One of the most compelling elements of watching football is the speed that it all goes down. For that reason, we’re drawn to the players who burn it up the most – the fastest players in the NFL.
The 40-yard dash in the NFL combine has long been a way for scouts to evaluate the speed of football players as they make their way through the NFL Draft. While it is only a benchmark taken before they play a meaningful moment of NFL football, a player’s combine time is nonetheless a solid indicator of the roadrunners of the modern NFL’s landscape…and how, in some cases, speed isn’t everything.
Read on for the players who have laid down the fastest-ever times at the NFL combine and how these times stack up against their actual on-field performance.
It’s all part of our ongoing preparations for the NFL season. Get set for 2014 by creating a betting account now and reading on for our look at the fastest feet in the game.
[sc:Football ]Five Fastest Players in the NFL Combine
1) Chris Johnson – 2008 (4.24 seconds)
[sc:NFL240banner ]Chris Johnson stunned scouts with a mind-blowing time of 4.24 seconds during the 2008 NFL combine. The East Carolina graduate exploits were rewarded when he was drafted 24th overall in the first round by the Tennessee Titans.
For Johnson, speed paid dividends. In his second year in the NFL, Johnson won the rushing title with 2,006 yards (only seven players have managed the feat) and broke Marshall Faulk’s record of total yards from scrimmage with 2,509. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2009.
He has suffered a dip in form recently, leading to his release by the Titans and eventual signing with the New York Jets. Regardless, Johnson can still claim to be the fastest player in the NFL as his record time remains unbroken up to now.
2) Dri Archer – 2014 (4.26 seconds)
The former Kent State star made CJ2K nervous when he almost beat his record with a time of 4.26 seconds in the NFL combine this year. The 22-year-old running back was drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers as they try to improve on their rushing game which was just 28th in the league last year with an 86.4 average.
Archer is poised to impress on a Steelers offense that will give him opportunities to leave defenders behind with his ability to beat them to the edge.
3) Jerome Mathis – 2005 (4.26 seconds)
The 30-year-old Virginia native set a blazing time of 4.26 seconds in the 2005 NFL combine alerting scouts all over with his raw speed. The Houston Texans selected him in the fourth round of that year’s draft and was assigned as the kick returner of the squad. He was an instant hit returning for 1,542 yards in 54 returns for the Texans in his rookie season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the AFC that year as their starting kick returner.
4) Marquise Goodwin – 2013 (4.27 seconds)
The 23-year-old Texan showed his Olympic chops at the 2013 NFL combine when he set a time of 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Goodwin, who represented the United States in the long jump event in the 2012 Summer Olympics, was drafted 78th overall in the third round by the Buffalo Bills.
As a wide receiver, he caught 17 passes for 283 yards as he hauled down three touchdowns in an injury-plagued rookie season. Much is expected from Goodwin, though, to improve on his performance last year, particularly on his kick returns. He finished with just 16 last year for 351 yards, a 21.9-yard average with his longest return being only 28 yards.
5) Champ Bailey – 1999 (4.28 seconds)
It is a testament to the greatness of Champ Bailey that, 15 years after setting the NFL Combine record time of 4.28 seconds in 1999, he is still terrorizing opposing offenses in the NFL. He was drafted seventh overall in the first round by the Washington Redskins where he signed a $12 million, five-year contract.
During his illustrious 15-year career, he has accumulated 925 tackles and intercepted 52 passes. He has been to the Pro Bowl 12 times setting the record for the most number of appearances by a cornerback in the showpiece event. Bailey was signed recently by the New Orleans Saints to a two-year deal.
All told, the above list suggests clearly that speed counts, no matter where it is applied on the field. From offense to defense, the players who can outrun their colleagues leave their competition in the dust.
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