Predicting Fastest 40-Yard Dashes at NFL Combine

With the Pittsburgh Steelers headed to the NFL Combine, it's time to talk about the fastest prospects.

NFL Combine week is upon us, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will get an up close and personal look at some insanely fast athletes in Indianapolis. 

The medicals and interviews are the most important aspect of the week as far as the prospects are concerned, but the testing numbers do indeed matter to some degree. The 40-yard dash is what the people tune in to see, those 4+ seconds can be the definition of exhilarating cinema. 

Every year, I like to try and guess which players will run the fastest 40 times for their position groups. If anything, it gives you a good idea of which speedsters to pay attention to when tuning in this week. 

QB: Malik Cunningham (Louisville)

Cunningham is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in school history, but it's his athletic ability that's always stood out. In 2022, Cunningham broke 12 runs of more than 15 yards, second most among NCAA quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Cunningham was a late add to the Senior Bowl but made the most of his opportunity, at least in terms of showing off his wheels, reportedly clocking in at 20.99 MPH on the GPS, per Jim Nagy. 

He can flat-out fly, and I'm expecting a number somewhere in the low 4.4s.

Also Considered: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) and Anthony Richardson (Florida)

RB: Devon Achane (Texas A&M)

Don't be fooled by his build, Achane is more than your prototypical scat back, but his unbelievable speed is obviously his calling card. Beyond blazing up the football field, Achane has also been a track star for the Aggies, recently blazing a 6.63 60M dash in 2022, the third fastest in school history. 

I'm not sure that he's going to quite threaten John Ross' record 4.22 40-yard dash time, but he's got as good of a shot as anyone does given his background. 

Also Considered: Bijan Robinson (Texas) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama)

WR: Tyler Scott (Cincinnati) 

Having watched all of Desmond Ridder's throws from the 2021 season, I became quite familiar with Scott's game last year, and the speed just jumped off the tape. 

If he's even, he's leaving, and Scott is one of the premier deep threats in this class who does his best work on a vertical plane. Scott is a member of Bruce Feldman's 2022 Freaks list and has reportedly ran a 4.29 40-yard dash which matches what's on tape. 

Also Considered: Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee) and Tre Tucker (Cincinnati)

EDGE: Nolan Smith (Georgia)

I'm going out of a limb here and guessing (more like praying) that Nolan Smith ends up working out in Indy because if he does, he's going to knock the testing portion out of the park. 

The edge class is loaded from top down, meaning that Smith has kind of fallen off the map just a bit after having his season ended prematurely due to injury. Whether it's now or at his Pro Day, Smith has the chance to put himself right back into that mid-first-round conversation once he reminds people how explosive of an athlete he is. 

Also Considered: Dylan Horton (TCU) and B.J. Ojulari (LSU)

ILB: Trenton Simpson (Clemson)

I have some reservations about Trenton Simpson's game as it pertains to his eyes and processing speed, but there are zero concerns about his athletic ability. 

Simpson was made in a lab, with unreal sideline-to-sideline mobility with a legit 6-3, 240-pound frame. According to his coaches, Simpson has run his 40-yard dash in the 4.3s which should be more than enough to come away with the prize within his position group. 

I feel pretty confident in this pick and that Simpson will test like an absolute freak if he chooses to show off in Indy.

Also Considered: Owen Pappoe (Auburn)

CB: D.J. Turner (Michigan)

This is the position group that is going to be must-see TV when the defensive backs take the field on Friday. 

Turner is a ridiculous athlete on film and has as good of a chance as anyone does to take home this award. Another Feldman's freak member, Turner has reportedly clocked 23.07 MPH on the GPS with a 4.28 40-yard dash while also potentially breaking the combine record in the 3-cone drill. 

Not only is Turner extremely fast, but it's also how fast he can get to that top gear that gives me hope that he'll come away with the crown. 

Also Considered: Kelee Ringo (Georgia) and Trevius Hodges-Tomlinson (TCU)

S: Brian Branch (Alabama)

It feels like I've been driving the Brian Branch bandwagon for quite some time, but truth be told, J.L. Skinner from Boise State was going to be my pick here before news of his injury broke earlier this week.

Branch is really twitched up with good speed for the position, and he comes with plenty of versatility whether that be as a box safety or a slot corner. 

More than anything, I feel like Branch will post an extremely enticing 10-yard split time and I'm hoping that carries over into the 40.

Also Considered: Trey Dean (Florida) and Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M)

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