40 yard speed is time speed at the combine, pro days, etc. with the player in shorts and shirt, running on a perfectly straight and level track designed for running. Football is seldom like that. And some guys train hard to run a great 40 time, some don't. I suspect there are many players who, if they run a 4.45 or such at the combine, could have done better if they worked at it, but didn't care to.
But just for grins I looked up the top 40 time guys at the combine ever. They are:
. 4.22 seconds, John Ross, WR (2017)
- 4.24 seconds: Rondel Menedez, WR (1999)
- 4.26 seconds: Jerome Mathis, WR (2005)
- 4.27 seconds: Marquise Goodwin, WR (2013)
- 4.27 seconds: Henry Ruggs III, WR (2020)
- 4.28 seconds: Jacoby Ford, WR (2010)
- 4.28 seconds: J.J. Nelson, WR (2015)
- 4.30 seconds: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR (2009)
We can take Ruggs off as he's not played yet, but most of the rest haven't had careers any better than slower receivers.
- 4.30 seconds: Yamon Figurs, WR (2007)
If great speed is such a big advantage it would seem more of the above would have had HOF or multiple All Pro careers. Taking a player just because he has exceptional speed is not a good idea...
Bob Hayes would have run under 4.2 if there was such a thing back then. Randy Moss ran a 4.25. Devin Hester a 4.24 and Tyreek Hill a 4.24 as well. Speed is no guarantee of success, but it helps quite a bit. The thing about a guy with speed is not what he can do catching passes or running sweeps. Its also how his speed affects the defense to that others can succeed.
The Eagles have 2 sub-4.3 guys now and DeSean Jackson who ran a 4.35. Clearly they are trying to copy the Chiefs.
If anyone is interested:
Jourdan Lewis - 4.54
Chidobe Awuzie - 4.43
Anthony Brown - 4.35
Maurice Canaday - 4.49
Reggie Robinson - 4.44
Diggs did not run at the combine, but he is not reputed to be a fast guy. I doubt he runs under 4.5
For what it's worth Byron Jones ran a 4.40 on h is pro day.
To be fair Chris Johnson was a monster until injuries got him. He was a rushing champion 1 year and in the running the rest... again until injuries. Bo Jackson was another underwear olympics champion and was destined for sure fire HOF until his hip joint exploded. But yeah, I agree with you speed isn't everything but it's nice to have it whenever you can.This is why you see guys who perform in the underwear olympics sometimes get drafted over other players with superior talent only to see them fail.
John Ross III
Donte Stallworth
Chris Johnson
Rondell Montez
Dri Archer
Jerome Mathis
Marquis Goodwin
Stanford Routt
Jalen Myric
JJ Nelson
DeMarcus Van Dyke
Jacoby Ford
All of those players were speed demons from the Combine.
One or two MIGHT be a future HOF but that is a big Might.
The majority of them turned out to be either complete nobodies or a slight blip on the radar.
Straight line speed looks good on paper but for the most part does not beat out playing speed and talent.
Your talking about 1 guy who is considered elite like receivers like him grow on trees.Yeah then there is Tyreek Hill who flys by the DB with or without pads. Pretty much makes the CB play safety position.
Dallas has accumulated too many WRs that are lesser clone of each other and really do not compliment the players on the roster fully.
This offense needs true speed and right now just about every team has WRs that runS 4.4 NFL WRs. Dallas should acquire someone like J.J Nelson 4.2 forty time that can blow the top off defense consistently.
Another option is to trade Gallup who really is a #3 with CD in the building and the front office shouldn’t overpay for a consistent ball dropping #3 receiver.
Jesus Christ..........this is not the time of the year to trade guys. You do not get the most of your value. Gallup, Lamb and Amari have fine speed. You don't need 4.2 speed to be fast.
Dallas has accumulated too many WRs that are lesser clone of each other and really do not compliment the players on the roster fully.
This offense needs true speed and right now just about every team has WRs that runS 4.4 NFL WRs. Dallas should acquire someone like J.J Nelson 4.2 forty time that can blow the top off defense consistently.
Another option is to trade Gallup who really is a #3 with CD in the building and the front office shouldn’t overpay for a consistent ball dropping #3 receiver.
I agree,Jerry rice ran a 4.6 40.... Austin runs a 4.3 40. Michael Irvin ran a 4.6 40. Williams ran a 4.4 40.....which would you take? tell me about how they run routes, how they get off the line, can they catch, they all run in the 4.4's like you said which is more than enough for deep balls. you don't need a 4.3 guy and those guys are rare and rarely are they good. don't forget we still have Smith and Austin on the team, both speed guys. outside of JJ Nelson how many other 4.2 guys are out there? you said every team has 4.4 guys...that's what's needed...but there is only one or 2 4.2 guy....plus it looks like the guy is already going down hill. at 161.....and 5/11"....I am not surprised
Why don't we just trade Lamb (4.5 40 yard dash) to the Eagles for Reagor (4.47 40 yard dash)
Dallas has accumulated too many WRs that are lesser clone of each other and really do not compliment the players on the roster fully.
This offense needs true speed and right now just about every team has WRs that runS 4.4 NFL WRs. Dallas should acquire someone like J.J Nelson 4.2 forty time that can blow the top off defense consistently.
Another option is to trade Gallup who really is a #3 with CD in the building and the front office shouldn’t overpay for a consistent ball dropping #3 receiver.
it helps if you have all the other skills. there are plenty of guys who run fast and amounted to a hill of beans....if you don't know how to set up a DB, run a route, have the hands, good foot work etc. all the speed is good for nothing....dallas has had a couple of those Olympians, I think one of them owns the fasted TD scored in the NFL running a kick back, tall too, big bodies, ran a 4.29...sucked as a WRBob Hayes would have run under 4.2 if there was such a thing back then. Randy Moss ran a 4.25. Devin Hester a 4.24 and Tyreek Hill a 4.24 as well. Speed is no guarantee of success, but it helps quite a bit. The thing about a guy with speed is not what he can do catching passes or running sweeps. Its also how his speed affects the defense to that others can succeed.
The Eagles have 2 sub-4.3 guys now and DeSean Jackson who ran a 4.35. Clearly they are trying to copy the Chiefs.
If anyone is interested:
Jourdan Lewis - 4.54
Chidobe Awuzie - 4.43
Anthony Brown - 4.35
Maurice Canaday - 4.49
Reggie Robinson - 4.44
Diggs did not run at the combine, but he is not reputed to be a fast guy. I doubt he runs under 4.5
For what it's worth Byron Jones ran a 4.40 on h is pro day.
randy ran good routes, knew how to set up a defender, had good foot work, learned and progressed. the speed and jumping ability just made him special.But there was more to Randy Moss at 6'04 he could out jump DB's for the ball. Hill is a good player, Hester was a great return man but not much in terms of production as a WR. I don't think anyone is saying speed means nothing but it is take a lot more than speed to make it in the NFL.
there was another guy that played during the same time as that guy, ran a 4.6, can't recall his name, Michael or something like that....The best receiver in history ran well over 4.5.
Flat line speed is overrated. Route running precision, great hands, reading coverages, toughness, contested catch ability are just as important. Brice Butler ran a sub 4.4 forty and he was highly inconsistent.