Wonderlic Test scores are the major news coming from the NFL Draft this week as Johnny Manziel scored the highest of the top 3 quarterbacks during the NFL Combine in February with a score of 32. Blake Bortles reportedly scored a 28, while Teddy Bridgewater scored a 20. Does this mean that Manziel has cemented his spot as the #1 quarterback in this draft? Does this mean that Manziel is a can't miss prospect who is destined to win many Super Bowls and be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
In my article Johnny Manziel 2014 Draft Analysis, I stated that I believed Manziel is the top quarterback prospect in this year's draft. Since the writing of that article Manziel had a very successful pro day and now the news has leaked that his Wonderlic Test score is the highest of the top 3 quarterbacks. To me this is just another piece of evidence that Manziel is the top quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft.
So, what exactly is this Wonderlic Test:
- It consists of 50 questions, 12 minute time limit
- The number of correct answers corresponds to an intelligent quotient
- Many psychologists believe that cognitive ability, as tested on the Wonderlic, is the most reliable predictor of an individual's professional performance
- It is used by a variety of employers, not just the National Football League
- NFL has been using it for about 30 years
- Higher scoring applicants are supposed to learn more rapidly, master more complex material, and exercise better judgement
- Lower scoring applicants tend to require more time, detailed task instruction, , and less challenging job routines.
- 25 is average score for QBs and offensive linemen
- Other positions average about a 20
Super Bowl Winning QB's Wonderlic Test Scores:
Eli has the highest Wonderlic test score of any Super Bowl winning QB so far,
- Terry Bradshaw, 15
- Troy Aikman, 29
- Tom Brady, 33
- Steve Young, 33
- Eli Manning, 39
- Phil Simms, 10
- Ben Roethlisberger, 25
- John Elway, 29
- Russell Wilson, 28
- Joe Flacco, 27
- Drew Brees, 28
- Aaron Rodgers, 35
- Kurt Warner, 29
- Trent Dilfer, 22
- Brett Favre, 22
As I stated earlier, a Wonderlic Test score is a piece of information that should be considered when evaluating quarterbacks and all positions. As you can see above with the exception of Phil Simms and Terry Bradshaw every Super Bowl winning quarterback that I could find had at least a 22, with the average being 23.
I definitely believe that the score shows what type of offensive system a quarterback can handle. Although Bradshaw is no dummy, it was always joked about during his playing days that he was not the sharpest tool in the shed. But, he sure could throw a good deep ball and he had two Hall of Fame receivers in Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. The Steelers' offensive system was not very complex during Bradshaw's time. Simms was the ultimate game manager. His job was to not make a big mistake, hand the ball off a bunch and let that great defense win games and championships.
Johnny Manziel is still my #1 rated quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft and the Wonderlic Test has proven that he can be successful running any type of offensive system he is asked to do.
The Wonderlic test is a load of crap! You are skewing the importance of the test by asserting that a high score = a smart QB who is destined for success.
Ryan Leaf scored a 27: Rex Grossman 29: Alex Smith 40. Perhaps you should read the following 2 articles before proclaiming that Manziels score automatically makes him the #1 QB.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/03/24/wonderlic-test/
http://optimumscouting.com/draft/ar…ege-programs-are-falling-in-love-with-it.html
Aussie,
You are correct and I agree with you when you say that a QB with a high Wonderlic score is not destined for success. But, as I said in the article it is a piece of evidence that must be looked at when evaluating QBs. With all the different kinds of offensive systems in the NFL from some that are very complex to some that are very conservative. If I am a head coach or offensive coordinator with a complex system I had better make sure I get a QB that is somewhat intelligent and that is what the Wonderlic helps measure.
The Wonderlic to me is similar to a 40 yard dash time. Most coaches and GMs in the NFL believe that for a RB to be successful he must run the 40 in the 4.4 range. That does not mean that if you run a high 4.5, 4.6 you will not be successful, but there is a better chance for you to be successful if you run in the 4.4 range. It also does not mean that if a RB runs a 4.2 he will be successful. A 40 yard dash time and the Wonderlic Test are both pieces of information that must be evaluated as you try to find the best player.
Johnny Manzel scored a 32 on his wonderlic test. Whoopty frickin do! Such a pointless test to begin with.
DaBearsrule4ever,
In my article I show the Wonderlic scores of all the Super Bowl winners that I could find and all of them with the exception of Phil Simms and Terry Bradshaw scored above average on the test. Simms played in a very conservative offense that relied on their running game and great defense to win championships. Bradshaw was surrounded by Hall of Fame players on offense and the Steel Curtain on defense.
If anyone is interested, Manziel 32, Eli Manning 39, Tony Romo 37, Andrew Luck 37, Aaron Rodgers 35, Tom Brady 33, Peyton Manning 28, and Drew Brees 28.
I took one a couple years ago and did fairly well…it's a pretty dumb test.
Was that Ryan Fitzpatrick well or Vince Young well? lol
what kind of questions do they ask? football questions or what?
are'nt these results supposed to be kept secret by the nfl?
Lol…no it was in the range of Tom Brady.
No. They were like basic every day questions. It's kind of like an IQ test. My company does an event with the Eagles every August and one of the things we did, if you wanted, was the wonderlic test. We weren't allowed to keep them. But the questions are super wordy…and they try to confuse you. It actually gets to the point where you just want to fill it out because its so damn long winded and boring. But it's a timed test too…I think it was 15-20 minutes for 50 questions?
They are supposed to be kept secret, but somehow, they leak out.
just like the confidential drug tests? lol too many people with sticky fingers now a day's for that to happen!
This is why teams are starting to look more strongly at the APTUS test.
Bradshaw scored a 16. I'd be willing to bet that as a college kid, with his arrogance and attitude at the time, he didn't give two shits about that test. BTW if you've watched him play…he made things happen on the field. Not just because he was surrounded by Hall of Fame players…sure that helps, but don't act like he's Trent Dilfer…lol.
Point is…it's just football.
Here are some sample questions:
Choose one
Choose one
680
742
716
720
I am sorry that you have to work for a company that works with the Eagles.
me too…
But you, at least, are working.
By no means is the Wonderlic test a definitive predictor of what a player has the ability to do on the field, but it certainly is a good barometer of how well a player can assimilate information given to him. It's no coincidence that QB's and O-Linemen usually have the higher scores. Look at an NFL playbook sometime and imagine some dumbass trying to 1. Not only rote memorize each play as to what he's suppose to do, but also what the other players are to be doing as well and 2. hear, understand and execute a play called from an audible.
Given a player with a Wonderlic score of 32 vs. a guy at the same position with a score of 16, I'm looking harder at the 32. This most definitely is a form of an IQ Test and I would want the more intelligent player vs. one of questionable intelligence.
The bottom three average Wonderlic scores by position? WR-17, FB-16, HB-15.