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Next Gen Stats
Next Gen Stats: How Combine testing shows up in the NFL
Want to see the numbers behind the numbers? Take a look through this edition of Next Gen Stats to see how testing at the Combine can turn into major results in the NFL.
Saquon Barkley ran a 4.40 40-yard dash at the 2018 Combine, which was the second-fastest among running backs that year. Among players to participate in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, the five fastest ball carriers of 2018 (according to Next Gen Stats) all ran the 40 in less than 4.5 seconds.
According to Next Gen Stats, Saquon Barkley tied for the most 15+ MPH rushes (59) and 20+ MPH rushes (seven) among running backs in 2018. Barkley's fastest speed as a ball carrier (21.91 MPH, per Next Gen Stats) was the fourth-fastest by any running back in 2018.
Quenton Nelson showed his elite strength at the combine last year with 35 bench reps, which tied for the 10th-most among 266 guards to participate in the bench press at the combine since 2003.
According to Pro Football Focus, Quenton Nelson was the third-highest graded guard in the NFL last season among 61 that played 500-or-more snaps. Nelson was also the eighth-highest graded pass-blocking guard and fourth-highest graded run-blocking guard.
Aaron Donald's 1.63 second 10-yard split is the fifth-fastest time by a defensive lineman weighing 285-or-more pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2003.
Per Next Gen Stats, Aaron Donald took just 3.60 seconds to sack, which was the fastest in the NFL (with a minimum of eight sacks). His time was followed closely by J.J. Watt, who only took 3.61 seconds to sack.
T.J. Watt had a faster 10-yard split at the 2017 combine (1.61 seconds) than his brother J.J. Watt had at the 2011 combine (1.71 seconds). However, J.J. had a faster average time to sack in 2018 (3.61 seconds) compared to T.J. (3.75 seconds), according to Next Gen Stats.
Derwin James ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, had 21 bench press reps, and jumped 40" in the vertical at the 2018 combine. James is the only defensive player in the last five combines to run the 40 in less than 4.5 seconds, have 20+ bench press reps, and have a 40+ inch vertical leap.
According to Next Gen Stats, Derwin James aligned as a box safety on 53.3% of his snaps this season (third-highest rate in NFL, min. 500 snaps). He aligned as deep safety on 29.7% of snaps and slot cornerback on 15.8% of snaps. James was tied with Shaq Thompson for the second-highest pressure rate (16.9%) and sack rate (5.4%) among all 319 players with 60-or-more pass rushes this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Derwin James allowed just 5.0 yards per target in coverage this season (lowest among 57 safeties with 25+ targets).
