Future receiving speedsters showcased their talents on Sunday, flying down the sidelines for their 40-yard dash (among other workouts). Below are the top 10 NFL Combine 40 times for Wide Receivers.
Odell Beckham ran one of the Top 10 NFL Combine 40 Times for WRs| Player | School | Time |
| 1. Brandin Cooks | Oregon St. | 4.33 |
| 2. John Brown | Pittsburg St. | 4.34 |
| 3. Donte Moncrief | Mississippi | 4.40 |
| 4. Paul Richardson | Colorado | 4.40 |
| 5. Jeff Janis | Saginaw Valley St. | 4.42 |
| 6. Martavis Bryant | Clemson | 4.42 |
| 7. Sammy Watkins | Clemson | 4.43 |
| 8. Albert Wilson | Georgia St | 4.43 |
| 9. Odell Beckham | LSU | 4.43 |
| 10. Jalen Saunders | Oklahoma | 4.44 |
Takeaways
I am a believer that much more than speed comes into play when judging a receiver. However, Al Davis (bless his soul) would have disagreed, as the Raiders were enamored with speed, especially with Darrius Heyward-Bey. DHB ran a 4.30, and ended up being drafted ahead of Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin and Hakeem Nicks. With the Raiders, DHB totaled 140 catches in four years. While speed may help a draft pick, it clearly does not equate into NFL skills.
Some of these players (Watkins, Beckham) were already expected to be first round picks in May. Others (Cooks, Richardson) were on the cusp of early-to-mid and may have vaulted themselves up with their speedy NFL Combine 40 times. And in a draft class that is touted as the deepest ever at WR, any separation among the rest is good.