NFL

9 Current NFL Stars Who Stunk It Up At the Scouting Combine

Fresh Videos

By @to2471

9 Current NFL Stars Who Stunk It Up At the Scouting Combine

2015 NFL Combine
Getty Image

You want to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft? Go to the scouting combine and turn heads. It really doesn’t matter what you do in college, because if you can make scouts fall in love with you here, you’ll go high. However, if you don’t much emphasis on the combine, make sure you do enough. A bad combine performance could cost you millions.

9. Anquan Boldin

Anquan Boldin, NFL Combine
Getty Images

9. Anquan Boldin

Anquan Boldin, NFL Combine
Getty Images

Anquan Boldin was drafted in the second round after a very successful career as a Florida State Seminole. His production at the collegiate level was the only reason he was drafted so high after he put on a poor showing by running a measly 4.7 40 yard dash. Receivers rarely thrive at the NFL level with that kind of speed, but Boldin has found a way to do it.

8. Julius Thomas

Julius Thomas, NFL Combine
Getty Images

8. Julius Thomas

Julius Thomas, NFL Combine
Getty Images

After two seasons that consisted of injuries and rare playing time, Julius Thomas came on the scene in 2013 with Peyton Manning throwing him the ball. However, as evidenced at the combine (16 bench reps), Thomas isn’t a strong tight end and isn’t a reliable run blocker. He had first-round athleticism coming out of Portland State, but fell clear down to the fourth round.

7. Terrell Suggs

Terrell Suggs, NFL Combine
Getty Images

7. Terrell Suggs

Terrell Suggs, NFL Combine
Getty Images

The legacy of Terrell Suggs in Baltimore is really special, but coming into the league, people had their doubts. Back in 2003, Suggs put on a lackluster performance by running a slow 4.84 40 yard dash and only putting up 18 reps on the bench press. He was still taken 10th overall, has since won defensive player of the year (2001), and has been elected to the Pro Bowl on six separate occasions.

6. Alterraun Verner

Alterraun Verner, NFL Combine
Getty Images

6. Alterraun Verner

Alterraun Verner, NFL Combine
Getty Images

Alterraun Verner came on the scene a couple seasons ago when he broke out for a horrible Tennessee Titans defense. Luckily for him, it was a contract year and he signed a big deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Few thought he’d amount to anything after only benching 225 pounds 11 times and failing to even compete with a 32 vertical jump.

5. Drew Brees

Drew Brees, NFL Combine
Getty Images

5. Drew Brees

Drew Brees, NFL Combine
Getty Images

Drew Brees excelled playing in the Big Ten, but no one believed that, with his relatively small stature (6-foot-0) and what many believed was a weak arm at the combine, he could compete at the professional level. He quickly turned heads by competing at a high level for the San Diego Chargers, tearing his shoulder, and continued to be a top NFL quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.

4. Vontaze Burfict

Vontaze Burfict, NFL Combine
Getty Images

4. Vontaze Burfict

Vontaze Burfict, NFL Combine
Getty Images

After a stellar collegiate career at Arizona State, Vontaze Burfict had high hopes to be drafted early in the first round, but after poor workouts and some serious character concerns, his stock fell and he ended up going undrafted.

3. Brandon Browner

Brandon Browner, NFL Combine
Getty Images

3. Brandon Browner

Brandon Browner, NFL Combine
Getty Images

Brandon Browner’s legacy started on the defense known as the Legion of Boom, or the LOB. But after running a 4.63 40 yard dash, putting up only 13 bench reps and jumping 36.5 vertical jump, Browner’s stock fell. After being a stout corner on two consecutive Super Bow-winning campaigns, it’s clear his combine performance was just a fluke.

2. Joe Haden

Joe Haden, NFL Combine
Getty Images

2. Joe Haden

Joe Haden, NFL Combine
Getty Images

Joe Haden projected as the best overall cornerback in the 2010 NFL draft until he ran a 4.57 40 yard dash and could only achieve a 35 vertical jump. Once he stunk it up in Indy, many believed he’d drop, but the Cleveland Browns took a flier on him, and it certainly paid off.

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady, NFL Combine
Getty Images

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady, NFL Combine
Getty Images

We all know what Tom Brady has done in the NFL: four Super Bowls, countless Pro Bowls, records and personal accolades. We also know that he was one of those hidden gems that rarely happen. Brady was drafted in the sixth round of the 2001 draft, large part due to his 5.28 40 yard dash. Organizations knew about his lack of mobility, and 31 of them paid for doubting him.

Tyler Olson is an NFL and Miami Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @to2471, like him on Facebook, and connect with him on Google.

 

Share Tweet
Trending Now on