2018 NFL Draft: The five fastest 40 times from Scouting Combine
The three-way tie for No. 1 consists of three cornerbacks who did wonders for their respective draft stock. That list includes Ohio State Buckeyes star Denzel Ward, who entered the Scouting Combine with top 10 hype in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Whether or not you believe Ward should be a top-10 draft pick, what’s clear is that his performance at the Scouting Combine should help his stock.
Denzel Ward's size/speed combination at the Combine was reminiscent of Hall of Famer @DeionSanders
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) March 5, 2018
(Disclaimer: Deion vehemently disputes his 4.27 time) pic.twitter.com/0NqP3wbDBg
Ward ran a ridiculous 4.32 40, which was simply the beginning of what was a truly spectacular day. He produced a 39.0″ vertical leap, a 136.0″ broad jump, and put up 16 reps in the bench press—all of which rated well amongst his peers.
Ward ranked No. 1 amongst cornerbacks in the 40-yard dash and broad jump, No. 2 in the vertical jump, and No. 8 in the bench press.
Ward is somewhat undersized in height and weight, but his measurements aren’t very different from former teammate Marshon Lattimore’s. That’s a compelling truth when one considers the fact that Lattimore was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL in 2017—as a rookie.
If Ward proves to be as fundamentally polished in the NFL as he is on film, then he should be one of the top overall prospects to emerge from this class.
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The question is: How will speed perform on the night of the 2018 NFL Draft?