks slow on the field, so the 40-yard dash time has proven to be a non-factor. It just goes to show that combine numbers can only weigh so much on a team's decision.
21 Xavien Howard - 4.58 seconds
Mainstay In Miami's Secondary For Eight Seasons
- Drafted by the Miami Dolphins in Round 2 of 2016 Draft
- Four-time Pro Bowl selection
- 2nd-team All-Pro in 2018
When you get to the corner position, you have higher standards for the 40-yard dash than just about every other position. Xavien Howard's 40-yard dash time has varied quite a bit, but at the Combine, he registered a time of 4.58 seconds. He's proven to be a standout for the Miami Dolphins since he was a second round selection back in the 2016 draft.
He seems to be one of those guys that just hits another gear when he's in game action. Howard usually gets the tough matchups in the secondary and for most of his career, he's proven to be up to that challenge every Sunday.
20 Vick Ballard - 4.65 seconds
Tripped While Attempting The 40-Yard Dash
- 5th round selection by the Indianapolis Colts
- Rushed for 800 yards in his rookie year
- Career derailed by a torn Achilles tendon
Now, 4.65 seconds isn't a horrible time for a running back (it's not great either), but it wasn't his completed 40-yard dash that sent Vick Ballard into the embarrassing NFL combine record books.
In 2012, on the attempt before his completed dash, the Mississippi State prospect tripped at the start, plummeting into the tripod holding the time recorder about ten yards down the field.
Despite his hilarious stumble, the Indianapolis Colts still selected Ballard in the fifth round of the draft. He had a decent career for a fifth rounder, rushing for over 800 yards in his rookie campaign, but blew out his Achilles tendon a few years later, basically bringing an end to his NFL career.
19 Terrence Cody - 5.62 seconds
Standout Prospect Out Of Alabama
- Projected 1st round pick while in college
- Slipped down draft board following disappointing combine performance
- Drafted by Baltimore in round 2 of 2014 Draft
The 6'4", 360-lb. Terrence Cody had the frame that every defensive coordinator dreamed about. The University of Alabama defensive tackle was a highly sought after prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft after clogging up the middle of SEC offensive lines for years. Some experts even had him projected in the top-half of the first round. Then came the NFL combine.
Cody floundered immensely during the 40-yard dash, clocking in at 5.62 seconds. This was the worst time for a defensive tackle in nearly 15 years. Needless to say, Cody slipped to the Ravens in the second round, and due to poor play and off-the-field issues, this mountain of a man was cut by Baltimore in 2014.
18 Kelvin Benjamin - 4.61 seconds
Slipped In 1st Round Following Disappointing Combine Performance
- Top-ranked WR slipped to Carolina Panthers at pick 28
- Benjamin claims he ran a slower dash to land on a better team
- Benjamin played just four NFL seasons
It's not often that you see a receiver go in the first round despite running a 4.6-plus second 40-yard dash, but Kelvin Benjamin is an exception. The big-bodied pass catcher out of Florida State clocked in at a poor 4.61 seconds, leaving scouts to question his ability to perform in the big leagues. Still, Carolina decided to take a chance on the receiver, nabbing him as the 28th pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The craziest part is that Benjamin, who later went on to play for the Buffalo Bills and several other teams, has since claimed that he ran a slower 40-yard dash on purpose so that he could fall to a better team late in the first round. Whatever the case, it's clear that Benjamin's final time was surprisingly slow.
17 Josh Oglesby - 5.80 seconds
Former Wisconsin Badger Slipped Down Draft Boards
- Oglesby went undrafted following a disappointing combine
- Six knee surgeries in Oglesby's collegiate career
- Massive NFL potential at 6'7 and 340 pounds
The University of Wisconsin is famous for developing massive linemen that tend to perform well at the next level. Although, one NFL hopeful, Josh Oglesby had his dreams come to a glaring halt after a poor 2012 combine performance. First off, all the intangibles were there for the offensive tackle: he was a gigantic 6'7 and weighed nearly 340 lbs. But, the big issue for Oglesby was that all that weight did a number on his knees.
The former five-star recruit out of high school had six (yes, six) knee surgeries during his collegiate days, leaving his ligaments hanging on by a thread.
No NFL team wanted to take a risk on the tackle, and after his dismal 5.80 second 40-yard dash, that was all she wrote.
16 Calais Campbell - 4.85 seconds
Irrelevant To Campbell's NFL Success
- Campbell found success with the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Poor combine performance caused Campbell to slip to pick no. 50
- Still in the NFL after 15 seasons, playing in Atlanta
Calais Campbell was set up to be one of the top players in the 2008 NFL Draft. He dazzled scouts at the University of Miami, and with a 6'8", then-282-lb. frame, the pass rusher was projected to be a top 10 pick. Yet, after a poor 4.85-sec 40-yard dash, many scouts wondered if his play in college was simply due to bad competition. Still, Campbell held firm in his belief that his 40 time was not indicative of NFL success, saying, "the only time you run 40s is when you're chasing somebody from behind for a touchdown."
Luckily, he stuck to his word, and over 15 years later, the former defensive lineman proved to be a big-time NFL player in a successful career, as he racked up three Pro Bowl nominations, and made First Team All-Pro in 2017. He is still in the NFL, having spent last season with the Falcons, rendering his combine performance totally irrelevant to his stellar career.
15 Philip Rivers - 5.08 seconds
No Effect On Rivers' Draft Stock
- Drafted 4th Overall By New York Giants (Traded to San Diego For Eli Manning)
- 63,440 career passing yards
- 8-time Pro Bowl selection
Despite his proper vocabulary (it's been noted that he doesn't swear...ever), Philip Rivers is an intense competitor. But, when we rewind nearly 15 years to the 2004 NFL offseason, scouts questioned the quarterback's athleticism. Although he was dominant with the NC State Wolfpack, a poor NFL combine performance, including a 5.08-sec 40-yard dash, marred some teams' hopes for him.
Despite his horrible performance, he was taken fourth overall in a crazy draft day trade involving Eli Manning.
After all these years, it's clear that Rivers' lack of speed was overshadowed by his demeanor in the pocket. While never mistaken for being the best athlete on the field, Rivers always brought fire to his team and put together an incredible career.
14 Damien Mama - 5.84 seconds
Went Undrafted In 2017
- USC standout went undrafted, signing with Kansas City
- Waived, then signed to the Chiefs' practice squad
- Signed by the AAF's San Diego Fleet in 2019
Rumbling. bumbling, stumbling, former USC guard, Damien Mama, was never expected to go too high in the draft, but thanks to his paltry performance at the 2017 NFL Combine, he wasn't drafted at all. The 6'3", 340 lb. guard waddled his way to a 5.84-second 40-yard dash, one of the worst in recent NFL history. Despite his obvious lack of speed, Mama was given a chance by the Kansas City Chiefs, who signed him as an undrafted free agent.
After being waived and then signed to practice squad, Mama's career prospects were glum. He received a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys the following season but to no avail. Mama eventually played professional football, playing in the short-lived AAF, and will now play in the newly formed UFL.
13 Kam Chancellor - 4.69 seconds
Key Member Of Seattle's Legion Of Boom
- Four-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion
- Slipped to the 5th round in the 2010 Draft
- Retired in 2018 following neck issues
The Super Bowl champion and four-time Pro Bowler, Kam Chancellor, didn't start his career on the right foot. Back in the 2010 Combine, the hard-hitting safety out of Virginia Tech ran a dismal 4.69-second 40-yard dash. While that might not seem too slow compared to some of the other players you've read about today, to put it into perspective, the average 40-time for a safety is 4.62. Considering Chancellor's illustrious career as a member of the Seahawks' "Legion of Boom," it's crazy to think that he didn't have top-notch speed.
Tyler Huntley (& 9 More Of The Strangest Pro Bowl Selections Ever)
The Pro Bowl is supposed to feature the best of the best, but the NFL has seen a number of strange, undeserving picks being made over the years.On July 1, 2018, the former fifth-round pick announced his retirement from the NFL due to a devastating neck injury. Seattle fans hoped he would stage a comeback, but his retirement proved to be final.
12 Larry Fitzgerald - 4.63 seconds
Arguably The Best WR Of His Era
- Drafted 3rd overall by Arizona Cardinals in 2004
- Second all-time in career receiving yards
- NFL 2010's All-Decade team
The living legend, Larry Fitzgerald, has proven over the years that speed isn't everything.
During the 2004 Combine, the 6'3" receiver out of Pitt ran a less-than-average 4.63-second 40-yard dash (many believed it to be a timer error), yet that didn't stop the Cardinals from selecting him with the third overall pick.
Needless to say, the franchise was right on the money with their selection. Fitzgerald went on to be an 11-time Pro Bowler, and is the NFL's second-leading receiver of all time to Jerry Rice. There is no doubt that this future Hall of Famer was better than his 4.63-second breakaway speed.
11 Anquan Boldin - 4.71 seconds
Slipped To 2nd Round In 2003 Draft
- Drafted 54th overall by Arizona Cardinals
- Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens
- Retired 14th all-time in career receiving yards
A hot topic in today's "hot take" NFL coverage is: "do you think Anquan Boldin is a hall of famer?" You'll get a broad range of answers and arguments from across the media, but if we transport back to the 2003 NFL Combine, the resounding answer would be "definitely not."
That's because the 6'1", 220-lb. receiver out of Florida State ran a terrible 40-yard dash, clocking in at 4.71 seconds. The poor time made him slip to the second-round, where the Cardinals selected him 54th overall. Fast forward to today, now retired, Boldin sits 14th overall in all-time receiving yards, and there is a distinct possibility that we'll see his bust in Canton someday.
10 Alfred Morris - 4.67 seconds
Drafted In 6th Round By Washington
- Three consecutive 1000 yard seasons in Washington
- 13 Touchdowns in his rookie season
- Two-time Pro Bowler
The average 40-yard dash time for a running back is 4.59 seconds, so Alfred Morris's 4.67-sec 40 is well below average. For Morris, who had the odds stacked against him as a running back from the small school of Florida Atlantic University, running a paltry 40-yard dash at the combine was extremely detrimental to his draft stock. Luckily, the Redskins (now Commanders) were able to scoop him up in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, and Washington made the right decision.
Through his first three seasons in the nation's capital, Morris recorded three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Morris wound up bouncing around the league once Washington let him walk. Morris would have a couple of stints in Dallas, and one in San Francisco, before landing with the New York Giants back in 2020. Following his release in 2021 training camp, Morris has been out of the league.
9 Joe Haden - 4.57 seconds
Top CB Prospect In 2010 Draft
- 35" vertical jump and below-average 40-yard dash
- Drafted 7th overall by the Cleveland Browns
- Three-time Pro Bowler in 12 NFL seasons
Joe Haden was widely recognized in 2010 as his class's top cornerback prospect. The University of Florida standout, and unanimous All-American, was poised to make an immediate impact in the NFL. Yet, during the combine, Haden floundered with only a 35" vertical jump and a below-average 40-yard dash.
Depending on the source, Haden ran the sprint with a time of 4.57, or 4.52, yet both are not up to snuff for the prototypical NFL cornerback.
The Cleveland Browns looked past this poor performance, and selected Haden with the seventh overall pick. Haden ultimately proved his doubters wrong and notched three Pro Bowl appearances in his career, having solid stints in both Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
8 Zach Miller - 4.86 seconds
Solid Career At Tight End
- Drafted by the Raiders in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft
- 2010 Pro Bowler
- Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks
Former NFL tight end, Zach Miller, who played for both Oakland and Seattle, ran a surprisingly slow 40-yard dash during the 2007 NFL Combine. The 6'5", 255-lb. pass catcher out of Arizona State clocked in at a dismal 4.86 seconds, well below the normal cut for top TE talent.
Still, the Raiders took Miller in the early second round of the draft, and he went on to prove his critics wrong. In 2010, Miller made the Pro Bowl, and he was an integral member of the Seahawks squad that dominated Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
7 Terrell Suggs - 4.84 seconds
Stalwart For The Intimidating Baltimore Ravens Defense
- Drafted 10th overall by Baltimore in 2010 Draft
- Cornerstone of Baltimore's linebacking corps alongside Ray Lewis
- 2011 Defensive Player of the Year
Another former Arizona State Sun Devil, Terrell Suggs, was at the top of every franchise's draft board coming into the 2003 NFL Combine. During his last year in college, the 6'3", 265-lb. defensive end strung together an outstanding performance, setting an NCAA-record with 24 sacks. Although, during the combine, "T-Sizzle" sizzled away his chances as a top pick with an unimpressive 4.84-sec 40-yard dash and a measly 19 reps on the bench press.
The Ravens were able to get the future NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the 10th overall pick. Now, with such a historic career in the record books, I don't think anyone is questioning Suggs' poor combine performance.
6 Antonio Brown - 4.56 seconds
4-Time First-Team All-Pro
- Drafted in the 6th round by Pittsburgh in 2010
- NFL 2010's All-Decade Team
- Won Super Bowl 55 With Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antonio Brown is the king of NFL nicknames. There's "Ronald Ocean." There's "Tony Toe Tap." Heck, he's even a member of the "Young Money" crew and the Pittsburgh's "Killer B's." But, one nickname that you won't hear from Brown's teammates, albeit true, is none other than: "Poor 40 Tony."
Depending on the source, Brown's 40-yard dash time at the 2010 NFL Combine seems to vary, but for according to draftscout.com, the Central Michigan receiver ran a paltry 4.57-seconds.
Despite the poor performance, Pittsburgh clearly saw something in Brown, and scooped him up in the sixth round, and boy, when Steelers fans reminisce on this selection, they can't help but smile. While Brown proved to wear out his welcome with several NFL teams, there's no doubt that when he was on, he was one of the game's best receivers for the better part of the 2010s.
5 Maurice Clarett - 4.72 Seconds
Career Derailed By Off-Field Issues
- Over 1200 yards in his freshman year at Ohio State
- 2002 National Champion with the Buckeyes
- Drafted in the 3rd round of 2005 draft by the Broncos
Notably one of the biggest busts in football history, former Ohio State running back, Maurice Clarett, floundered his opportunity in the NFL with off-field issues and a horrible performance at the combine. At Ohio State, Clarett dominated the competition during his 2002 freshman year, racking up 1,237 yards and leading the Buckeyes to a National Championship. Yet, between spats with coaches and some crazy antics off the gridiron, he was released from the team.
Still, just a few years later, Clarett attempted to make it into the NFL. During the combine, he ran a horrible 4.72-second 40-yard dash, most likely because he was away from football for so long. The Broncos decided to take a chance on him at the end of the third round of the 2005 Draft, but he was soon released.
4 Jerry Rice - 4.71 seconds
The G.O.A.T Of Wide Receivers
- 3-Time Super Bowl Champion
- NFL's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Okay, so this slow 40-yard dash is up for debate. Jerry Rice, the top receiver of all time, has been noted to have run a turtle-like 4.71-sec 40-yard dash. Some sources have said to have clocked the Mississippi Valley State receiver at a time of sub-4.50, while San Francisco 49ers GM Bill Walsh said that Rice ran a 4.59. Still, whatever way you look at it, Rice didn't impress too many scouts back in 1985.
Yet, something from the pass catcher's college highlights caught the 49ers' eye, and they traded two first-round picks to the New England Patriots so that they could move up and grab the future Hall of Famer. Looking back on Rice's career, it's safe to say that he had faster 40-yard dash speed than this number suggested, as he constantly broke free from the secondary.