To determine whether faster times by offensive and defensive positions correlate to higher draft positions in the NFL draft, the authors of this study looked into the correlation between the National League (NFL) combine test results of the 40-yard dash. Data was collected and analyzed from 1,009 players invited to the NFL combine between 2018 and 2020. The results of the research discovered a statistically significant correlation between the 40-yard dash for the offensive positions of WR rs = .436, n = 147, p = .001; TE rs= .356, n = 58, p = .05; OL rs = .373, n = 77, p =.05; and for the defensive positions of LB rs = .573, n = 83, p =. 001; S rs = .510, n = 82, p = .05. These results suggested that faster times in the 40-yard dash for various offensive and defensive positions correlated to better draft position in the NFL draft.
Source: Tucker, R. And Black, Willie J. .Predictive Validity of the 40-yard dash Physical Skills Test and Draft Position in the NFL Draft. The Sport Journal. 2023.
