Does the 40 yard dash time really matter when it comes to a wide receiver in the nfl?

[stirs]

I heard one of the former GM's say that the combine for him was always about 10% of the weight they put into a player. So I would not think a guy running a 4.5 but having great film hurt himself, likewise, a 4.4 guy who sucks on tape cannot help himself a lot

[Mr. Scot]

This debate comes up every year, and not just in this forum.

I don't ever see it going away.

[SmashNDash]

Is that a real gif of Harbaugh watching Te'o?

If so, awesome.

No wonder he ran so bad, that looks like someone in high school running their first 40. No head down drive at the begining, terrible technique, he might actually be able to get a 4.6ish if he learned how to run it correctly.....still a headcase though.

[Doc Holiday]

They should make them run in pads

this, kinda.......

the 40 yrd dash in some ways IMO is one of the most overrated things in the NFL Combine, no player is going to run as fast or the same in pads, and they also usually don't only run 40 yrds heck LB'ers never run 40 yrds in the NFL unless there has been a broken play, in which case they will probably get burned anyways.

I would like to know if Thomas Davis has a good 40 time right now, I doubt it but still a hell of a player regardless of what his 40 is.

[pantherclaw]

Thomas Davis is still one of the fastest Panthers.

[LinvilleGorge]

I'd rather them run the 40 out of a football stance and in pads rather than out of a track stance in shorts and a t-shirt. But yeah, straight line 40 yard speed out of a track stance with no interference doesn't really translate to a football game.

[g5jamz]

The 40 says so much. You have the different splits out of it. Smitty is a type of receiver that moves fluidly and accelerates to full speed so quickly. Compare that to a dude that looks like his head is going to explode and might get a 4.3-4.4....but no one runs like that with pads on and maintains control through routes. It's how they run the 40 just as much as it is the time. When Calvin Johnson came out and can run what he did and make it look effortless...that's special.