The NFL Combine is almost here! That means a full week of intense testing, both mentally and physically, for some of the best athletes to ever grace planet Earth.

But what does the NFL Combine mean for these incoming 2024 NFL Draft prospects? And what key numbers do we need to know to better understand the athletic testing results for all these future NFL stars?

Many people already have a grasp on what's "fast" in the forty-yard dash. Most could probably guess that 40 inches is pretty good in the vertical jump. But many might not know important benchmarks or averages to be looking for as we head into NFL Combine week.

Before we dive into a quick breakdown to explain what this athletic testing means, let's take a look at the averages (since the year 2000) from key measurements and drills for every single position group. [All measurement averages subject to rounding]

Quarterback

• Height: 6'2.75"
• Weight: 221.3 pounds
• Hand: 9.6"
• Arm: 31.9"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 4.83 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 31.3"
• Broad Jump: 9'2.9"
• Shuttle: 4.33 seconds
• 3-Cone: 7.15 seconds
• Bench Press: 19.4 reps (225 pounds)

Running Back

• Height: 5'10.5"
• Weight: 212.3 pounds
• Hand: 9.2"
• Arm: 30.9"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 4.56 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 34.4"
• Broad Jump: 9'10.3"
• Shuttle: 4.28 seconds
• 3-Cone: 7.07 seconds
• Bench Press: 19.5 reps (225 pounds)

Wide Receiver

• Height: 6'0.7"
• Weight: 200.8 pounds
• Hand: 9.4"
• Arm: 31.9"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 4.52 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 35.4"
• Broad Jump: 10'1.2"
• Shuttle: 4.24 seconds
• 3-Cone: 6.98 seconds
• Bench Press: 14.8 reps (225 pounds)

Tight End

• Height: 6'4.4"
• Weight: 252.8 pounds
• Hand: 9.8"
• Arm: 33"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 4.78 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 33"
• Broad Jump: 9'6.9"
• Shuttle: 4.37 seconds
• 3-Cone: 7.18 seconds
• Bench Press: 20.1 reps (225 pounds)

Offensive Line

• Height: 6'4.6"
• Weight: 312.2 pounds
• Hand: 10"
• Arm: 33.5"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 5.27 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 28"
• Broad Jump: 8'6.3"
• Shuttle: 4.74 seconds
• 3-Cone: 7.84 seconds
• Bench Press: 25.2 reps (225 pounds)

Defensive Line

• Height: 6'3.4"
• Weight: 285.4 pounds
• Hand: 9.8"
• Arm: 33.3"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 4.96 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 31.3"
• Broad Jump: 9'2.8"
• Shuttle: 4.53 seconds
• 3-Cone: 7.49 seconds
• Bench Press: 25.4 reps (225 pounds)

Linebackers

• Height: 6'1.6"
• Weight: 238.8 pounds
• Hand: 9.6"
• Arm: 32.3"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 4.71 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 34.1"
• Broad Jump: 9'9.3"
• Shuttle: 4.30 seconds
• 3-Cone: 7.14 seconds
• Bench Press: 22.1 reps (225 pounds)

Defensive Backs

• Height: 5'11.7"
• Weight: 198.2 pounds
• Hand: 9.2"
• Arm: 31.4"
• Forty-Yard Dash: 4.53 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 35.8"
• Broad Jump: 10'1.4"
• Shuttle: 4.19 seconds
• 3-Cone: 6.98 seconds
• Bench Press: 15.5 reps (225 pounds)

NFL Combine Testing Impact

In most cases, NFL Combine testing is simply used as a threshold test. NFL teams are looking for prospects to show them that they at least meet minimum athletic requirements to stick with the top athletes on the football field.

However, when players greatly exceed or fall short of expectations you can bet that their draft capital projections take a hit. In fact, when a player tests above the 90th percentile or below the 10th percentile in multiple on-field athletic drills their consensus implied draft position moves almost immediately. NFL media who write mock drafts will quickly start shifting a player's average draft position by more than a full round in many cases.

For example Kyren Williams, now a star running back for the Los Angeles Rams, was widely considered a top five back in his draft class prior to his NFL Combine performance. However, after he ran a 4.65-second forty-yard dash his consensus draft capital projection fell sharply and he was inevitably selected in the late fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Conversely with somewhat disappointing Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce, he was selected in the middle of round two in that same year after dominating the NFL Combine. Pierce had played well for the Cincinnati Bearcats, but was by no means considered an early round prospect until he ran a 4.41-second forty-yard dash and leaped over 40 inches in the vertical jump, showing great explosion and speed.

I use those two examples to illustrate a specific point. NFL Combine results can certainly impact future NFL Draft capital, but "good" or "bad" test results do not mean that the perception of a player's overall skill set should change too significantly.

So, arm yourself with the information above so that you can better understand how well prospects are really testing as the NFL Combine results become official. And to perhaps calm your friend(s) down a bit when they overreact to how their favorite player tests at the NFL Combine.