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Athletic testing is a crucial part of the draft evaluation process for any team, but especially the Green Bay Packers, who covet athletic traits more than most.
The time has arrived to add some data to the profiles of hundreds of prospects in the 2026 NFL draft, as the on-field drills begin at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.
Green Bay’s scouting philosophy goes back a long way and has been pretty consistent, meaning their benchmarks for different athletic tests at various positions are well established.
Here are the numbers to look for when the players take to the field in Indianapolis this week:
The average quarterback drafted by the Packers going back to Aaron Rodgers in 2005 has run a 4.75 40-yard dash with a 1.65 10-yard split. Those are above average marks, but nothing too exclusive.
Since Brian Gutekunst took over as general manager, all three quarterbacks he has drafted had a broad jump of at least 9-6, which is a 72nd percentile score. Going back to Ted Thompson’s days it still did not fall below 9-1, which is a 59th percentile score. Keep an eye out for those results.
Size also matters, and the Packers have not drafted a quarterback weighing less than 217 pounds or with hands smaller than 9.25” since 2005. The official measurements obtained for the quarterback class will matter.
Running backs drafted by Green Bay since 2010 have averaged a 40 time of 4.54 seconds with a 1.59 10-yard split. Like at quarterback, these are not elite numbers to shoot for.
However, their backs have averaged a 10-2 broad jump, which is an 82nd percentile score, and all five players drafted by Gutekunst had at least a 36” vert, which is 78th percentile. The jumps show explosiveness, and this is something that matters to the Packers.
They also generally like heavier backs, with an average weight of 220 pounds, which is 80th percentile.
Among receivers picked by Green Bay since 2006, the average 40 time has been 4.48 (80th percentile) with a 10-yard split of 1.57 seconds.
They have drafted different flavors of receivers, but have stayed away from the truly undersized ones. The lightest wideout drafted was Jayden Reed at 187 pounds, and their receivers average 32” arms.
Speed matters, but when you see the likes of Brenen Thompson running blazing speeds at 170 pounds (or less) this week, do not get your hopes up for him to end up in Green Bay.
For tight ends, the average 40 time has been 4.7 seconds since 2010, which is an 81st percentile score, while the 10-yard split has been 1.65 seconds.
More recently under Gutekunst they have gone after the true aliens who are big and fast, clearing 6-4 and 250 pounds while still running in the 4.6’s like Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.
At offensive tackle, the average 40 for Packers draftees has been 5.15 seconds since 2009, but the 10-yard split is more important, as linemen are unlikely to be running 40 yards at a time. The 10-yard split average has been 1.77, an 83rd percentile score, indicating it matters for Green Bay.
There is some variance in the testing benchmarks depending on whether we are looking at a lighter or heavier lineman.
For players weighing 311 pounds or less, the average 40 has been 5.05 and the 10 has been 1.74. Over 311 pounds, the average drops to 5.25 and 1.81.
Those are almost the exact numbers Anthony Belton ran, are above average for an offensive lineman regardless of weight, and he did it at 336 pounds.
Kent Lee Platte who operates the Relative Athletic Scores confirmed Belton’s speed would be classed as ‘elite’ for a player over 330 pounds. This is a good indicator of the sliding scale for athleticism on the offensive line depending on size.
The only interior offensive line position the Packers actually draft is centers. They move tackles and centers around to get their guards. For Green Bay’s picks at center since 2013, the average has been a 5.13 40 and a 1.79 10-yard split.
It is hard to drill down on the specific importance of different drills at center, as the team drafted Josh Myers in Round 2 despite him only completing the vert and nothing else.
The average vert for a Packers center in the draft has been around 29.4”, which is a 73rd percentile score, so it may have some importance.
The speed numbers to look for at defensive tackle are 5.03 in the 40 and a 1.74 10, but if you remove nose tackle body types (330+ pounds), it is 4.98 in the 40 and 1.73 in the 10.
For "normal" defensive tackles the Packers have drafted, the average broad jump has been around 9-2, which is an 81st percentile score.
It is a small sample size of only three nose tackles, but they are naturally held to a different standard, with the average 40 a 5.27 and the 10-yard split at 1.78.
They did all have at least a 29” vert though, which is above average at defensive tackle regardless of size, so is even more impressive for a nose tackle, and is perhaps used as an indicator of explosiveness that the Packers are looking for.
This is one of the positions where athleticism matters most to success in the NFL, and the Packers suitably value it greatly. The 40 we are looking for on average is 4.73, with a 1.63 10-yard split. Both of those are 81st percentile scores or higher.
In addition, a broad jump of 10 feet has been the average mark, which is 84th percentile, and in the vert the average is just under 35”, which is an 80th percentile score.
Green Bay usually steers clear of undersized rushers, with the edge rusher they take weighing 263 pounds on average and having 33” arms. Big, fast, explosive is the name of the game.
It is a similar story at linebacker, where the average 40 for a player drafted by the Packers since 2013 has been 4.61, with a 1.60 10-yard split, both representing 82nd percentile scores or higher.
The bar for the broad jump has been even higher (farther?), with an average of a 10-2 broad, which is an 86th percentile score.
Corner is arguably the biggest stopwatch position of all, with speed being crucial. The Packers’ picks at corner averaged a 40 time of 4.46 (81st percentile) and a 1.56 10-yard split.
The 3-cone also comes into play here, as change of direction matters a lot at cornerback. The magic number has been 6.86 on average, an 83rd percentile score.
Similarly to receivers, Green Bay does not usually take the really diminutive corners, as they do not trust them to hold up in run defense or against general wear and tear.
The lightest corner they have drafted in recent times is 183 pounds (Micah Robinson) and the average is 193. The shortest is just under 5'10 ⅓” (Shemar Jean-Charles) and the average is just over 5’11 ½”. Take D’Angelo Ponds off your wish list.
Finally at safety, the 40 time to look for is 4.51 (80th percentile) and the 10-yard split is 1.58. The Packers have also seemed to put stock in the short shuttle, with an average time of 4.15 (85th percentile), as well as the broad jump, where the average has been 10-5 (83rd percentile).
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers athletic benchmarks to know ahead of 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
Continue reading...
The time has arrived to add some data to the profiles of hundreds of prospects in the 2026 NFL draft, as the on-field drills begin at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.
Green Bay’s scouting philosophy goes back a long way and has been pretty consistent, meaning their benchmarks for different athletic tests at various positions are well established.
Here are the numbers to look for when the players take to the field in Indianapolis this week:
Quarterback
The average quarterback drafted by the Packers going back to Aaron Rodgers in 2005 has run a 4.75 40-yard dash with a 1.65 10-yard split. Those are above average marks, but nothing too exclusive.
Since Brian Gutekunst took over as general manager, all three quarterbacks he has drafted had a broad jump of at least 9-6, which is a 72nd percentile score. Going back to Ted Thompson’s days it still did not fall below 9-1, which is a 59th percentile score. Keep an eye out for those results.
Size also matters, and the Packers have not drafted a quarterback weighing less than 217 pounds or with hands smaller than 9.25” since 2005. The official measurements obtained for the quarterback class will matter.
Running back
Running backs drafted by Green Bay since 2010 have averaged a 40 time of 4.54 seconds with a 1.59 10-yard split. Like at quarterback, these are not elite numbers to shoot for.
However, their backs have averaged a 10-2 broad jump, which is an 82nd percentile score, and all five players drafted by Gutekunst had at least a 36” vert, which is 78th percentile. The jumps show explosiveness, and this is something that matters to the Packers.
They also generally like heavier backs, with an average weight of 220 pounds, which is 80th percentile.
Wide receiver
Among receivers picked by Green Bay since 2006, the average 40 time has been 4.48 (80th percentile) with a 10-yard split of 1.57 seconds.
They have drafted different flavors of receivers, but have stayed away from the truly undersized ones. The lightest wideout drafted was Jayden Reed at 187 pounds, and their receivers average 32” arms.
Speed matters, but when you see the likes of Brenen Thompson running blazing speeds at 170 pounds (or less) this week, do not get your hopes up for him to end up in Green Bay.
Tight end
For tight ends, the average 40 time has been 4.7 seconds since 2010, which is an 81st percentile score, while the 10-yard split has been 1.65 seconds.
More recently under Gutekunst they have gone after the true aliens who are big and fast, clearing 6-4 and 250 pounds while still running in the 4.6’s like Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.
Offensive tackle
At offensive tackle, the average 40 for Packers draftees has been 5.15 seconds since 2009, but the 10-yard split is more important, as linemen are unlikely to be running 40 yards at a time. The 10-yard split average has been 1.77, an 83rd percentile score, indicating it matters for Green Bay.
There is some variance in the testing benchmarks depending on whether we are looking at a lighter or heavier lineman.
For players weighing 311 pounds or less, the average 40 has been 5.05 and the 10 has been 1.74. Over 311 pounds, the average drops to 5.25 and 1.81.
Those are almost the exact numbers Anthony Belton ran, are above average for an offensive lineman regardless of weight, and he did it at 336 pounds.
Kent Lee Platte who operates the Relative Athletic Scores confirmed Belton’s speed would be classed as ‘elite’ for a player over 330 pounds. This is a good indicator of the sliding scale for athleticism on the offensive line depending on size.
Center
The only interior offensive line position the Packers actually draft is centers. They move tackles and centers around to get their guards. For Green Bay’s picks at center since 2013, the average has been a 5.13 40 and a 1.79 10-yard split.
It is hard to drill down on the specific importance of different drills at center, as the team drafted Josh Myers in Round 2 despite him only completing the vert and nothing else.
The average vert for a Packers center in the draft has been around 29.4”, which is a 73rd percentile score, so it may have some importance.
Defensive tackle
The speed numbers to look for at defensive tackle are 5.03 in the 40 and a 1.74 10, but if you remove nose tackle body types (330+ pounds), it is 4.98 in the 40 and 1.73 in the 10.
For "normal" defensive tackles the Packers have drafted, the average broad jump has been around 9-2, which is an 81st percentile score.
It is a small sample size of only three nose tackles, but they are naturally held to a different standard, with the average 40 a 5.27 and the 10-yard split at 1.78.
They did all have at least a 29” vert though, which is above average at defensive tackle regardless of size, so is even more impressive for a nose tackle, and is perhaps used as an indicator of explosiveness that the Packers are looking for.
Edge rusher
This is one of the positions where athleticism matters most to success in the NFL, and the Packers suitably value it greatly. The 40 we are looking for on average is 4.73, with a 1.63 10-yard split. Both of those are 81st percentile scores or higher.
In addition, a broad jump of 10 feet has been the average mark, which is 84th percentile, and in the vert the average is just under 35”, which is an 80th percentile score.
Green Bay usually steers clear of undersized rushers, with the edge rusher they take weighing 263 pounds on average and having 33” arms. Big, fast, explosive is the name of the game.
Linebacker
It is a similar story at linebacker, where the average 40 for a player drafted by the Packers since 2013 has been 4.61, with a 1.60 10-yard split, both representing 82nd percentile scores or higher.
The bar for the broad jump has been even higher (farther?), with an average of a 10-2 broad, which is an 86th percentile score.
Cornerback
Corner is arguably the biggest stopwatch position of all, with speed being crucial. The Packers’ picks at corner averaged a 40 time of 4.46 (81st percentile) and a 1.56 10-yard split.
The 3-cone also comes into play here, as change of direction matters a lot at cornerback. The magic number has been 6.86 on average, an 83rd percentile score.
Similarly to receivers, Green Bay does not usually take the really diminutive corners, as they do not trust them to hold up in run defense or against general wear and tear.
The lightest corner they have drafted in recent times is 183 pounds (Micah Robinson) and the average is 193. The shortest is just under 5'10 ⅓” (Shemar Jean-Charles) and the average is just over 5’11 ½”. Take D’Angelo Ponds off your wish list.
Safety
Finally at safety, the 40 time to look for is 4.51 (80th percentile) and the 10-yard split is 1.58. The Packers have also seemed to put stock in the short shuttle, with an average time of 4.15 (85th percentile), as well as the broad jump, where the average has been 10-5 (83rd percentile).
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers athletic benchmarks to know ahead of 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
Continue reading...
