The NFL Scouting Combine is one of the most important events in the lead-up to the NFL draft.
The combine gives teams a chance to evaluate college prospects in a standardized setting, through a variety of physical and mental tests. If you're a fan of the NFL or college football, the combine is a great opportunity to see the next generation of stars before they take the field on Sundays.
In this guide, we'll break down the most important workouts at the combine and what they mean for each position group. We'll also provide generally acceptable measurements for each position, based on historical data and expert analysis.
40-Yard Dash: Testing Baseline Speed
The 40-yard dash is one of the most well-known workouts at the combine, and it's a test of pure speed. Players run 40 yards in a straight line as fast as possible, with the start being controlled by the runner rather than reacting to a starting gun. While the 40-yard dash is often overrated, it can be a useful measure for certain positions.
Acceptable Measurements by Position:
Wide Receivers: 4.5 seconds or faster
Running Backs: 4.6 seconds or faster
Cornerbacks: 4.4 seconds or faster
Safeties: 4.5 seconds or faster
Offensive Linemen: N/A (not typically tested)
20-Yard Shuttle: Testing Lateral Agility and Acceleration
The 20-yard shuttle, also known as the 5-10-5 drill, is a test of lateral agility and acceleration. Players start in the middle of three cones placed five yards apart, run five yards to the left, then 10 yards to the right, before finishing back in the middle. This drill is particularly important for players who need to change direction quickly, such as receivers, running backs, defensive backs, and linebackers.
Acceptable Measurements by Position:
Wide Receivers: 4.2 seconds or faster
Running Backs: 4.3 seconds or faster
Cornerbacks: 4.1 seconds or faster
Safeties: 4.2 seconds or faster
Linebackers: 4.3 seconds or faster
3 Cone Drill: Testing Agility in Tight Spaces
The 3 cone drill is a test of agility in tight spaces, and it's primarily used to evaluate pass rushers. Players race from the first cone in a straight line, touch and come back, then repeat, this time running the full L pattern before coming back to the start. While this drill is less important than the 40-yard dash or 20-yard shuttle, it can be a useful measure for certain positions.
Acceptable Measurements by Position:
Wide Receivers: N/A (not typically tested)
Running Backs: N/A (not typically tested)
Cornerbacks: 6.8 seconds or faster
Safeties: 6.9 seconds or faster
Linebackers: 7.1 seconds or faster
Defensive Linemen: 7.3 seconds or faster
Bench Press: Testing Upper Body Strength and Endurance
The bench press is a test of upper body strength and endurance. Players are given a standardized weight of 225 pounds and see how many reps they can complete. While this drill is most important for offensive and defensive linemen, it can be useful for other positions as well.
Acceptable Measurements by Position:
Wide Receivers: 12 reps or more
Running Backs: 14 reps or more
Cornerbacks: 12 reps or more
Safeties: 14 reps or more
Linebackers: 16 reps or more
Defensive Linemen: 25 reps or more
Offensive Linemen: 25 reps or more
Vertical Jump: Testing Explosiveness
The vertical jump is a test of explosiveness, which measures how high a player can jump from a standing position. Players stand flat-footed and jump straight up, reaching as high as possible to touch a flag. This drill is important for players who need to jump to catch or deflect passes, such as receivers, defensive backs, and linebackers.
Acceptable Measurements by Position:
Wide Receivers: 36 inches or higher
Running Backs: 36 inches or higher
Cornerbacks: 36 inches or higher
Safeties: 36 inches or higher
Linebackers: 36 inches or higher
Defensive Linemen: 32 inches or higher
Offensive Linemen: 29 inches or higher
Broad Jump: Testing Lower Body Explosiveness
The broad jump is another test of explosiveness, but it measures how far a player can jump from a standing position. Players start behind a line and jump forward as far as possible, landing with both feet. This drill is important for players who need to explode off the line of scrimmage, such as defensive linemen and running backs.
Acceptable Measurements by Position:
Wide Receivers: 10 feet or longer
Running Backs: 10 feet or longer
Cornerbacks: 10 feet or longer
Safeties: 10 feet or longer
Linebackers: 10 feet or longer
Defensive Linemen: 9 feet or longer
Offensive Linemen: N/A (not typically tested)
NFL teams also measure and evaluate players based on various physical and medical attributes. Here are some generally accepted measurements by position group:
Quarterbacks:
Height: 6'2" - 6'5"
Weight: 225 - 245 lbs
Hand size: 9.5" - 10.5"
Running Backs:
Height: 5'10" - 6'1"
Weight: 215 - 230 lbs
Hand size: 9" - 10"
Wide Receivers:
Height: 5'11" - 6'3"
Weight: 190 - 215 lbs
Hand size: 8.5" - 10.25"
Wingspan: 70" - 78"
(Shorter wide receivers should have a speed and agility element to their game that makes up for their size disadavantage)
Tight Ends:
Height: 6'3" - 6'6"
Weight: 240 - 260 lbs
Hand size: 9" - 10"
Wingspan: 75" - 80"
Offensive Linemen:
Height: 6'4" - 6'7"
Weight: 300 - 330 lbs
Hand size: 9.5" - 10.5"
Arm length: 33" - 36"
Defensive Linemen:
Height: 6'3" - 6'6"
Weight: 275 - 305 lbs
Hand size: 9.5" - 10.5"
Arm length: 33" - 36"
Linebackers:
Height: 6'1" - 6'4"
Weight: 225 - 250 lbs
Hand size: 9" - 10"
Wingspan: 75" - 80"
Defensive Backs:
Height: 5'10" - 6'2"
Weight: 190 - 210 lbs
Hand size: 8.5" - 9.5"
Wingspan: 70" - 78"
In addition to these physical measurements, NFL teams also conduct medical evaluations and player interviews to get a better understanding of each player's health, character, and football IQ. The medical evaluation includes a physical examination, medical history review, and injury assessment. The player interviews give teams a chance to get to know each player better and assess their personality, work ethic, and leadership qualities. NFL teams also look for players who have a passion for the game, are coachable, and can perform well under pressure.
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