In the NFL, explosiveness equals dollar signs. That’s why the broad jump and vertical jump drills are so valuable to NFL scouts. Possessing a combination of speed and power makes you dangerous when it comes to the gridiron, and franchises are willing to fork out top money for it. That can bump up the NFL Draft betting odds that a player won’t have to wait long on draft weekend.
While the vertical jump measures how high an athlete can jump (that’s obvious), the broad jump quantifies horizontal explosiveness. Both drills are key.
When executing the broad jump, an athlete stands with toes on a line and leaps as far forward as possible. The idea is to keep the body under control and to exhibit balance, which scouts see as the players’ ability to win those key individual battles in the secondary. So, not surprisingly, the explosion drills are essential for wide receivers and defensive backs, as well as linebackers who have to pick up a receiver or tight end downfield.
When the NFL Combine in Indianapolis was forced to cancel, NFL franchises made it clear that a higher emphasis would be placed on the on-campus pro days, and those are the results you will see below for the top prospects at the key positions for explosion drills. Other key pre-draft measurables are the 40-yard dash, bench press, and vertical jump.
We took pro-day data from the site DraftScout.com, the same material the scouts use. How will this influence NFL Draft odds for this weekend’s draft? See for yourself.
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The Broad Jump - By Offensive Position
Wide Receivers
Broad Jump -- Measured in how many feet-inches an athlete can jump, measuring explosiveness.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of feet-inches):
11-7 -- Chris Conley, Georgia (3rd round pick in 2015)
11-4 -- Robert Davis, Georgia State (6th round pick in 2017)
11-4 -- Justin Hunter, Tennessee (2nd round pick in 2013)
11-4 -- Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina (2nd round pick in 2008)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of feet-inches):
11-4 -- Kadrius Toney, Florida (projected 1st round)
11-2 -- Josh Imatorbhebhe, Illinois (projected HPFA)
11-1 -- Jacob Harris, Central Florida (projected HPFA)
JaMarr Chase, LSU
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: -800
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 11-0 (tied for 4th best WRs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 7 overall)
Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +700
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): opted out (choice - ankle surgery)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 16 overall)
Devonta Smith, Alabama
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +800
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): opted out (choice - hand injury)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 10 overall)
Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +5000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-3 (tied for 15th best)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd round (No. 44 overall)
Kadarius Toney, Florida
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +5000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 11-4 (No. 1 among all WRs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st to 2nd round (No. 34 overall)
Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
ODDS OF FIRST WR PICKED: +8000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-5 (tied for 10th best)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd round (No. 48 overall)
Running Backs
Broad Jump -- Measured in how many feet-inches an athlete can jump, measuring explosiveness.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of feet-inches):
11-5 -- Justin Fargas, Southern Cal (taken 3rd round in 2003)
11-3 -- Daniel Lasco, California (taken 7th round in 2016)
11-2 -- Jay Hinton, Morgan St. (undrafted in 1999)
11-2 -- Lache Seastrunk, Baylor (taken 6th round in 2014)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of feet-inches):
10-8 -- Travis Etienne, Clemson (projected 2nd round)
10-8 -- Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette (projected 5th to 6th round)
10-7 -- Chris Evans, Michigan (projected to 7th round or HPFA)
TOP RB PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Najee Harris, Alabama
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +140
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): opted out (ankle injury)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 28 overall)
Travis Etienne, Clemson
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +165
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-8 (No. 1 among RBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st to 2nd round (No. 33rd overall)
Javonte Williams, North Carolina
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +600
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-3 (tied for 6th best)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd to 3rd round (No. 66 overall)
Michael Carter, North Carolina
ODDS OF FIRST RB PICKED: +4000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 9-11 (tied for 9th best)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd to 3rd round (No. 74 overall)
Tight Ends
Broad Jump -- Measured in how many feet-inches an athlete can jump, measuring explosiveness.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of feet-inches):
11-2 -- Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech (6th round in 2017)
11-1 -- David Njoku, Miami, Fla. (1st round in 2017)
11-0 -- George Kittle, Iowa (5th round in 2017)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of feet-inches):
10-9 -- Kyle Pitts, Florida (projected 1st round)
10-3 -- Briley Moore, Kansas State/Northern Iowa (projected 7th round to HPFA)
10-3 -- Bruno Labelle, Cincinnati (projected HPFA)
TOP TE PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Kyle Pitts, Florida
ODDS OF FIRST TE PICKED: -10000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-9 (No. 1 TE)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 5 overall)
Brevin Jordan, Miami (Fla.)
ODDS OF FIRST TE PICKED: +2000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 9-8 (tied for 8th best for TEs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 3rd to 4th round (No. 107 overall)
Offensive Linemen
Broad Jump -- Measured in how many feet-inches an athlete can jump, measuring explosiveness.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of feet-inches):
9-9 -- Eric Steinbach, OG, Iowa (2nd round pick in 2003)
9-8 -- Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma (1st round pick in 2013)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of feet-inches):
9-7 -- Will Fries, OT, Penn State (projected HPFA)
9-5 -- D’Ante Smith, OG, East Carolina (projected 4th or 5th round)
9-5 -- Chandon Herring, OT, Brigham Young (projected HPFA)
9-5 -- Larnel Coleman, OT, UMass (projected HPFA)
TOP OL PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Penei Sewell, Oregon
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: -500
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 9-1 (tied for 6th best for OL)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 2 overall)
Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: +250
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 9-4 (tied for 3rd best for OL)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 9 overall)
Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: +2500
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): opted out (core muscle injury)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 13 overall)
Alijah Vera-Tucker, Southern Cal
ODDS OF FIRST OL PICKED: +3500
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 8-10 (tied for 9th best)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 21 overall)
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Brian McLaughlin is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of BMac and Herd’s FCS Podcast. He has covered the national recruiting scene in football and basketball for The Sporting News, headed up the PARADE Magazine High School All-America selections, and handled FCS college football for HERO Sports. Follow BMac on Twitter @BrianMacWriter.
