Henry Ruggs III ran a 4.27 40-yard dash this week at the NFL Combine, and teams are salivating even more now over the Alabama product. Speed kills, but viewer discretion is still advised. Consider some of the more recent sub-4.30 times by wide receivers.
John Ross (2017) – 4.22
Career Stats: 49 rec, 716 yards, 10 TD
Jerome Mathis (2005) – 4.26
Career Stats: 6 rec, 80 yards, 1 TD
Jacoby Ford (2010) – 4.28
Career Stats: 57 rec, 848 yards, 3 TD, 4 kickoff returns for TD
JJ Nelson (2015) – 4.28
Career Stats: 85 rec, 1,475 yards, 11 TD
Now kindly consider their predecessors….
Terrell Owens – 4.45
Career Stats: 1,078 rec, 15,934 yards, 153 TD
Devante Adams – 4.56
Career Stats: 431 rec, 5,194 yards, 44 TD
Michael Thomas – 4.57
Career Stats: 470 rec, 5,512 yards, 32 TD
Jerry Rice – 4.71
Career Stats: 1,549 rec, 22,895 yards, 197 TD
Obviously, the system, their usage, and their overall playing time factor into their production, but let’s at least admit that a fast 40 does not always translate to success at the next level.
Ruggs III will be a first-round pick, and deservedly so, but a fast 40 is merely icing on the cake of an already impressive resume and skill set. The ‘forty’ time isn’t everything.