Pace performs an outsized position in assessing an NFL prospect. That is very true with regards to huge receivers.
A number of pass-catchers have seen their fortunes rise and fall due to their 40-yard sprint instances. For some, a surprising quantity can set unfair expectations. For others, a slower-than-expected 40 can price them thousands and thousands of {dollars} when their draft inventory slides accordingly.
John Ross, for instance, was by no means capable of reside as much as the top-10 draft choose standing the Cincinnati Bengals bestowed upon him after setting the NFL Mix report by blazing a 4.22s 40-yard sprint. Cooper Kupp, nonetheless, didn’t check effectively sufficient to shake his “massive fish, small pond” vibes after eviscerating the competitors at Jap Washington and slid to the third spherical of the 2017 Draft.
On Thursday, the 2022 class of wideouts left its mark because the quickest of all time after eight totally different receivers ran 40 instances underneath the 4.4s barrier. There have been a pair notable names who slid down that listing of this yr’s quickest WRs, nonetheless. Arkansas Treylon Burks and Purdue’s David Bell every ran 4.55s or worse to complete within the backside third of their class within the exercise.
That’s not best, nevertheless it’s not a harbinger of issues to return. Since 2010, greater than 20 receivers have gone from operating 4.5s+ in Indianapolis to beginning roles and seasons with a minimum of 800 receiving yards.
Let’s take the highest 15 most impactful wideouts who ran (comparatively gradual) on the Mix. What developments do we discover on this listing? Nicely, it seems straight-line pace isn’t a dealbreaker should you’re massive, play primarily within the slot or are Kupp/DeAndre Hopkins. Let’s check out probably the most notable names.
DeAndre Hopkins: 4.57s in 2013
Top: 6’1
Weight: 214 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 5
Professional Bowl appearances: 6
Davante Adams: 4.56s in 2014
Top: 6’1
Weight: 212 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 3
Professional Bowl appearances: 5
Mike Evans: 4.53s in 2014
Top: 6’5
Weight: 231 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 8
Professional Bowl appearances: 4
Antonio Brown: 4.56s in 2010
Top: 5’10
Weight: 186 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 7
Professional Bowl appearances: 7
Demaryius Thomas: 4.52s in 2010
Top: 6’3
Weight: 224 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 5
Professional Bowl appearances: 4
Dez Bryant: 4.52s in 2010
Top: 6’2
Weight: 225 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 3
Professional Bowl appearances: 3
Cooper Kupp: 4.62s in 2017
Top: 6’2
Weight: 204 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 2
Professional Bowl appearances: 1
Allen Robinson: 4.6s in 2014
Top: 6’3
Weight: 220 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 3
Professional Bowl appearances: 1
Kenny Golladay: 4.5s in 2017
Top: 6’4
Weight: 218 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 2
Professional Bowl appearances: 1
Jarvis Landry: 4.65s in 2014
Top: 5’11
Weight: 205 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 3
Professional Bowl appearances: 5
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 4.54s in 2017
Top: 6’1
Weight: 215 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 1
Professional Bowl appearances: 1
Diontae Johnson: 4.53s in 2019
Top: 5’10
Weight: 183 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 1
Professional Bowl appearances: 1
Tyler Boyd: 4.58s in 2016
Top: 6’1
Weight: 197 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 2
Professional Bowl appearances: 0
Courtland Sutton: 4.54s in 2018
Top: 6’3
Weight: 218 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 1
Professional Bowl appearances: 1
Michael Pittman: 4.52s in 2020
Top: 6’4
Weight: 223 lbs
1,000-yard seasons within the NFL: 1
Professional Bowl appearances: 0
What does this imply for Bell and Burks?
Each Bell and Burks would have favored to run quicker, however given their frames and positions, comparatively gradual 40 instances gained’t sink their draft inventory. The most effective insulation for an absence of perceived quickness is measurement; six of the 15 guys who went on to profitable careers clocked in at a minimum of 6’2 and 218 kilos. Burks’ official measurement was 6’2, 225. He’s received the meat to energy by way of protection and herald contested catches, particularly along with his capability to make grabs along with his arms away from his physique:
