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CBs Better Be Fast at Combine (Updated)

Update: I originally used ESPN.com's historic Scouting Combine numbers for most of the 40-yard dash times below. I realized Monday that not all of those numbers represented the official times. So all Combine numbers on this list now come from NFLCombineResults.com. (The Pro Day numbers from NFL Draft Scout, which is now part of CBS Sports.)

The alterations don't change the theme here. In fact, they actually lowered the average 40 time at the position: now just under 4.44 rather than just under 4.45. The point remains this: Despite some noteworthy exceptions, speed rules at corner.

If you're like us, you've spent the past few days watching more of the NFL Scouting Combine footage than is probably healthy.

You can argue about how useful all these drills are. You can argue about how the 40-yard dash doesn't translate to football speed. But at some point, speed matters.

Nowhere does it matter more than at cornerback. That's why no other position faces more 40-time scrutiny at the Scouting Combine. But how fast do you have to be?

Fair question. And the answer seems to be ... pretty fast.

In advance of Monday's DB workouts, we took a look at just how fast you need to be to start at CB in the NFL.

This isn't a scientific study. We took the top 60 CBs in 2014 snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus' numbers -- then added a few other starters who lost some time to injuries. Among those 69 guys, the average 40 time came out to 4.4386. Of the 69 players, 49 ran the 40 in less than 4.50 seconds.

So if you're running on Monday, here's hoping you crack 4.50.

And if you're just some dude reading this because you don't feel like doing your actual work or shoveling your driveway, here's the full list of cornerbacks included.

(Place refers to where that player ranked in his class at the Combine.)

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.