The NFL Combine is where draft dreams come alive — and sometimes where teams get a little too excited over a 40-yard dash. It’s where prospects shoot up boards with insane measurables, even when the game tape tells a different story.
While some players back up their Combine hype with solid careers, others see their stock soar and never quite live up to it. Here are 10 NFL prospects who peaked at the Combine and couldn’t carry that momentum into the pros.
10. Darrius Heyward-Bey
He blazed a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash and shot up draft boards. The Raiders fell in love with the speed, but his NFL career never hit that same gear.
9. Mike Mamula
Mamula trained specifically for Combine drills and crushed them. The Eagles bought in with a top-10 pick, but he never became the pass-rushing force they hoped for.
8. Vernon Gholston
Gholston showcased superhero-like size and strength at the Combine, convincing the Jets to draft him — but he failed to turn that raw ability into NFL production.
7. J.J. Arrington
Arrington was a combined standout and college star who wowed with his athleticism. But he struggled to find a consistent role once he hit the pros.
6. Troy Williamson
He ran a blazing 40 and jumped off the charts in workouts. Minnesota banked on his athleticism, but it didn’t result in much on the field.
5. Bruce Campbell
Campbell’s Combine numbers were freakish for a lineman. That hype didn’t carry over into games, where consistency and technique were significant issues.
4. Matt Jones
A college quarterback turned wide receiver, Jones lit up the Combine with size and speed. Jacksonville is a bit early, but he never quite adjusted to the new position at the pro level.
3. John Ross
Ross broke the Combine 40-yard dash record and immediately shot up draft boards. Injuries and inconsistency kept him from ever living up to that top-10 pick hype.
2. Dri Archer
Archer ran one of the fastest 40s ever and looked like a human joystick in drills. But in the actual NFL? Defenses caught up to him real fast.
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1. Zach Wilson
Despite Wilson not participating in combine drills, he looked very sharp in scripted Pro Day throws that went viral, helping solidify his No. 2 overall pick status. But in real NFL action, the magic hasn’t quite shown up the same way.
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